δύσις (dusis)
dusis
sunset
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun dusis refers to the sinking or setting of the sun, marking the transition from day into evening. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in the longer ending of Mark’s Gospel (Mark 16:2), where the women arrive at the tomb as the sun was rising, though the Greek text literally speaks of "the sunset" having passed or the time of setting being near. This usage anchors the narrative in a specific, observable moment of daily life.
Its root lies in the verb dusō, meaning to set or sink down, similar to how Thucydides used it for the sun’s descent in classical Greek. The word carries a sense of finality and rest, describing the natural course of celestial bodies rather than an abrupt event. Translators often render this as "sunset" or "evening," capturing the quiet closure of the day.
While rare in Scripture, its presence in Mark highlights the importance of time and place in the resurrection account. The setting sun serves as a backdrop to the women’s visit, emphasizing that the events unfold within ordinary human experience. This detail connects the miraculous with the mundane, showing how divine actions occur against the rhythm of creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dusis points to the quiet closing of a day, marking the natural transition from light into evening. In Mark’s Gospel, this term anchors the resurrection narrative in the rhythm of ordinary life. By placing the women at the tomb during this specific time, the text reminds us that God’s most profound acts occur within our daily routines.
You do not need to seek extraordinary moments to encounter the divine. The setting sun signals rest and completion, inviting you to trust that every day has its own purposeful arc. Even in times of fear or uncertainty, like the women who fled in astonishment, there is a gentle invitation to find peace in the simple passage of time.
This word encourages a faith grounded in reality. It suggests that hope is not an escape from the world but a light that shines within it. As day turns to night, you are reminded that rest is a gift, and that new beginnings often follow the quiet closing of what has come before.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] west1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δύσεως1×
Key Verses
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Mark 16:8
They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
This verse captures the immediate human reaction to the empty tomb, where fear and trembling overshadow the significance of the time of day mentioned in the broader context.