Evening

Evening in the Hebrew day marked the beginning of the new day, since the biblical reckoning ran from sunset to sunset following the creation account's pattern of "evening and morning" (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13). The Hebrew word erev (twilight, evening) designated the period between sunset and full darkness. Sacrificial offerings were made at evening — the second daily burnt offering was at the ninth hour (approximately 3 p.m.), which coincided with "between the evenings" (Exodus 16:12; Leviticus 23:5). The Passover lamb was slain at this time. Evening also appears in Jesus's parable of the householder who hired workers throughout the day and paid them at evening (Matthew 20:1–8). Mark 13:35 names evening as one of the four night-watches (evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn) when the master might return.