or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **layil**, represented by `{{H3915}}`, is the primary term for **night**. It appears **233 times** across **223 unique verses** in the Bible. Based on the concept of a "twist away of the light," it literally denotes the period of darkness between evening and morning. Figuratively, it can also represent a time of **adversity** or a season of trial.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H3915}}` is central to God's created order and His interaction with humanity. In creation, God explicitly separates day from **night** [[Genesis 1:14]] and names the darkness **Night** [[Genesis 1:5]]. Throughout Israel's history, the **night** becomes a key time for divine guidance, such as the pillar of fire that gave light to the Israelites, allowing them to travel by **day** and **night** [[Exodus 13:21]]. The **night** is also a common setting for divine revelation, where God appears to individuals like Solomon in a dream [[1 Kings 3:5]] or gives counsel to the psalmist [[Psalms 16:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of night:
* `{{H3117}}` **yôwm** (day): This is the direct counterpart to **night**, and the two are frequently paired to signify a full 24-hour period of continuous action, such as meditating on God's law **day** and **night** [[Joshua 1:8]] or God's promise that the cycles of **day** and **night** will not cease [[Genesis 8:22]].
* `{{H2822}}` **chôshek** (darkness): While **layil** refers to the time period, **chôshek** refers to the state of **darkness** itself, which God named **Night** at creation [[Genesis 1:5]].
* `{{H1242}}` **bôqer** (morning): This term marks the end of the **night** and the beginning of the **day**. It is often contrasted with **night** to express God's faithfulness through all times [[Psalms 92:2]] or the transformation from darkness to light [[Amos 5:8]].
* `{{H2472}}` **chălôwm** (dream): This word for a **dream** is often associated with the **night**, as it is a primary vehicle for God's communication while people sleep [[Job 33:15]]. God came to figures like Abimelech and Laban in a **dream** by **night** ([[Genesis 20:3]], [[Genesis 31:24]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3915}}` is significant, representing a duality of experience in the life of faith.
* **A Time for Divine Encounter:** The stillness of **night** is often when God communicates most intimately. He appears in visions [[Genesis 46:2]], gives counsel [[Psalms 16:7]], and makes covenants [[Genesis 26:24]], turning the darkness into a period of revelation.
* **A Metaphor for Adversity:** The **night** is frequently used to symbolize periods of sorrow, fear, and judgment. It is a time for weeping [[Lamentations 1:2]], crying out in distress [[Psalms 22:2]], and experiencing God's judgment, as with the smiting of the firstborn in Egypt [[Exodus 12:12]].
* **A Period for Constant Devotion:** The faithful are called to worship and meditate on God's law without ceasing, both **day** and **night** ([[Joshua 1:8]], [[Psalms 1:2]]). This demonstrates a devotion that is not dependent on circumstance, with prayer and songs offered even in the **night** ([[Psalms 42:8]], [[Psalms 134:1]]).
* **A Sign of God's Enduring Order:** God's covenant with creation is symbolized by the unceasing cycle of **day** and **night**, which He promises will remain as long as the earth endures ([[Genesis 8:22]], [[Jeremiah 33:20]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3915}}` is far more than a simple marker of time. It is a foundational element of God's created rhythm, framing the human experience. As **layil**, it serves as a backdrop for both profound divine revelation and deep human adversity. From God's guiding pillar of fire in the **night** [[Exodus 13:21]] to the call for unceasing prayer [[Nehemiah 1:6]], the concept of **night** in scripture illustrates that God's presence and the believer's devotion are not confined to the light of day.
TRV