### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word G1766 (ἔννατος, *énnatos*) is an ordinal numeral meaning "ninth." It is derived directly from the cardinal number ἐννέα (ennea), meaning "nine." Its semantic range is strictly numerical and temporal, indicating a specific position in a sequence or a precise point in time. While the word itself does not carry inherent symbolic meaning beyond its numerical value, the specific contexts in which "ninth" appears in the New Testament are imbued with profound theological significance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G1766 appears predominantly in the New Testament to designate the "ninth hour" of the day, which, according to the Jewish reckoning of time (from sunrise at approximately 6:00 AM), corresponds to 3:00 PM.
1. **The Hour of Christ's Crucifixion and Death:**
* [[Matthew 27:45]] states, "Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land." This period of supernatural darkness precedes Jesus' death.
* [[Matthew 27:46]] records, "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?'" This marks the moment of His final cry and subsequent death.
* [[Mark 15:33]] and [[Mark 15:34]] provide parallel accounts, similarly noting the darkness and Jesus' cry at the ninth hour.
* [[Luke 23:44]] also corroborates the darkness lasting until the ninth hour, immediately before Jesus' death.
The consistent mention of the "ninth hour" in the Synoptic Gospels underscores its significance as the climax of Jesus' atoning work on the cross.
2. **The Hour of Prayer and Divine Encounter:**
* [[Acts 3:1]] describes Peter and John going up to the temple "at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour." This highlights the traditional Jewish practice of prayer at specific times, and it is in this context that the lame man is healed, demonstrating God's power breaking forth during moments of devotion.
* [[Acts 10:3]] recounts Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, seeing a vision "about the ninth hour of the day." This pivotal vision leads to Peter's visit to Cornelius's house and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles, marking a crucial expansion of the early church.
* [[Acts 10:30]] further confirms this, with Cornelius recounting, "Four days ago at this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing." This reiterates the ninth hour as a time of earnest prayer and divine manifestation.
3. **Descriptive Numerical Use:**
* [[Revelation 21:20]] lists the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem, stating, "The ninth, a topaz." Here, G1766 is purely descriptive, indicating the ordinal position of one of the twelve precious stones without carrying further symbolic weight beyond its place in the divinely ordained sequence.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **ἐννέα (ennea):** The cardinal number "nine," from which G1766 is derived. While "nine" itself is not explicitly used in the New Testament, its ordinal form is central to the word study.
* **Jewish Time Reckoning:** Understanding the ancient Jewish system of time, where the day was divided into twelve hours from sunrise to sunset, is crucial for grasping the significance of the "ninth hour" (3:00 PM). This time often coincided with the evening sacrifice at the Temple, making it a natural hour for prayer.
* **Numerical Symbolism:** While the number nine itself does not have a universally agreed-upon symbolic meaning in biblical numerology as prominent as, say, three, seven, or twelve, its repeated association with critical moments (finality of Christ's sacrifice, culmination of prayer leading to divine intervention) lends it a contextual significance.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G1766 is profoundly tied to its contextual usage:
1. **The Culmination of Redemption:** The most solemn and significant use of G1766 is in relation to the death of Jesus Christ. The "ninth hour" marks the climax of God's redemptive plan, the moment when the Son of God, having borne the sins of humanity, breathed His last. The darkness that preceded this hour underscores the cosmic and eschatological implications of this event—a divine judgment enacted upon the Son for the salvation of humanity. It signifies the completion of the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling prophecy and securing atonement.
2. **The Power of Prayer and Divine Initiative:** In the book of Acts, the "ninth hour" emerges as a consistent time for prayer and divine encounter. Peter and John's visit to the Temple at this hour leads to a miraculous healing, demonstrating God's active presence and power through His disciples. More significantly, Cornelius's vision at the ninth hour highlights God's initiative in reaching out to the Gentiles. This repeated motif suggests that God often reveals His will and performs His mighty acts during moments of dedicated, earnest prayer, showing His responsiveness to those who seek Him.
3. **Continuity and Transformation in the Early Church:** The disciples' continued adherence to the "ninth hour" prayer tradition in Acts illustrates a continuity with their Jewish heritage, even as the Holy Spirit was ushering in the new covenant. Yet, these familiar patterns of worship became the very settings for radical, transformative events—healing, visions, and the inclusion of Gentiles—demonstrating God's ability to work within existing structures to bring about His new and expansive purposes.
### Summary
G1766 (ἔννατος), meaning "ninth," is an ordinal numeral whose profound significance in the New Testament is almost entirely derived from its specific contexts. Primarily used to denote the "ninth hour" (3:00 PM), it marks two distinct yet interconnected theological themes. Most weightily, it signifies the climactic moment of Jesus' atoning death on the cross, the hour of His final cry and the completion of His redemptive work. Concurrently, in the book of Acts, the "ninth hour" repeatedly appears as a traditional time of prayer, during which God initiated pivotal divine encounters and revelations, such as the healing of the lame man and Cornelius's vision leading to Gentile inclusion. Thus, G1766, though numerically simple, points to moments of profound divine action, whether in the fulfillment of salvation history or the progression of God's kingdom through dedicated spiritual devotion.
TRV