TahitiRun
Member
Another way "three days and three nights" can be understood is by using the Greek copula "καί" that connects the two phrases "three days and (Gk: "καί") three nights", as an explicative copula having the meaning of "three days, even three nights". The clarifying phrase "three nights" being understood metaphorically for the spiritual darkness that would overtake or overshadow the three day period between Friday (day one) and Sunday (day three).
It also explains Jesus' reference to Jonah (Mat 12:40) as being "just as or exactly like" (Gk: ὥσπερ) Jonah's "three days and three nights" (or as the LXX Jon 1:17: "three days, even [Gk: "καί"] three nights") in the belly of the fish. Christ, like Jonah, would undergo/experience spiritual darkness, and do so on our behalf (Isa 53:4-5), as shown here:
Jon 2:2 saying, "I called to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice.
Jon 2:3 For thou didst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood was round about me; all thy waves and thy billows passed over me.
Jon 2:4 Then I said, 'I am cast out from thy presence; how shall I again look upon thy holy temple?'
Jon 2:5 The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head
Jon 2:6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever; yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God.
It also explains Jesus' reference to Jonah (Mat 12:40) as being "just as or exactly like" (Gk: ὥσπερ) Jonah's "three days and three nights" (or as the LXX Jon 1:17: "three days, even [Gk: "καί"] three nights") in the belly of the fish. Christ, like Jonah, would undergo/experience spiritual darkness, and do so on our behalf (Isa 53:4-5), as shown here:
Jon 2:2 saying, "I called to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and thou didst hear my voice.
Jon 2:3 For thou didst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood was round about me; all thy waves and thy billows passed over me.
Jon 2:4 Then I said, 'I am cast out from thy presence; how shall I again look upon thy holy temple?'
Jon 2:5 The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head
Jon 2:6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever; yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God.
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