μεσημβρία
mesēmbría
G3314 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Primarily refers to the middle of the day, 'midday' or 'noon.' By extension and in certain contexts, denotes 'the southern direction' (i.e., the region toward the sun's position at midday in the northern hemisphere). Semantic range includes a literal reference to the time at which the sun is highest ('noon'), as well as the cardinal direction ('the south') by association with the sun's trajectory.
Semantic Range
midday, noon, time of day when the sun is highest; the south, the southern direction or region
Root / Etymology
Formed from μέσος ('middle, central') and ἡμέρα ('day'), literally conveying 'middle of the day.' Not derived from another language; built from native Greek elements.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, μεσημβρία is attested from at least the 5th century BCE, carrying both the literal sense of 'noon' and the figurative use for 'the south'—the direction of the sun at noon. This dual usage is retained in Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament. In biblical and non-biblical papyri, the word may designate a specific time (midday) or a region (the south), depending on context. English translations often render μεσημβρία as either 'noon' or 'south,' but sometimes obscure the link between these senses. The association between midday and the southern direction is based on the sun's position in the sky when at its zenith, a concept common in ancient Mediterranean cosmology. Compare with νότος (G3558), which also means 'south' but lacks the temporal component. The use of μεσημβρία for time is more frequent than for direction in the New Testament, but both senses were understood throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from μέσος and ἡμέρα; midday; by implication, the south:--noon, south.
Root Family
μεσημβρία (mesēmbria) — midday, noon, south
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3314-01 |
μεσημβρίαν | mesembrian | N ACC F SG |
noon | midday | midday | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences