Home > Table of Contents > Mk 15 > The Death of Jesus > Verses > Mark 15:33
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Mk 15:33a ... And having occurred a sixth hour, ...

The 6th hour is 12 noon, the brightest time of the day. Most bibles translate the time in this clause as "the sixth hour." However, there is no definite article (the) in the Greek text before "sixth hour," therefore "a sixth hour" is a more accurate translation. When you see the diagram you will see the significance.

Mk 15:33b ... it became dark over the whole land till a ninth hour.

Most bibles translate the time in this clause as "the ninth hour." However, there is no definite article (the) in the Greek text before "ninth hour," therefore "a sixth hour" is a more accurate translation. The 9th hour is 3pm. Luke 23:44-45 agrees with Mark about the three hours of darkness but then states that the darkness was due to a solar eclipse (eklipontos). Jesus died during the Jewish Pasch Celebration, on the 14th of Nissan, a date that always occurs, according to the Jewish moon based calendar, when the moon is fully illuminated at the furthest point in its orbit (when the earth is between the sun and the moon). During a solar eclipse, the moon must always be between the sun and the earth! Many bibles translators, fully aware that a solar eclipse is impossible during a full moon, mistranslate the Greek word for “eclipse” to “the sun was darkened.” According to Jewish custom, 3 PM was the time when the Passover Lamb was killed. Download the Book to see the diagram and more commentary for this verse.

Mk 15:32 < Verse > 15:34