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Luke 23:44
ESV It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
NIV It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
NASB It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour,
CSB It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three,
NLT By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
KJV And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
NKJV Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

What does Luke 23:44 mean?

Jesus has been hanging from the cross since the third hour—9 a.m. (Mark 15:25). Three hours later, the earth responds. In prophecy, darkness is a sign of judgment (Amos 8:9; Joel 2:10; Zephaniah 1:15). It's also used to protect people from the presence of God (Exodus 19:18). In Greco-Roman culture, it can represent the death of a prominent person.

We aren't told what causes the darkness. This cannot be a natural solar eclipse: Passover (Luke 22:15) happens in connection with a full moon, the opposite of the conditions for a solar eclipse. Nor do eclipses last three hours. This may be a natural phenomenon caused by God such as intense cloud cover. It may be a physical effect of the spiritual celebration of evil. Most likely, it's a sign of God's judgment, regardless of the mechanism.

Many things happen during this darkness. The temple curtain is torn from the top to the bottom (Luke 23:45). An earthquake rattles Jerusalem (Matthew 27:51, 54). Jesus cries out, making a curious statement about the Father forsaking Him (Matthew 27:46–50; Psalm 22:1). Then He dies.

The centurion declares Jesus innocent and the Son of God (Matthew 27:54; Luke 23:47). The crowds, many of whom had mocked Jesus, turn for home, beating their chests and mourning (Luke 23:48).

The statement in this verse continues into the first part of the next, speaking of time and darkness (Luke 23:45).
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