Greek word · G3561
νουμηνία
noumēnia
New Moon
The new moon, meaning the first day of a lunar month. In Israel it was a sacred day with extra offerings and trumpet blasts (Num 10:10; 28:11–15; 1 Sam 20:5; Amos 8:5; Isa 1:13–14).
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
νεομηνία (Att.. contr., νουμ-, Rec.), -ας, ἡ
(νέος, μήν), [in LXX chiefly for חֹדֶשׁ ;]
new moon: of the Jewish festival, Colossians 2:16.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Colossians 2:16
- Range of meaning
The new moon, meaning the first day of a lunar month. In Israel it was a sacred day with extra offerings and trumpet blasts (Num 10:10; 28:11–15; 1 Sam 20:5; Amos 8:5; Isa 1:13–14).
- Against the English
English versions agree ("new moon"). NIV and NLT expand it to a "celebration" or "ceremonies," which states openly that it is a sacred observance.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The LXX uses it often for the Israelite new-moon festival. In Anatolia, moon cults were also prominent, including the Phrygian god Mēn. Some scholars (e.g. Arnold) think a local audience may have heard lunar and calendar observance against that wider background.
Where it appears
Colossians · 1
-
Colossians 2:16 νεομηνίας a New Moon
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
Here: The first day of the lunar month, which Israel marked with extra offerings and trumpet blasts (Num 10:10, 28:11–15). It is the monthly item in the list.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.