Bible Dictionary
MOMENT
A moment is an instant or very short period of time, like a blink or twinkling of the eye. Scripture also uses it for a brief season in contrast with what is lasting or eternal.
Definition
A moment is an instant or a short period of time. In Scripture it may describe an instant like a wink or twinkling of the eye, or a brief season contrasted with what is lasting.
Biblical Usage
The word refers both to sudden instants and to short periods in passages concerning judgment, suffering, sorrow, and resurrection. Scripture does not use it as a fixed division of time.
Historical Background
Although the division of an hour into sixty minutes was known in Babylonia and became known to the Jews during the captivity, they do not appear to have adopted it extensively.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>mo'-ment (regha`, "a wink"; atomos, "an atom," stigme, "a point," parautika, immediately," "forthwith"): "Moment" is not used in Scripture for a division of time, but for an instant of time, as the wink or twinkling of the eye (Ex 33:5; Nu 16:21,45; La 4:6; 1Co 15:52), or for a short period of time (Job 20:5; Ps 30:5; Isa 26:20; 2Co 4:17). The division of the hour into sixty minutes was certainly known in Babylonia, and the Jews were made acquainted with it, at least during the captivity, but they do not seem to have adopted it very extensively.</p><p>H. Porter</p>