Topical Encyclopedia
The term "late" in the biblical context often refers to timing, delay, or the end of a period. It can be understood both literally and metaphorically, depending on the context in which it appears. The concept of lateness is significant in Scripture, as it often relates to themes of readiness, judgment, and the fulfillment of God's promises.
1. Literal Use of "Late":In a literal sense, "late" can refer to the time of day or the end of a period. For example, in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus speaks of laborers who are hired "late in the day" (
Matthew 20:6). This parable illustrates the generosity of God’s grace, as those hired late receive the same wage as those who worked all day, emphasizing the kingdom of heaven's values over worldly fairness.
2. Delay and Readiness:The concept of lateness is often associated with delay and the need for readiness. In the parable of the ten virgins, five are described as wise and five as foolish. The foolish virgins are unprepared when the bridegroom arrives late, and they miss the wedding feast (
Matthew 25:1-13). This parable underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and preparedness for the return of Christ, as the exact timing is unknown.
3. God's Timing:Scripture frequently addresses the idea that God's timing is perfect, even when it seems late from a human perspective. In
2 Peter 3:9 , it is written, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." This passage reassures believers that what may appear as a delay is actually an expression of God's patience and mercy.
4. The End Times:The term "late" can also relate to eschatological themes, referring to the "last days" or the end times. In
2 Timothy 3:1 , Paul warns, "But understand this: In the last days, terrible times will come." This reference to the "last days" serves as a call to discernment and faithfulness amidst challenges and moral decline.
5. Personal Reflection and Repentance:The notion of being "too late" is a sobering reminder of the urgency of repentance and faith.
Hebrews 3:15 exhorts, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." This verse emphasizes the immediacy of responding to God's call, as delaying repentance can lead to spiritual hardening and missed opportunities for salvation.
6. Agricultural Imagery:In the agricultural context, "late" can refer to the latter rains, which are crucial for the harvest.
James 5:7 encourages believers to be patient, "See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient until it receives the early and late rains." This imagery highlights the necessity of patience and trust in God's provision and timing.
In summary, the concept of "late" in the Bible serves as a multifaceted theme that encompasses literal timing, spiritual readiness, divine patience, eschatological anticipation, and the urgency of repentance. It calls believers to trust in God's perfect timing and to remain vigilant and prepared for His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring.
2. (v.) Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late period of life.
3. (v.) Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.
4. (v.) Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence.
5. (v.) Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late revels; a late watcher.
6. (a.) After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.
7. (a.) Not long ago; lately.
8. (a.) Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night.
Greek
3796. opse -- long after,late... long after,
late. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: opse Phonetic Spelling:
(op-seh') Short Definition:
late, in the evening Definition:
late, in the
...5302. hustereo -- to comelate, be behind, come short
... to comelate, be behind, come short. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hustereo
Phonetic Spelling: (hoos-ter-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am lacking, fall...
879b. aphustereo -- to belate, spec. to keep back
... 879a, 879b. aphustereo. 880 . to belate, spec.... Word Origin from apo and hustereo
Definition to belate, spec. to keep back NASB Word Usage withheld (1)....
3703. opora --late summer, ripe fruits
...late summer, ripe fruits. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: opora
Phonetic Spelling: (op-o'-rah) Short Definition: autumn, autumnal fruits...
3797. opsimos -- the latter rain
... the latter rain. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: opsimos Phonetic Spelling:
(op'-sim-os) Short Definition:late in the year Definition:late, latter....
3798. opsios -- evening
... opsios. 3799 . evening. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: opsios Phonetic
Spelling: (op'-see-os) Short Definition:late Definition:late, evening....
5352. phthinoporinos -- autumnal
... is expected. Word Origin from phthinoporon (late autumn) Definition autumnal
NASB Word Usage autumn (1). autumnal. From derivative...
5610. hora -- a time or period, an hour
... word Definition a time or period, an hour NASB Word Usage hour (84), hours (3),
late* (2), moment (3), once* (3), short* (1), time (6), while (4)....
2947. kulio -- to roll
... wallow. Word Origin alate form of kulindo (to roll, roll along) Definition
to roll NASB Word Usage rolling around (1). wallow, roll....
4877. sunantesis -- meet.
... Word Originlate or variant reading for hupantesis, qv. meet. From sunantao; a meeting
with -- meet. see GREEK sunantao. 4876, 4877. sunantesis. 4878 ....
Strong's Hebrew
648. aphil --late...late. Transliteration: aphil Phonetic Spelling: (aw-feel') Short Definition:
late.
Word Origin from the same as ophel Definition
late NASB Word Usage
late (1).
...309. achar -- to remain behind, tarry
... root Definition to remain behind, tarry NASB Word Usage delay (11), delayed (1),
late (2), linger (1), stay uplate (1), stayed (1), tarry (1)....
