νύξ (G3571) — Greek Lexicon — Scattered Israelites

νύξ

nýx

G3571 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise, 'night', used of the literal night as well as metaphorically for a time of danger, ignorance, secrecy, or moral darkness. In most contexts, refers to the natural division of time, but can also signify periods characterized by obscurity, fear, or the unknown.

Semantic Range

night (time between sunset and sunrise), period of darkness, time of sleep or rest, period of secrecy or obscurity, symbolic of adversity or ignorance, portion/quarter of the night (as in night watches)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root νυκ- (nyk-) relating to 'night'. Cognate with Latin 'nox', Sanskrit 'naktam', demonstrating Indo-European origin. Not derived from another Greek word, but a primary noun in the language.

Historical & Contextual Notes

νύξ is common in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek to indicate the nighttime period, carried over consistently into the Septuagint and New Testament. In the New Testament, 'night' can denote both literal night (the hours after sundown) and symbolically represent times of trial, secrecy, adversity, or absence of enlightenment (e.g., John 9:4, Romans 13:12). Figurative uses parallel classical Greek, where 'night' can mean blindness, sleep, or ignorance. English translations typically render νύξ as 'night', but may miss metaphorical or idiomatic meanings when the term functions as a symbol of ignorance or evil. In Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, night often delineated the time for sleep, watchfulness (see divisions of the night for keeping watch), and ritual or legal periods. The word underwent little semantic shift but absorbed greater metaphorical layering in later literature. Disambiguate from ἡμέρα (day), with which it forms conceptual pairs (day and night cycles, moral dualities).

Translation Consistency

primary "night" 50 occurrences

νύξ is most naturally and commonly rendered as “night” (the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise). This matches the majority of occurrences and covers literal, temporal, and metaphorical senses (period of darkness, watches of the night, times of secrecy or danger). “Night” is the most natural, concise English headword; plural and idiomatic uses can be formed by regular inflection (nights, night’s, of the night, etc.).

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary word; "night" (literally or figuratively):-- (mid-)night.

Root Family

νυκ- (nýx) — night, darkness

Root νυκ- night, darkness

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3571-04`	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night	33
`G3571-03`	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night	13
`G3571-05`	νὺξ	nux	`N NOM F SG`	night	night	night	7
`G3571-01`	νύκτα	nukta	`N ACC F SG`	night	night	night	4
`G3571-02`	νύκτας	nuktas	`N ACC F PL`	nights	nights	nights	4

Occurrences in Scripture

61 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3571-04`	Matthew 2:14	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	by night
`G3571-02`	Matthew 4:2	νύκτας	nuktas	`N ACC F PL`	nights	nights	nights
`G3571-02`	Matthew 12:40	νύκτας	nuktas	`N ACC F PL`	nights	nights	nights
`G3571-02`	Matthew 12:40	νύκτας	nuktas-2	`N ACC F PL`	nights	nights	nights
`G3571-04`	Matthew 14:25	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Matthew 25:6	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	of the night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	Matthew 26:31	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-03`	Matthew 26:34	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Matthew 28:13	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	of night
`G3571-01`	Mark 4:27	νύκτα	nukta	`N ACC F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-04`	Mark 5:5	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Mark 6:48	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	Mark 14:30	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Luke 2:8	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	of night
`G3571-01`	Luke 2:37	νύκτα	nukta	`N ACC F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-04`	Luke 5:5	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	Luke 12:20	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-03`	Luke 17:34	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Luke 18:7	νυκτός	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-02`	Luke 21:37	νύκτας	nuktas	`N ACC F PL`	nights	nights	nights
`G3571-04`	John 3:2	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	by night
`G3571-05`	John 9:4	νὺξ	nux	`N NOM F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-03`	John 11:10	νυκτί	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-05`	John 13:30	νύξ	nux	`N NOM F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-04`	John 19:39	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	by night
`G3571-03`	John 21:3	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Acts 5:19	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	the night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Acts 9:24	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Acts 9:25	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	by night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	Acts 12:6	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Acts 16:9	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	the night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Acts 16:33	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Acts 17:10	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	Acts 18:9	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-01`	Acts 20:31	νύκτα	nukta	`N ACC F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-03`	Acts 23:11	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	Acts 23:23	νυκτός	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	Acts 23:31	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-01`	Acts 26:7	νύκτα	nukta	`N ACC F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-03`	Acts 27:23	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-05`	Acts 27:27	νὺξ	nux	`N NOM F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-04`	Acts 27:27	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-05`	Romans 13:12	νὺξ	nux	`N NOM F SG`	night	night	night
`G3571-03`	1 Corinthians 11:23	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	1 Thessalonians 2:9	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	1 Thessalonians 3:10	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	night	of night	of night
`G3571-03`	1 Thessalonians 5:2	νυκτὶ	nukti	`N DAT F SG`	the night	in night	night
`G3571-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:5	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	of night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:7	νυκτὸς	nuktos	`N GEN F SG`	at night	of night	of night
`G3571-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:7	νυκτὸς	nuktos-2	`N GEN F SG`	at night	of night	of night

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