Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "dawning" in the Bible often symbolizes the beginning of a new day, a fresh start, or the arrival of divine intervention. It is a term that carries both literal and metaphorical significance throughout the Scriptures.
Literal DawningIn its literal sense, "dawning" refers to the break of day, the time when light begins to appear in the sky before the sun rises. This natural phenomenon is mentioned in several passages, highlighting the regularity and reliability of God's creation. For instance, in
Job 38:12, God questions Job, "Have you ever commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place?" . This verse underscores God's sovereign control over the natural order, including the daily occurrence of dawn.
Metaphorical DawningMetaphorically, "dawning" is used to signify enlightenment, hope, and the coming of God's salvation. In
Isaiah 58:8, the prophet declares, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly" . Here, the dawning light represents the swift and restorative power of God's righteousness and deliverance for those who seek Him.
The theme of dawning is also evident in the New Testament, where it is associated with the coming of Christ and the revelation of God's truth. In
Luke 1:78-79, Zechariah prophesies about the Messiah, saying, "Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" . This passage portrays Jesus as the divine Dawn, bringing light and guidance to a world shrouded in spiritual darkness.
Dawning and EschatologyIn eschatological contexts, "dawning" can symbolize the anticipated return of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. The imagery of a new day breaking is often used to describe the hope and expectation of believers for the fulfillment of God's promises. In
2 Peter 1:19, the apostle Peter encourages believers to pay attention to the prophetic word "as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" . This verse emphasizes the transformative power of Christ's return, likened to the dawning of a new day.
Dawning in Worship and DevotionThe concept of dawning also finds expression in the worship and devotional life of believers.
Psalm 5:3 reflects the practice of seeking God early in the morning: "In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation" . This verse illustrates the importance of beginning the day with prayer and reliance on God, setting a tone of faith and anticipation for His guidance and provision.
In summary, the theme of "dawning" in the Bible encompasses both the literal and symbolic, serving as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, the hope of salvation, and the promise of new beginnings through Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Dawn.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DAWN; DAWNINGdon: The word means the approach of the morning light, the breaking of the day. There are several words in the Bible that indicate this. nesheph, "twilight" of the morning (Job 7:4Psalm 119:147). The same word is used for evening twilight (1 Samuel 30:172 Kings 7:5, 7); penoth ha-boqer, "the turning" of the morning, the change from darkness to light, approach of the morning (Judges 19:26); 'aph`-appe shachar, "the eyelids" of the morning (Job 3:9;Job 41:18 (10)); aloth ha-shachar, "the ascent" or "rise" of the morning (Joshua 6:15); epi-phosko, "to grow light," the approach of the dawn (Matthew 28:1Luke 23:54 margin); diaugazo, "to grow bright", "lustrous" (2 Peter 1:19), "until the day dawn" figurative of the Second Coming of Christ (compare2 Peter 1:16).
H. Porter
Greek
4406. proimos -- early rain, early crops.... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: proimos Phonetic Spelling: (pro'-ee-mos)
Short Definition:
dawning, early Definition:
dawning, early.
...Strong's Hebrew
2225. zerach -- adawning, shining... 2224, 2225. zerach. 2226 . a
dawning, shining. Transliteration: zerach
Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-rakh) Short Definition: rising.
...5399. nesheph -- twilight
... Word Origin from nashaph Definition twilight NASB Word Usage dawn (2), dusky (1),
evening (1), twilight (8). dark,dawning of the day morning, night, twilight....
6437. panah -- to turn
... appear, at eventide, behold, cast out, come on, corner,dawning, empty,. A primitive
root; to turn; by implication, to face, ie Appear, look, etc....
6079. aphaph -- eyelid
...dawning, eye-lid. From uwph; an eyelash (as fluttering); figuratively, morning ray --
dawning, eye-lid. see HEBREW uwph. 6078, 6079. aphaph. 6080 ....
7839. shacharuth -- blackness
... youth. From shachar; adawning, ie (figuratively) juvenescence -- youth. see HEBREW
shachar. 7838, 7839. shacharuth. 7840 . Strong's Numbers.
7837. shachar -- dawn
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition dawn NASB Word Usage charm away (1),
dawn (16), dawn* (1),dawning of the day (1), daybreak (2), morning (2)....
Library
TheDawning
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXXXVI THEDAWNING. Ah! what time wilt Thou
come? when shall that cry, The Bridegroom's coming! fill the sky?...
Light isDawning 'Mong the Hills,
... EASTER Light isdawning 'mong the hills,. 7,7,7,7 tr., John Brownlie. I. Light
isdawning 'mong the hills,. Light of light Thy beams display,....
Light isDawning 'Mong the Hills, --
... EASTER XVIII Light isdawning 'mong the hills,". 7,7,7,7. Light isdawning
'mong the hills,". Light of lights Thy beams display,....
Awake, Arise, and Greet theDawning Day,
... EASTER VIII Awake, arise, and greet thedawning day,. 10,10,10,10. Awake, arise,
and greet thedawning day,. See, on the hills, the morning beams are shed;...
Hymns of the Russian Church
... VII Light, ere the dawn in beauty broke,. VIII Awake, arise, and greet thedawning
day,.... XVIII Light isdawning 'mong the hills,--. XIX Awake! the morn is here,....
The Twenty-Second Psalm.
... Shahar" to mean the Shechina, the glory cloud, which was visible among His people
and they speak of "the hind of the morning" as being thedawning of redemption...
Christianity a Light.
... In speaking of the beautifuldawning of the Star of Christianity the prophet says:
"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of...
Conflict.
... Ah! delay not, long-expecteddawning! Scatter the thick clouds and mist away,.... When
the watches of the night are past; It shall re??ppear, the welcomedawning,....
Simeon
... past the face of the Rabbi and the priest, not contemptuously, but wistfully, wondering
why he must: he looked past them, and beheld in thedawning shadow a...
The Gospel Day Seen in Prophecy.
... of ancient Israel men who walked with God and trusted in his promises were permitted
a visionary look down through the centuries to behold thedawning of a day...
Thesaurus
Dawning (11 Occurrences)... DAWN;
DAWNING. don: The word means the approach of the morning light, the breaking
of the day.
... H. Porter. Multi-Version Concordance
Dawning (11 Occurrences).
...Dawn (70 Occurrences)
... DAWN;DAWNING.... Judges 19:26 Then came the woman in thedawning of the day, and fell
down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until it was light....
Dawned (8 Occurrences)
Dawns (9 Occurrences)
Path (91 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Luke 1:79Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow
of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace." (WEY NIV)....
Astronomy
... round; whilst of the other stars, those in the West disappeared into the light of
the setting sun, and new stars seemed to spring out of thedawning light....
Flames (54 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 33:2 He said, The Lord came from Sinai,dawning on them from Seir; shining
out from Mount Paran, coming from Meribath Kadesh: from his right hand...
Tossings (2 Occurrences)
... Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and
I am full of tossings to and fro unto thedawning of the day....
Tossing (4 Occurrences)
... Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and
I am full of tossings to and fro unto thedawning of the day....
Toss (13 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Job 7:4 When I lie down, I say,'When shall I arise, and the night
be gone?' I toss and turn until thedawning of the day....
Resources
What does the rooster represent in Christianity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God's mercies are new every morning? | GotQuestions.orgIs Christmas a pagan holiday? | GotQuestions.orgDawning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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