H6672a H6672a
Noon, midday — the peak of the day when the sun is highest, marking a specific time or metaphorical brightness
The plural-form noun צָהֳרַיִם designates the brightest part of the day, when the sun stands at its zenith. It marks specific narrative moments — Joseph's brothers dine at noon in Egypt (Gen 43:16, 25), Ish-bosheth rests during the midday heat (2 Sam 4:5), and Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal as noon passes without answer (1 Kgs 18:26-29). Prophetically, Amos envisions the sun going down at noon as a sign of divine judgment (Amos 8:9). Figuratively, it represents clarity and blessing: the righteous will shine like the noonday (Ps 37:6), and obedience brings noonday brightness even in darkness (Isa 58:10). German 'Mittag' and French 'midi' confirm the consistent temporal reference.
Senses
1. noon, midday — Noun for noon or midday. Used with prepositions as a temporal marker: בַּצָּהֳרַיִם 'at noon' (Gen 43:16; 1 Kgs 18:27), עַד־הַצָּהֳרַיִם 'until noon' (1 Kgs 18:26). Connotes vulnerability — groping at noonday means blindness (Deut 28:29); attack at noon signals surprise (Jer 6:4). Figuratively represents vindication (Ps 37:6; Isa 58:10). Translations converge (spa 'mediodía,' fra 'midi,' deu 'Mittag'). 23×
AR["ال-ظُّهْرِ", "الظَّهِيرَةِ", "الظُّهْرِ", "بَ-صَّهُرَيِم", "بِ-الظُّهْرِ", "في-ال-ظُّهْرِ", "في-الظَّهيرَةِ", "فِي-الظَّهِيرَةِ", "فِي-الظُّهْرِ", "فِي-الـ-ظُّهْرِ", "وَ-ظُهرًا"]·ben["-দুপুরে", "ও-দুপুরে", "দুপুর", "দুপুরে", "দুপুরে-", "দুপুরের", "দুপুরের।", "মধ্যাহ্নে"]·DE["[בצהרים]", "[צהרים]", "am-Mittag", "bei-Mittag", "bei-der-Mittag", "bei-noonday", "der-Mittag", "und-bei-noon"]·EN["and-at-noon", "at-noon", "at-noonday", "at-the-noon", "in-the-noon", "noon", "the-noon"]·FR["et-midi", "le-midi", "midi", "à-le-midi", "à-le-noon", "à-midi", "à-midi;", "à-noon", "בצהרים"]·heb["ב-ה-צהרים", "ב-צהריים", "ב-צהרים", "ב-צוהריים", "ה-צהריים", "ו-צהריים", "צהריים", "צוהריים"]·HI["दोपहर", "दोपहर-ה", "दोपहर-की", "दोपहर-के", "दोपहर-को", "दोपहर-में", "में-दोपहर"]·ID["Isyboset", "di-tengah-hari", "pada-tengah-hari", "pada-waktu-siang-hari", "siang-hari", "tengah-hari"]·IT["[בצהרים]", "a-il-mezzogiorno", "a-il-noon", "a-noon", "e-mezzogiorno", "il-mezzogiorno", "mezzogiorno", "nel-a-noon", "nel-in-il-noon"]·jav["awan", "ing-awan", "ing-siang", "ing-tengah-awan", "ing-wanci-awan", "ing-wanci-siyang", "ing-wanci-tengah-dinten", "ing-wekdal-siyang", "kula-sesambat", "siang", "srengéngé", "wanci-tengah-ari", "wonten-ing-tengah-awan"]·KO["그-대낮-에", "그-정오", "그리고-정오-에", "대낮-에", "대낮에", "에-정오", "에-한낮", "에-한낮에", "정오", "정오-에", "정오에", "정오에-", "정오의", "한-낮의", "한낮-에"]·PT["ao-meio-dia", "ao-meio-dia;", "e-ao-meio-dia", "meio-dia", "meio-dia.", "o-meio-dia"]·RU["-полудня", "в-полдень", "и-в-полдень", "полдень", "полуденный", "полудня"]·ES["a-mediodía", "al-mediodía", "al-mediodía!", "el-mediodía", "mediodía", "y-mediodía"]·SW["adhuhuri", "mchana", "mchana-kweupe", "na-adhuhuri", "saa", "wa-adhuhuri", "wakati-wa-adhuhuri"]·TR["-öğlende", "ogle", "oglede-", "oglen-vakti", "oglenin", "ve-öğle", "öğlede", "öğlen", "öğlende", "öğlende-", "öğlenin", "öğleye", "öğleyin", "öğleyin-"]·urd["دوپہر", "دوپہر-میں", "دوپہر-کو", "دوپہر-کی۔", "دوپہر-کے", "میں-دوپہر", "وَ-دوپَہر", "ہ-دوپہر", "ہ-دوپہر-کے"]
Gen 43:16, Gen 43:25, Deut 28:29, 2 Sam 4:5, 1 Kgs 18:26, 1 Kgs 18:27, 1 Kgs 18:29, 1 Kgs 20:16, 2 Kgs 4:20, Job 5:14, Job 11:17, Ps 37:6 (+11 more)
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [צֹ֫הַר] n.[m.] only pl. צָהֳרַ֫יִם midday, noon, Dt 28:29 +, צָהֳרָ֑יִם Gn 43:16 + (when sun mounts its highest; on form as expanded pl. (not du.) v. Ges§ 88 c and reff.);—usually 1. noon as a specif. time of day, 1 K 18:29; especially בַּצּ׳ at noon Gn 43:16, 25; Am 8:9; 1 K 18:27; 20:16; Ct 1:7 (resting-time for flock), Je 6:4 (opp. evening); בְּעֵת צ׳ Je 20:16 (dist. from morning) as…