Darkness and Gloom

† חֹ֫שֶׁךְ n.m. Ex 10:21 darkness, obscurity;—abs. חֹשֶׁךְ Gn 1:2 + 75 times (+ Ex 8:12 del. Co A B etc.); cstr. id. Ex 10:22; sf. חָשְׁכִּי ψ 18:29 = 2 S 22:29;— 1. darkness (opp. אוֹר) lit. Gn 1:2, 4 (P), Is 45:7 Jb 26:10 Ec 2:13, cf. in imprecation Jb 3:4, 5 (ח׳ וצלמות = לילה Gn 1:5, 18 (P), cf. Jos 2:5 (JE), Is 45:19 Jb 17:12; 24:16; 38:19 ψ 104:20; darkness in mines Jb 28:3; of extraordinary darkness, in Egypt Ex 10:21(×2) (E); ח׳־אֲפֵלָה Ex 10:22 (E), ψ 105:28, from pillar of cloud Ex 14:20 (J); at Mt. Sinai Dt 4:11; 5:20; of clouds of theophany 2 S 22:12 = ψ 18:12; of darkness in death, or Sheʾôl, 1 S 2:9 Jb 10:21 (אֶרֶץ ח׳ וצלמות), 17:13; 18:18 ψ 88:13 Pr 20:20 (אִישׁוֹן ח׳ = extreme of darkness). 2. = secret place(s) Id 45:3 Jb 12:22 (‖ צלמות); = hiding-place Jb 34:22 (‖ id.), cf. ψ 139:11, 12;—on Ez 8:12, v. supr. 3. fig., a. = distress Is 5:30; 9:1; 29:18 (fig. of blindness), 42:7; 49:9; 58:10; 59:9; 60:2 La 3:2 Mi 7:8 ψ 18:29 = 2 S 22:29, Jb 15:22, 23, 30; 20:26; 22:11; 23:17; 29:3 ψ 107:10, 14 (in both ‖ צלמות), 112:4 Ec 5:16; 11:8. b. = dread, terror, symbol. of judgment Am 5:18, 20 Zp 1:15 Na 1:8 Ez 32:8 Jo 2:4; 3:4. c. = mourning Is 47:5. d. = perplexity Jb 5:14; 12:25; 19:8; confusion ψ 35:6. e. = ignorance Jb 37:19 Ec 2:14. f. = evil, sin Is 5:20(×2) Pr 2:13. g. = obscurity Ec 6:4(×2).

σκότος, ὁ, more rarely σκότος, εος, τό (see. entry near the end), darkness, gloom, Refs 8th c.BC+; opposed to φάος, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to ἡμέρα, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 in Refs 8th c.BC+ always of the darkness of death, mostly in phrase τὸν δὲ σ. ὄσσε κάλυψεν Refs; so in Trag. and Comedy texts, σκότῳ θανεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἤδη με περιβάλλει σ. Refs 5th c.BC+; σκότον εἶναι τεθνηκότος (i.e. Αἰσχύλου) Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 of the nether world, Refs 5th c.BC+; παῖδες ἀρχαίου ΣκότουRefs 5th c.BC+ __4 the darkness of the womb, φυγόντα μητρόθεν σκότον Refs 4th c.BC+ __5 of blindness, σκότου νέφος Refs 5th c.BC+; βλέποντα νῦν μὲν ὄρθ᾽, ἔπειτα δὲ σκότον, i.e. μηδέν,Refs 5th c.BC+ __5.b dizziness, vertigo, Refs 5th c.BC+; compare σκοτόδινος, -δινιάω. __6 metaphorically, σκότῳ κρύπτειν hide in darkness, Refs 5th c.BC+; σκότον ἔχειν to be in darkness, obscurity, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀπορία καὶ σ. Refs 5th c.BC+ it is dark and uncertain, Refs 5th c.BC+ __7 of a person, Μητρότιμος ὁ σ., like{ὁ σκοτεινός}, the mystery-man, Refs 6th c.BC+; also, darkness, i.e. ignorance, Refs 4th c.BC+; deceit, σ. καὶ ἀπάτη Refs 5th c.BC+ __8 plural, σκότη shadows in a picture, Refs 2nd c.AD+ regarded the masculine as the Attic dialect form: the neuter never occurs in Refs 5th c.BC+, and is nowhere required by the metre in Trag., though it sometimes occurs in codices, Refs 5th c.BC+; it is found, however, without variant, in Refs 5th c.BC+ and Attic dialect Prose, Refs 5th c.BC+; the word is always neuter in LXX and “NT.” σκοτί-α, ἡ, (σκότος) darkness, gloom, NT+3rd c.BC+ __II in Architecture, scotia, cavetto, a sunken moulding, so called from the dark shadow it casts, Refs 1st c.BC+ __III Σκοτιά, epithet of Aphrodite in Egypt, Refs

† חָשַׁךְ vb. be, grow dark (NH id.; Aramaic חֲשַׁךְ, ܚܫܶܟ; Arabic حَسِكَ bear rancour, v. LagBN 30)— Qal Pf. ח׳ Is 5:30 + 4 times; וְחָֽשְׁכָה consec. Mi 3:6 (but v. infr.); חָֽשְׁכוּ La 5:17; וְחָֽשְׁכוּ consec. Ec 12:3; Impf. 3 fs. תֶּחְשַׁךְ Ec 12:2; וַתֶּחְשַׁךְ Ex 10:15; 3 mpl. יֶחְשְׁכוּ Jb 3:9; 3 fpl. תֶּחְשַׁכְנָה ψ 69:24;— 1. be, grow dark, אוֹר Is 5:30, cf. (fig.) Jb 18:6; הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ Is 13:16 (fig.); היום Ez 30:18 (where read חשׁך, for MT Baer חשׂך); Jb 3:9 (subj. כוכבים), cf. Ec 12:2 (subj. השׁמשׁ, האור, הירח, הכוכבים); impers. Mi 3:6 (si vera l.; but read prob. וַחֲשֵׁכָה, corresponding with לַיְלָה preceding). 2. have a dark colour: ח׳ מִשְּׁחוֹר תָּֽאֳרָם La 4:8 darker than blackness is their visage; of the earth הָאָרֶץ Ex 10:15. 3. grow dim La 5:17 (subj. עינינו), cf. ψ 69:24 (fig.), Ec 12:3 subj. הָרֹאוֹת i.e. the eyes Hiph. Pf. הֶחְשִׁיךְ Am 5:8, וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֫י Am 8:9; Impf. יַחