### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **chthés**, represented by `{{G5504}}`, is a specific term for **"yesterday"**. According to its base definition, it can also refer more generally to time past. It appears only **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, making each occurrence significant.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G5504}}` serves both a literal and a theological function. It is used to mark a specific, recent past event, as when the nobleman's servants confirm the timing of his son's healing, stating, "**Yesterday** at the seventh hour the fever left him" [[John 4:52]]. It is also used to reference a past action in a confrontational question: "Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian **yesterday**?" [[Acts 7:28]]. Most significantly, it is used in a foundational statement about the nature of Christ: "Jesus Christ the same **yesterday**, and to day, and for ever" [[Hebrews 13:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the use of `{{G5504}}`:
* `{{G4594}}` **sḗmeron** (on the (i.e. this) day ... now ... :--this (to-)day): This word for "to day" is used in direct contrast with `chthés` to establish a timeline that emphasizes Christ's unchanging nature across past, present, and future [[Hebrews 13:8]].
* `{{G5610}}` **hṓra** (an "hour" (literally or figuratively):--day, hour, instant, season...): This term for "hour" is used to provide a precise moment within the "yesterday" that an event occurred, grounding the miracle in a specific time [[John 4:52]].
* `{{G2424}}` **Iēsoûs** (Jesus ... the name of our Lord): The subject of the powerful declaration in [[Hebrews 13:8]], identifying the one who is the same "yesterday" [[Hebrews 13:8]].
* `{{G5547}}` **Christós** (anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ): This title is used alongside the name Jesus, affirming that the Messiah's nature is eternal and consistent [[Hebrews 13:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G5504}}` is most clearly seen in its application to Jesus Christ.
* **The Immutability of Christ:** The word is a cornerstone in the declaration of Christ's unchanging character. By stating He is the same "**yesterday**, and to day, and for ever," the scripture asserts His eternal consistency [[Hebrews 13:8]].
* **Historical Grounding:** The use of `chthés` in the narratives grounds key events in a definite past. The healing of the nobleman's son [[John 4:52]] and the killing of the Egyptian [[Acts 7:28]] are presented not as vague legends but as events that happened on a specific "yesterday."
* **Eternal Nature:** In its primary theological use, `chthés` helps define the scope of Christ's eternality, showing that the same Jesus who acted in the past is the one who is present "to day" and will be "for ever" [[Hebrews 13:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G5504}}` is a precise temporal word whose significance outweighs its infrequent use. While it can literally denote the previous day in a historical account, its most profound application is in establishing the unchanging, eternal nature of Jesus Christ. It demonstrates how a simple word for **"yesterday"** can anchor a central tenet of faith, connecting Christ's past actions to His present and future reality [[Hebrews 13:8]].
TRV