hōra · hour

What it means

hōra (ὥρα) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “hour”.

Also moment, time.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. One of the twelve parts of the day, counted from morning.
2. The instant set by God, like that of Jesus' death.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Hour: each of the twelve parts of the day; also the time set for something. Thayer: a definite time; an hour, the twelfth part of the day; the fitting moment.

• The hour of the day: third, sixth, ninth Matthew 20:3Matthew 27:45
• “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” John 11:9
• “In that hour”: at that very moment Matthew 8:13
• Jesus' hour: “My hour has not yet come” John 2:4John 12:23
• The hour set by God: “that day and hour”, “the last hour” Matthew 24:36John 4:231 John 2:18

Historical and cultural background

The Gospels count the hours from the morning: the third hour, the sixth and the ninth (Matthew 20:3; 27:45). John 11:9 gives the count: “twelve hours in the day”.

How we translate it

“Hour” 97 times, “hours” 3. “While” 2, “moment” 1 and “short time” 1 when the sense is a stretch of time, not an hour of the clock; “late” 2 when the Greek says the hour is already far on (Mark 6:35).

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• hour ×97
• hours ×3
• late ×2
• while ×2
• moment ×1
• short time ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×21
• Mark×12
• Luke×17
• John×26
• Acts×11
• Romans×1
• 1 Corinthians×2
• 2 Corinthians×1
• Galatians×1
• 1 Thessalonians×1
• Philemon×1
• 1 John×2
• Revelation×10

• Matthew 8:13

  And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And the servant was healed in that hour.

• Matthew 9:22

  Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Take courage, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

• Matthew 10:19

  But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

• Matthew 14:15

  When evening came, the disciples came to him, saying, “The place is deserted, and the hour has already passed; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

• Matthew 15:28

  Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

• Matthew 17:18

  And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed from that hour.

• Matthew 18:1

  At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

• Matthew 20:3

  And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle;

• Matthew 20:5

  And they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did the same.

• Matthew 20:9

  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they received a denarius each.

• Matthew 20:12

  saying, ‘These last ones worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

• Matthew 24:36

  But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, except the Father alone.

• Matthew 24:44

  Because of this you also must be ready, because at an hour you do not expect the Son of Man is coming.

• Matthew 24:50

  the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know,

• Matthew 25:13

  So keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

• Matthew 26:40

  And he comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “So you were not able to keep watch with me one hour?

• Matthew 26:45

  Then he comes to the disciples and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Look, the hour has come near, and the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners.

• Matthew 26:55

  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.

• Matthew 27:45

  Now from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.

• Matthew 27:46

  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

• Mark 6:35

  And when it was already late, his disciples came to him and were saying, “This place is deserted, and it is already late;

• Mark 11:11

  And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and having looked around at everything, since the hour was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

• Mark 13:11

  And when they lead you away, handing you over, do not worry beforehand what you are to say, but whatever is given you in that hour, say that; for it is not you who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

• Mark 13:32

  But concerning that day or the hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

• Mark 14:35

  And going forward a little, he was falling on the ground and praying that if it is possible, the hour might pass from him.

• Mark 14:37

  And he comes and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to keep watch one hour?

• Mark 14:41

  And he comes the third time and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; look, the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners.

• Mark 15:25

  Now it was the third hour when they crucified him.

• Mark 15:33

  And when the sixth hour came, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

• Mark 15:34

  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

• Luke 1:10

  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

• Luke 2:38

  And coming up at that very hour, she was giving thanks to God and was speaking about him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

• Luke 7:21

  In that hour he healed many of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and to many blind people he granted sight.

• Luke 10:21

  In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing before you.

• Luke 12:12

  for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say.”

• Luke 12:39

  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

• Luke 12:40

  You also be ready, because at an hour you do not expect the Son of Man is coming.”

• Luke 12:46

  the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and put his portion with the unbelieving.

• Luke 13:31

  In that very hour some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out and go from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”

• Luke 14:17

  And he sent his slave at the hour of the dinner to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

And 66 more times.