Matthew 27:45

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 27:45 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:45 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now from the sixth hour, etc.] Which was twelve o’clock at noon, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour; till three o’clock in the afternoon, the time the Jews call “between the two evenings”; and which they say f1692 is “from the sixth hour, and onwards”. Luke says, the sun was darkened, (<422345>Luke 23:45). This darkness was a preternatural eclipse of the sun; for it was at the time when the moon was in the full, as appears from its being at the time of the passover; which was on the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, the Jews beginning their months from the new moon: and moreover, it was over all the land, or earth, as the word may be rendered; and the Ethiopic version…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Now from the sixth hour - That is, from our twelve o’clock. The Jews divided their day into twelve hours, beginning to count at sunrise. There was darkness - This could not have been an eclipse of the sun, for the Passover was celebrated at the time of the full moon, when the moon is opposite to the sun. Luke says Luke 23:45 that “the sun was darkened,” but it was not by an eclipse. The only cause of this was the interposing power of God - furnishing testimony to the dignity of the sufferer, and causing the elements to sympathize with the pains of his dying Son. It was also especially proper to furnish this testimony when the “Sun of righteousness” was withdrawing his beams for a time, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“From the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the earth unto the ninth hour - Insomuch, that even a heathen philosopher seeing it, and knowing it could not be a natural eclipse, because it was at the time of the full moon, and continued three hours together, cried out, "Either the God of nature suffers, or the frame of the world is dissolved." By this darkness God testified his abhorrence of the wickedness which was then committing. It likewise intimated Christ's sore conflicts with the Divine justice, and with all the powers of darkness. Matthew 27:46”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“27:45 Darkness symbolizes the judgment of God or, more specifically, the arrival of the day of the Lord (see Amos 5:18, 20; 8:9-10; also Jer 4:27-28; 13:16; 15:9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“from: Mar 15:25, Mar 15:33, Mar 15:34; Luk 23:44, Luk 23:45 darkness: That this general darkness was wholly preternatural is evident from this, that it happened at the passover, which was celebrated only at the full moon, a time in which it was impossible for the sun to be eclipsed, natural eclipses happening only at the time of the new moon. (See Introduction to the Comprehensive Bible, p. 59.) Isa 50:3; Amo 8:9; Rev 8:12, Rev 9:2 Matthew 27:46”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification