ἡμιώριον
hēmiṓrion
G2256 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A period comprising half an hour. The term specifically denotes a duration of thirty minutes, based on the division of an hour into two equal parts. In contexts where precise or brief intervals are emphasized, signifies a measured half-hour segment of time.
Semantic Range
half of an hour, a half-hour period, thirty-minute time span
Root / Etymology
From ἥμισυ ('half') and ὥρα ('hour'), combining the meanings to indicate 'a half of an hour'. The formation follows standard Greek compounding patterns for temporal fractions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term ἡμιώριον is rare in extant Greek literature and does not appear in earlier Classical texts, representing a later or specialized formation in Greek, particularly within Hellenistic and Koine periods. Its use in the New Testament (e.g., Revelation 8:1) reflects a concern for precise quantification of time unfamiliar in much of earlier Greek usage, where hours were themselves a more generalized concept. In the LXX and other Jewish-Greek literature, strict division of hours is uncommon; such measurements became more prominent under Roman influence and with increased adoption of sundials and water clocks. The English phrase 'half an hour' accurately captures the intended meaning, but the Greek term reflects a cultural move toward more exact timekeeping terminology. There are no significant semantic layers beyond the strictly temporal sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of ἥμισυ and ὥρα; a half-hour:--half an hour.
Root Family
ἡμιώριον (hēmiōrion) — half, hour, temporal division
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2256-01 |
ἡμιώριον | emiorion | N ACC N SG |
half an hour | a half-hour | half-hour | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2256-01 |
Revelation 8:1 | ἡμιώριον | emiorion | N ACC N SG |
half an hour | a half-hour | half-hour |