6412. paliyt -- escaped one, fugitive
... that have escaped fugitive Or paleyt {paw-late'}; or palet {paw-late'}; from palat;
a refugee -- (that have) escape(-d, -th), fugitive. see HEBREW palat....
865. ethmowl -- yesterday, recently, formerly
... Spelling: (eth-mole') Short Definition: time. before that time, heretofore,
oflate old, times past, yesterday Or tithmowl {ith-mole'}; or...
314. acharon -- coming after or behind
... Or (shortened);acharon {akh-ar-one'}; from 'achar; hinder; generally,late or last;
specifically (as facing the east) western -- after (-ward), to come...
4456. malqosh -- latter rain, spring rain
... Word Origin from the same as leqesh Definition latter rain, spring rain NASB Word
Usagelate (1), latter rain (1), rain* (1), spring rain (6). latter rain....
3310. Yaphlet -- an Asherite
... 3309, 3310. Yaphlet. 3311 . an Asherite. Transliteration: Yaphlet Phonetic
Spelling: (yaf-late') Short Definition: Japhlet. Word...
6405. pallet -- deliverance
... 6404, 6405. pallet. 6406 . deliverance. Transliteration: pallet Phonetic
Spelling: (pal-late') Short Definition: forth. Word Origin...
Library
It wasLate in the Afternoon when Diamond and his Mother and the...
... Chapter 15 It waslate in the afternoon when Diamond and his mother and
the baby reached? It waslate in the afternoon when Diamond...
TheLate Work of God in North America
... Fourth Series Sermon 131 TheLate Work of God in North America. "The appearance
was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." Ezek.1:16....
TooLate Loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of Ancient Days...
... Book X Chapter XXVII Toolate loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days? Too
late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new!...
Report of Mr. Geo. Borrow'sLate Proceedings in Spain
... Report of Mr. Geo. Borrow'slate Proceedings in Spain. LONDON, October 17,
1836. On the 16th of January I quitted Badajoz, a Spanish...
You May Object and Rejoin, Why was the Saviour Sent Forth SoLate?...
... Book II. 75 You may object and rejoin, Why was the Saviour sent forth solate?... You
may object and rejoin, Why was the Saviour sent forth solate?...
A Further Thanksgiving to God for the Change in theLate...
... Homily XIII. A further thanksgiving to God for the change in thelate
melancholy aspect of affairs.? A further thanksgiving to...
Translation of a Paraphrase of Part of Chap. xxxi. Of Jeremiah, by...
... xxxi. of Jeremiah, by thelate Felix Neff, Pastor of the High Alps: sung at his
bedside, a little before his death, by some of his friends. 10.10.10.10...
Why the Son was Sent SoLate.
... Chapter IX."Why the Son was sent solate. As long then as the former
time [309] endured, He permitted us to be borne along by...
A Selection from the Notices by the Press of "The Life and Letters...
... SERMONS. A SELECTION FROM THE NOTICES BY THE PRESS OF "THE LIFE AND LETTERS
OF THELATE REV. FW ROBERTSON.". [THE SPECTATOR.] "No...
Virginity a Plant from Heaven, IntroducedLate; the Advancement of...
... Discourse I."Marcella. Chapter II."Virginity a Plant from Heaven, Introduced
Late; The Advancement of Mankind to Perfection, How Arranged....
Thesaurus
Late (24 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) Coming after the time when due, or after the usual
or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a
late spring.
...Already (171 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Matthew 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying,
"This place is deserted, and the hour is alreadylate....
Lonely (14 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Matthew 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying,
"This place is deserted, and the hour is alreadylate....
It's (28 Occurrences)
... It's (28 Occurrences). Matthew 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to
him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is alreadylate....
Rains (16 Occurrences)
... 5:7 Go on waiting calmly, my brothers, till the coming of the Lord, like the farmer
waiting for the good fruit of the earth till the early andlate rains have...
Remote (17 Occurrences)
... Remote (17 Occurrences). Matthew 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came
to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is alreadylate....
Deserted (54 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Matthew 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying,
"This place is deserted, and the hour is alreadylate....
Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... Levitical descent, are cases in point. Davididae, descendants of David, are
found aslate as the Roman period. There is a tradition that...
Golgotha (4 Occurrences)
... One of the strangest ideas is that of thelate General Gordon, who thought that
the resemblance to a skull lay in the contours of the ground as laid down in...
Machpelah (6 Occurrences)
... It was also visited in 1866 by the Marquis of Bute, and in 1869 by thelate Emperor
(Frederick) of Germany, then the Crown Prince of Prussia....
Resources
What does the Bible say about being late or lateness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about punctuality? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the books of 1 Esdras and 2 Esdras? | GotQuestions.orgLate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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