"Three days and three nights" is a phrase often used in the Bible, particularly in reference to Jesus' time in the tomb, which is interpreted as meaning a period of roughly three days, not necessarily a literal 72 hours, as Jewish custom often counts part of a day as a full day; essentially, it's an idiom signifying a period spanning across three days and nights, with the emphasis on the full duration rather than precise hours. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key points about "three days and three nights": [3, 5, 6]
Biblical context: This phrase appears in Matthew 12:40 where Jesus compares his time in the tomb to Jonah's time in the whale, stating he will be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.". [3, 5, 6]
Jewish timekeeping: In Jewish tradition, a day is often counted as starting at sunset, so "three days and three nights" could encompass parts of the day before and after the actual three days. [1, 2, 7]
Interpretation debate: Some scholars argue that "three days and three nights" should be understood literally as a full 72 hours, while others believe it's an idiom signifying a period of approximately three days. [1, 2, 3]
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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/three-days.html
[2] http://www.messianicgoodnews.org/three-days-and-three-nights/
[3] http://www.talkgenesis.org/heart-of-the-earth/
[4] https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Symbolic%20Significance%20of%20the%20third%20day.htm
[5] https://www.amazingfacts.org/news-and-features/news/item/id/10899/t/three-days-and-three-nights
[6] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12:40&version=KJV
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_n14VZthrw