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ὄψιος

ópsios

G3798 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Pertaining to the latter part of the day; specifically, describing the period after late afternoon and approaching or entering evening. When used substantivally (feminine), denotes 'evening' or 'nightfall,' typically covering the period from late afternoon until darkness. In biblical contexts, often marks the close of the day and is associated with the time for certain ritual or communal activities.

Semantic Range

late in the day, evening, late afternoon, dusk, nightfall, (as noun: the time after late afternoon until night)

Root / Etymology

From ὀψέ (late, after, at a late hour), the adverb meaning 'late' or 'afterward.' ὄψιος is the adjectival or, when feminine, substantival form: 'late' or 'evening.' The formation follows standard patterns for adjectives and nouns derived from adverbial roots in Koine Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ὄψιος primarily designates the 'late' period of the day, in contrast to πρωΐ ('morning') or μεσημβρία ('midday'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, ὄψιος and its forms are commonly used to mark the time for prayers, sacrifices, or meals (such as the 'evening' sacrifice prescribed in Levitical regulations). The term is distinct from ἑσπέρα, another word often translated 'evening,' with ὄψιος typically signifying a later or final phase of daylight into dusk, sometimes extending into early night depending on context. English translations like 'evening,' 'eventide,' or 'nightfall' can obscure the precise timing implied in Hellenistic usage, which more specifically refers to the interval after late afternoon but before complete darkness. LXX and NT usage often aligns with the division of the day at sundown for ritual observance and calendar reckoning, thus 'evening' marks the transition into the new day in Israelite and Judean practice.

Translation Consistency

primary "evening" 15 occurrences

ὄψιος primarily denotes the latter part of the day or nightfall and is commonly used substantivally to mean ‘evening’ or ‘dusk.’ 'Evening' is the natural, idiomatic English rendering that covers the typical semantic range (late afternoon → nightfall) and will read consistently across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὀψέ; late; feminine (as noun) afternoon (early eve) or nightfall (later eve):--even(-ing, (-tide)).

Root Family

ὀψ- (opsárion) — to roast, to prepare cooked food, to serve as relish or side dish

Root ὀψ- late, at the close of the day
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3795 ὀψάριον small prepared fish
G3797 ὄψιμος the late one

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3798-02 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening 14
G3798-01 ὀψία opsia ADJ.S NOM F SG evening evening evening 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3798-02 Matthew 8:16 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 14:15 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 14:23 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening's of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 16:2 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening's of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 20:8 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 26:20 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Matthew 27:57 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 1:32 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening's of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 4:35 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 6:47 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 11:11 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 14:17 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
G3798-02 Mark 15:42 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening's of evening of evening
G3798-01 John 6:16 ὀψία opsia ADJ.S NOM F SG evening evening evening
G3798-02 John 20:19 ὀψίας opsias ADJ.S GEN F SG evening of evening of evening
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