References to clock time in the Bible?

[tinalewis]

Hi everyone - I’m new to the forums.

For years now I’ve wondered about references to the time of day in the Bible. For example in the readings during Holy Week there are references to 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock. I don’t believe there were actual clocks at that time in history. Was this referring to sundial time? Or did they use another mechanism such as a dripping water clock? What would have been the need to know the time of day - except perhaps for religious services?

Thank you for “your time” - pun not originally intended, just added anyway.

 

[pnewton]

In one case a staircase was used to measure time.

**The shadow on the stair going back ten steps: **King Hezekiah is ill, and is visited by the prophet Isaiah who tells him he will recover after God has heard his prayers. Hezekiah asks for a sign that this will happen. Isaiah tells him a shadow (from the sun) will go back up ten steps on a stairway, after it had gone down it during the day. It does this, and Hezekiah is healed. (2 Kings 20:9-11).

 

[Ignatius]

Hi everyone - I’m new to the forums.

For years now I’ve wondered about references to the time of day in the Bible. For example in the readings during Holy Week there are references to 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock. I don’t believe there were actual clocks at that time in history. Was this referring to sundial time? Or did they use another mechanism such as a dripping water clock? What would have been the need to know the time of day - except perhaps for religious services?

Thank you for “your time” - pun not originally intended, just added anyway.

The actual words say “about the sixth hour” for noon and “the ninth hour” for 3:00 PM. The first hour was sunrise (about 6:00 AM) and counting up from there.