What does dayspring mean in the Bible?

Answer  
  

The term *dayspring* is only found in two places in the Bible and is used primarily in the King James Version (KJV) or Bible versions published before the second half of the twentieth century. *Dayspring* is an archaic word meaning “dawn” or “morning.” The King James Version uses the word *dayspring* in Job 38:12: “Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place?” The New International Version (NIV) translates Job 38:12 this way: “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?” In this passage the Lord emphasizes His all\-encompassing power—He is the only One who can cause the dawn.  
  

The word *dayspring* is also found in Zacharias’s prophecy at the birth of his son, John. [Zacharias](Zechariah-in-the-Bible.html) says that “the dayspring from on high hath visited us” (Luke 1:78, KJV). In this instance, the dayspring is a metaphor for the promised Messiah, Jesus, who would soon arrive. The NIV translates the word for “dayspring” as “the rising sun”; the New American Standard Version (NASB) translates it as “the Sunrise from on high.” The word *Sunrise* is capitalized in the NASB because it refers to the Son of God who would rise like the sun to bring light to all men (see Malachi 4:2 and John 1:4, 9–10\).  
  

The word *dayspring* is still used today as a generic term for “a new era,” but it is no longer used for “sunrise.” Words like *dayspring* that have lost or changed their meanings with the passage of time are one reason for newer Bible versions. When the [King James Bible](King-James-Version-KJV.html) was first translated into English, the word *dayspring* was commonly used. In the past 400 years, *dayspring* has become archaic and can cause confusion to modern readers.  
  

It is helpful when studying the Bible to use several versions and compare wordings in order to gain a fuller comprehension of what is being said. There are many resources that provide side\-by\-side comparisons of every verse, as well as the original Greek or Hebrew. By comparing different versions of the same verse, we gain insights into words such as *dayspring* and move closer to comprehending our incomprehensible God.  
  

Dayspring is also the name of a popular Christian greeting card company: [.](https://www.dayspring.com)  
  

