Is Erev Shabbos before Shabbos or when Fri. night on Shabbos

This is a really stupid question, considering I'm FFB, but I never knew the answer to this. Is Erev Shabbos Fri during the day? Or is it Fri. night after Shabbos already started??

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20498

Our days start at night. So Friday night is the 7th day, Shabbat. Thursday night-Friday is "erev". Once you light those candles, it's essentially "Shabbat" even though it's not night yet.
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So it doesn't mean "the evening of Shabbos" as opposed to the morning?

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20498

No. In Hebrew, I'd say "layl Shabbat" if I wanted to be specific. We know that's not Sat night, since Sat night is Motzai Shabbat.

Posted: Fri, Sep 03 2010, 9:48 am Post subject:

Friday night is leil Shabbat, as Tamiri said. Erev Shabbat is before Shabbat (Thursday night/Friday morning).
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Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2009 Posts: 4678

erev means the evening- but its used as the day before in this case.

I think that since jewish days start at night- evening or erev kinda means before the day... (if this meakes any sense)

so erev rosh hashana is tuesday night and wednesday day...
and erev shabbos is thurs night and fri day

What the others have all said.

Don't think it's a stupid question though, SOOOO many people use it to mean Shabbat evening and it drives me bonkers....
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Gold Member Joined: Jun 11 2008 Posts: 1974 Location: NJ

And along those lines, "Erev Pesach" means anytime after Purim.... Wink