ἀλεκτοροφωνία (alektorophōnia)
alektorophōnia
crowing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun alektorophōnia literally means "cock-crowing," but in the New Testament it functions as a specific term for the third watch of the night, roughly between midnight and three in the morning. This usage appears in Mark 13:35, where Jesus instructs his followers to stay alert because they do not know when the master of the house will return—whether at evening, midnight, cockcrowing, or dawn.
Derived from the words for rooster (alektōr) and voice or sound (phōnē), this word reflects a practical way ancient people tracked time before mechanical clocks. By naming this period after the natural sound of roosters crowing, the text anchors spiritual vigilance in the rhythm of daily life. It reminds readers that watchfulness is required not just during the day, but through the deepest hours of darkness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alektorophōnia literally means the crowing of a rooster, yet in Scripture it marks a specific time: the third watch of the night, between midnight and three in the morning. In Mark 13:35, Jesus uses this familiar sound to remind us that we do not know when He will return. It was a practical marker for ancient people who tracked time by natural rhythms rather than clocks.
This image invites you to consider spiritual alertness in your own life. The call to watchfulness is not limited to daylight hours or obvious moments of decision. It extends into the quiet, uncertain times when rest might feel most tempting. Jesus’ instruction encourages a steady heart that remains ready, regardless of the hour.
You can find comfort in this promise: He knows every season of your life, including those late-night thoughts and quiet struggles. His return is certain, even if the timing is hidden from us. Let this truth ground you in peace rather than anxiety as you walk through each day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- when the rooster crows1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀλεκτοροφωνίας1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 13:35
Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
This verse uniquely uses alektorophōnia to specify the third watch of the night, emphasizing that vigilance is required even during the deepest hours of darkness when rest is natural.