is used (I) literally, (a) of "the alternating natural period to that of the day," e.g., Matthew 4:2; 12:40; 2 Timothy 1:3; Revelation 4:8; (b) of "the period of the absence of light," the time in which something takes place, e.g., Matthew 2:14 (27:64, in some mss.); Luke 2:8; John 3:2 (7:50, in some mss.); Acts 5:19; 9:25; (c) of "point of time," e.g., Matthew 14:27 (in some mss.),30; Luke 12:20; Acts 27:23; (d) 27:23; (d) of "duration of time," e.g., Luke 2:37; 5:5; Acts 20:31; 26:7 (note the difference in the phrase in Mark 4:27 ); (II) metaphorically, (a) of "the period of man's alienation from God," Romans 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:5 , lit., "not of night," where "of" means 'belonging to;' cp. "of the Way," Acts 9:2; "of shrinking back" and "of faith," Hebrews 10:39 , marg.; (b) of "death," as the time when work ceases, John 9:4 .