Bible Dictionary
Eclipse
An eclipse is the darkening of the sun or another heavenly body when its light is obscured. Biblical passages use such darkness as a sign of divine judgment, though the darkness at Jesus’ crucifixion is not reasonably explained as an ordinary solar eclipse.
Definition
An eclipse is the obscuring or darkening of the sun or another heavenly body. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the sun and the earth. The sources distinguish ordinary eclipses from the extraordinary darkness associated with Christ’s crucifixion.
Biblical Usage
The prophets use the darkening of the sun and other heavenly bodies in descriptions of divine anger and judgment. The darkness at the crucifixion lasted three hours and therefore is not reasonably explained as an ordinary solar eclipse.
Historical Background
A solar eclipse cannot occur at the full moon, because it requires the moon to pass between the sun and earth. Since the crucifixion occurred at Passover, when the moon was full, the darkness cannot be attributed to a normal eclipse.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Of the sun alluded to in Amos 8:9; Micah 3:6; Zech. 14:6; Joel 2:10. Eclipses were regarded as tokens of God’s anger (Joel 3:15; Job 9:7). The darkness at the crucifixion has been ascribed to an eclipse (Matt. 27:45); but on the other hand it is argued that the great intensity of darkness caused by an eclipse never lasts for more than six minutes, and this darkness lasted for three hours. Moreover, at the time of the Passover the moon was full, and therefore there could not be an eclipse of the sun, which is caused by an interposition of the moon between the sun and the earth.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>e-klips'.</p><p>See ASTRONOMY.</p>