The concept of sunset is richly woven into the tapestry of biblical narratives. Often symbolizing the end of a day and the setting of a chapter, sunsets in Scripture are marked by reflection, transition, and sometimes, deep spiritual lessons. As the sun descends beneath the horizon, it invites moments of closure, contemplation, and the promise of renewal at dawn. Below are selected verses that highlight the beauty and implications of sunset as portrayed in the Bible.
Bible Verses about Sunset
1. Genesis 1:5 – The First Day
“God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” – Genesis 1:5
Cross-References
Psalm 74:16 – “The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.”
Job 26:10 – “He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.”
Revelation 21:25 – “On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”
2. Psalm 104:19 – Appointed Times
“He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” – Psalm 104:19
Cross-References
Jeremiah 33:20 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time…”
Amos 5:8 – “He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land…”
3. Deuteronomy 24:15 – Fairness in Labor
“Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise, they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” – Deuteronomy 24:15
Cross-References
Leviticus 19:13 – “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.”
James 5:4 – “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you…”
Proverbs 3:28 – “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you.”
4. Mark 1:32 – Jesus Heals Many
“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.” – Mark 1:32
Cross-References
Luke 4:40 – “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, laying his hands on each one, he healed them.”
Matthew 8:16 – “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”
Acts 5:16 – “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”
5. Joshua 10:27 – Victory in Battle
“At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave, they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.” – Joshua 10:27
Cross-References
Joshua 10:12 – “On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.'”
Joshua 8:29 – “He impaled the king of Ai on a pole and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate…”
2 Samuel 18:17 – “They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him.”
6. Exodus 17:12 – Moses Stands Firm
“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” – Exodus 17:12
Cross-References
Exodus 17:11 – “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”
Isaiah 33:2 – “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
Hebrews 12:12 – “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”
7. Psalm 113:3 – Endless Praise
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” – Psalm 113:3
Cross-References
Malachi 1:11 – “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets…”
Psalm 50:1 – “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.”
Isaiah 59:19 – “From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.”
8. Ephesians 4:26 – In Your Anger
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” – Ephesians 4:26
Cross-References
James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Proverbs 14:29 – “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”
Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
9. Matthew 14:23 – Jesus Prays on a Mountainside
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,” – Matthew 14:23
Cross-References
Luke 6:12 – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God.”
Mark 1:35 – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
John 6:15 – “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.”
10. Genesis 15:12 – Abram’s Vision
“As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.” – Genesis 15:12
Cross-References
1 Samuel 26:12 – “So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.”
Job 4:13 – “Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on people…”
Daniel 8:18 – “While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.”
11. 2 Samuel 3:35 – Mourning and Comfort
“Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, ‘May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!’” – 2 Samuel 3:35
Cross-References
Job 1:20 – “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.”
Psalms 35:13 – “Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,”
1 Samuel 14:24 – “Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!'”
12. Acts 13:11 – Spiritual Blindness
“Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” – Acts 13:11
Cross-References
Acts 9:8-9 – “Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
John 9:39 – “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.'”
13. Ecclesiastes 1:5 – The Cycles of Nature
“The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.” – Ecclesiastes 1:5
Cross-References
Psalm 19:6 – “It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.”
Genesis 8:22 – “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”
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14. Judges 14:18 – Samson’s Riddle
“Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, ‘What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?’” – Judges 14:18
Cross-References
Proverbs 25:16 – “If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”
1 Chronicles 11:22 – “Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.”
1 Kings 4:29 – “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”
15. Psalm 55:17 – Evening, Morning, and Noon
“Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” – Psalm 55:17
Cross-References
Daniel 6:10 – “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
Psalm 88:1 – “Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.”
Lamentations 3:23 – “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
16. Amos 8:9 – Darkness at Noon
“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” – Amos 8:9
Cross-References
Matthew 27:45 – “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”
Isaiah 13:10 – “The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.”
Joel 2:10 – “Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.”
17. Zechariah 14:7 – Unique Day
“It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.” – Zechariah 14:7
Cross-References
John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”
Isaiah 60:19 – “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
18. Luke 24:29 – The Appearance on the Road
“But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.” – Luke 24:29
Cross-References
Genesis 19:2 – “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”
Mark 6:35 – “By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. ‘This is a remote place,’ they said, ‘and it’s already very late.'”
John 11:10 – “It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
19. 2 Corinthians 6:2 – Day of Salvation
“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2
Cross-References
Isaiah 49:8 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people…”
Hebrews 3:15 – “As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'”
Romans 13:11 – “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
20. Malachi 4:2 – The Sun of Righteousness
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” – Malachi 4:2
Cross-References
Luke 1:78-79 – “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
21. Isaiah 60:20 – Everlasting Light
“Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” – Isaiah 60:20
Cross-References
Psalm 36:9 – “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Micah 7:8 – “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
22. Ecclesiastes 11:7 – Light is Sweet
“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 11:7
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 6:5 – “Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man.”
Ecclesiastes 7:11 – “Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.”
Proverbs 24:13-14 – “Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
23. Psalm 65:8 – Signs of Dawn and Sunset
“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” – Psalm 65:8
Cross-References
Psalm 46:10 – “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”
Psalm 89:11 – “The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.”
Isaiah 45:6 – “so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
24. Matthew 13:43 – Righteous Shine
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 13:43
Cross-References
Daniel 12:3 – “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
Philippians 2:15 – “so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
Isaiah 60:3 – “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
25. Romans 13:12 – Night is Nearly Over
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 – “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
26. James 1:11 – Withering Sun
“For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” – James 1:11
Cross-References
Isaiah 40:7 – “The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.”
1 Peter 1:24 – “For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.'”
Psalm 102:11 – “My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.”
27. Revelation 21:23 – Heavenly Light
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” – Revelation 21:23
Cross-References
Isaiah 24:23 – “The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.”
Revelation 22:5 – “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
28. Psalm 19:4-5 – Circuit of the Sun
“Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.” – Psalm 19:4-5
Cross-References
Rom 10:18 – “But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course, they did: ‘Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.’”
Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
29. Isaiah 60:19 – Everlasting Light
“The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” – Isaiah 60:19
Cross-References
Revelation 21:24 – “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
30. Acts 27:20 – Storm as Veils Sun
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” – Acts 27:20
Cross-References
Jonah 1:4 – “Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.”
2 Corinthians 1:8 – “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure…”
Psalm 107:27 – “They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end.”
31. Matthew 20:1 – Vineyard Work
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.” – Matthew 20:1
Cross-References
John 9:4 – “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”
32. Ecclesiastes 9:11 – Time and Chance
“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” – Ecclesiastes 9:11
Cross-References
Jeremiah 9:23 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches…'”
1 Corinthians 9:24 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
Romans 9:16 – “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
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Final Thoughts
Sunset, a time when the horizon blushes with hues of gold and red, serves as a daily reminder of the magnificent cycles established by God from the beginning of creation. Within the pages of the Bible, sunsets mark moments of reflection, introspection, and a call for action or rest. As the verses above demonstrate, sunsets can be times of divine intervention, personal revelation, and a broader spiritual symbolism reflective of life’s transient nature. This beautiful part of the day encourages us to pause, give thanks, and prepare for the coming dawn, where new opportunities await.
The sunset is not solely an end but also a bridge to a new beginning. Embracing the lessons and symbolism attributed to sunset within Scripture can enhance our understanding of God’s work in our lives and inspire us to embrace each day’s closure with peace and gratitude, knowing that His purposes are steadfast and His mercies are renewed with each dawn.