Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – three days or not?

The bible contradicts itself, no surprise there. Since we are coming toward Easter and the mess that story is, I figured I’d add my response to a christian (on youtube) who insists that jesus was really in the tomb for three days, when the chronology in the myth has ol’ JC in the tomb for only one night and a portion of two other days, Friday and Sunday. (memes at the end)

“⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Unsurprisngly, jesus makes it clear that he isn’t talking about parts of days but states exactly how long he will be in the tomb. Again, christians simply make up things to try to excuse their bible’s failure.

This is the reference in the OT: “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 2

So, yes, your bible does contradict itself. Nothing new there. That article engages in the typical false claims that christian apologist use.

In Matthew 12 we have jesus using exact words for day, the time between down and dusk. Your claim is that this poor fellow is saying 3 days and 3 days, which makes no sense.

Word: hmera Pronounce: hay-mer’-ah Strongs Number: G2250 Orig: feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):–age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years. G5610 Use: TDNT-2:943,309 Noun Feminine Heb Strong: H216 H343 H819 H865 H1242 H1870 H2320 H2527 H3117 H3117 H3117 H3117 H3119 H3224 H3409 H4325 H5794 H5844 H6153 H6256 H6965 H7307 H7657 H8032 H8543 1) the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night 1a) in the daytime 1b) metaph., “the day” is regarded as the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort are perpetrated at night and in darkness 2) of the civil day, or the space of twenty four hours (thus including the night) 2a) Eastern usage of this term differs from our western usage. Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression “three days and three nights” does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days. 3) of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom 4) used of time in general, i.e. the days of his life.

and the exact word for night:

word: nux Pronounce: noox Strongs Number: G3571 Orig: a primary word; “night” (literally or figuratively):– (mid-)night. Use: TDNT-4:1123,661 Noun Feminine Heb Strong: H3915 H3916 H5399 1) night 2) metaph. the time when work ceases 2a) the time of death 2b) the time for deeds of sin and shame 2c) the time of moral stupidity and darkness 2d) the time when the weary and also the drunken give themselves up to slumber

The words in Jonah 1 used for day and night are:

Word: MEI Pronounce: yome Strong: H3117 Orig: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):–age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (… live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger. Use: TWOT-852 Noun Masculine Grk Strong: G746 G979 G1074 G1538 G2094 G2167 G2222 G2250 G2250 G2250 G2250 G2520 G2540 G3568 G3598 G4594 G5550 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day’s journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow

and for night:

Word: LIL Pronounce: lah’-yil Strong: H3915 Orig: or (Isa. 21:11) leyl \i lale\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ; also laylah \i lah’- yel-aw\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:–((mid-))night (season). H3883 Use: TWOT-1111 Noun Masculine Grk Strong: G3571 1) night 1a) night (as opposed to day) 1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)

The verse in Hosea 6 that is supposedly being referenced uses the term MEI, as you see above and does indeed mean 24 hours or perhaps a partial day. For all the christians love to cry “context” they strangely ignore it when it shows them wrong.