In the context of the Bible, the term "overnight" refers to events or activities that occur during the night or are completed by the following morning. The concept of overnight occurrences is significant in various biblical narratives, often symbolizing divine intervention, protection, or the unfolding of God's plan.

Biblical Instances:

1. Jacob's Wrestling with God:
One of the most notable overnight events in the Bible is Jacob's wrestling with God at Peniel. In Genesis 32:24-26 , it is recorded: "So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that He could not overpower Jacob, He struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled. Then the man said, 'Let Me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me.'" This overnight struggle resulted in a transformative blessing for Jacob, marking a pivotal moment in his life and relationship with God.

2. The Passover:
The Passover event, as described in Exodus 12, is another significant overnight occurrence. The Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood, so the Lord would pass over their homes during the night, sparing them from the plague of the firstborn. Exodus 12:29 states, "Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well." This overnight event led to the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

3. Peter's Imprisonment:
In the New Testament, the account of Peter's miraculous release from prison is another example of divine intervention occurring overnight. Acts 12:6-7 narrates, "On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly!' And the chains fell off his wrists." This overnight deliverance highlights God's power to rescue and protect His servants.

4. Paul and Silas in Philippi:
Another significant overnight event is the imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi. Acts 16:25-26 describes, "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose." This miraculous event led to the conversion of the jailer and his household, demonstrating the power of faith and worship even in dire circumstances.

Symbolism and Themes:

Overnight events in the Bible often symbolize a period of waiting, testing, or transition, culminating in divine intervention or revelation by morning. These narratives emphasize themes of faith, perseverance, and the assurance of God's presence and power during times of darkness or uncertainty. The transformation from night to day serves as a metaphor for spiritual awakening, deliverance, and the fulfillment of God's promises.1. (n.) The fore part of the night last past; the previous evening.

2. (adv.) In the fore part of the night last past; in the evening before; also, during the night; as, the candle will not last overnight.

3915. layil -- night
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition night NASB Word Usage midnight*
(6), night (200), nights (14), nocturnal (1), overnight* (2), tonight (10). ...
/hebrew/3915.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... 2), nobility* (1), offspring (1), old (167), old when his son (1), one (1), one
(2), one born (1), ones (1), ones* (1), opening* (1), overnight* (2), people (5 ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

3885a. lun -- to lodge, pass the night, abide
... over (1), lies all night (2), lodge (9), lodged (6), lodges (3), night (2), pass
(1), remain (1), remain with you all night (1), remain overnight (2), sleep (1 ...
/hebrew/3885a.htm - 6k

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
... Running down the coast from Miletus, they stayed overnight, first at the small island
of Coos, then stretched across the next day to Rhodes, and on the third ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/drawing nearer to the storm.htm

The Swift Destroyer
... Overnight, in the excitement of the terrible scene enacted before his door, Lot
had been not only resolved himself to flee, but his voice had urged his sons-in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the swift destroyer.htm

Counsel for Outward Behaviour.
... Those who practise ordinary prayer in which the intellect is exercised should remember
the subject of meditation prepared overnight, because if the mind is ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/ii counsel for outward behaviour.htm

Petilianus Said: "Here You have the Fullest Possible Proof that a ...
... speak? for even early in the morning they are reeking with wine, drunk, it
may be already in the day, it may be still from overnight. ...
/.../chapter 89 194 petilianus.htm

The Third Exile, 356-362.
... On the fourth day from the arrival of Cataphronius, that is in the early hours of
Thursday, June 13, after a service (which had began overnight, pp.290, 256 fin ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 8 the third exile.htm

Naparima and Montserrat
... worth the waiting. It was not till next morning that I found into what a
charming place I had entered overnight. Around were books ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter x naparima and montserrat.htm

The Mystery of Personality
... Street. Mr. Nelson was out of the city, but in characteristic fashion, his
wife took them in and kept them overnight. Mrs. Nelson's ...
/.../herrick/frank h nelson of cincinnati/the mystery of personality.htm

The Right to My Own Time
... I might get back home for my noon meal, or I might get back by sunset, or
I might even stay overnight"what difference did it make? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 6 the right to.htm

Chapter xxiv
... Then they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and stayed there overnight.
In the morning they arose and he said: Let me go back to my master. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiv.htm

Overnight (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (adv.) In the fore part of the night last past; in the evening before; also,
during the night; as, the candle will not last overnight. ...
/o/overnight.htm - 8k

Overmuch (16 Occurrences)

/o/overmuch.htm - 11k

Aaron (343 Occurrences)
... And these, along with the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi, were laid up overnight
in the tabernacle, and in the morning it was found that while the other ...
/a/aaron.htm - 56k

Overpass (1 Occurrence)

/o/overpass.htm - 7k

Loan (9 Occurrences)
... A pledge, or security, must not be taken in person by the creditor from the house
of the debtor, nor kept overnight, if the debtor be poor. ...
/l/loan.htm - 16k

Lend (21 Occurrences)
... A pledge, or security, must not be taken in person by the creditor from the house
of the debtor, nor kept overnight, if the debtor be poor. ...
/l/lend.htm - 18k

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible say anything about crop circles? | GotQuestions.org

Why is there a curse associated with hanging on a tree? | GotQuestions.org

Overnight: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus