### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **epiphṓskō**, represented by `{{G2020}}`, means **to begin to grow light**. It appears only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Based on its usage, the term can signify the light of a new day beginning at sunrise or the conceptual start of a day as another draws to a close, as with the Sabbath.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{G2020}}` is used to mark pivotal moments in time. In Luke, it describes the beginning of the Sabbath day, which "drew on" following the preparation for Jesus' burial [[Luke 23:54]]. Conversely, in Matthew, the word is translated as "began to dawn," referring to the sunrise on the "first day of the week" when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulchre [[Matthew 28:1]]. Both instances use the word to frame the Sabbath.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context in which `{{G2020}}` appears:
* `{{G3796}}` **opsé** (late in the day; after the close of the day): This adverb is used immediately before `{{G2020}}` in [[Matthew 28:1]] to describe the end of the Sabbath, highlighting the transition into the new day that was dawning.
* `{{G4521}}` **sábbaton** (the Sabbath): This word provides the central context for both uses of `{{G2020}}`. The dawning or drawing on is always in relation to the beginning or end of the Sabbath ([[Matthew 28:1]], [[Luke 23:54]]).
* `{{G3391}}` **mía** (one or first): This is used to define the day that "began to dawn" in [[Matthew 28:1]] as the "first day of the week," establishing its significance as the start of a new period.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G2020}}` is tied to its exclusive use within the Passion narrative.
* **Marking Sacred Time:** The word specifically denotes the transition into or out of the Sabbath at the time of Christ's death and resurrection. It marks the solemn beginning of the Sabbath rest after the crucifixion [[Luke 23:54]].
* **The Dawn of a New Reality:** Its use in [[Matthew 28:1]] is profoundly significant, as the "dawning" is not merely of a new day but of the resurrection. It symbolizes the arrival of a new era of hope, commencing on the "first day of the week."
* **Transition Point:** `{{G2020}}` functions as a literary signpost, moving the narrative from the finality of the crucifixion and burial to the new beginning found in the empty tomb.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2020}}` is a rare but impactful word. While its literal meaning is simply "to begin to grow light," its placement in scripture gives it immense significance. It is used exclusively to mark the passage of time around the Sabbath during Jesus' death and resurrection, serving as a temporal anchor for the transition from the cross to the empty tomb and the dawning of a new redemptive reality.
TRV