Month, Months
Month, Months
connected with mene, “the moon,” akin to a Sanskrit root ma—, “to measure” (the Sanskirt masa denotes both moon and month, cp., e.g., Lat. mensis, Eng., “moon” and “month,” the moon being in early times the measure of the “month”). The interval between the 17th day of the second “month” (Gen 7:11) and the 17the day of the seventh “month,” is said to be 150 days (Gen 8:3-4), i.e., five months of 30 days each; hence the year would be 360 days (cp. Dan 7:25; Dan 9:27; Dan 12:7 with Rev 11:2-3; Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14; Rev 13:5; whence we conclude that 3 1/2 years or 42 months = 1260 days, i.e., one year = 360 days); this was the length of the old Egyptian year; later, five days were added to correspond to the solar year. The Hebrew year was as nearly solar as was compatible with its commencement, coinciding with the new moon, or first day of the “month.” This was a regular feast day, Num 10:10; Num 28:11-14; the Passover coincided with the full moon (the 14th of the month Abib: SEE PASSOVER).
Except in Gal 4:10; Jam 5:17; Rev 9:5, Rev 9:10, Rev 9:15; Rev 11:2; Rev 13:5; Rev 22:2, the word is found only in Luke’s writings, Luk 1:24, Luk 1:26, Luk 1:36, Luk 1:56; Luk 4:25; Act 7:20; Act 18:11; Act 19:8; Act 20:3; Act 28:11, examples of Luke’s care as to accuracy of detail.
an adjective, denoting “of three months” (tri, “for” treis, “three,” and No. 1), is used as a noun, a space of three “months,” in Heb 11:23.
an adjective, denoting of four “months” (tetra, for tessares, “four,” and No. 1), is used as a noun in Joh 4:35 (where chronos, “time,” may be understood).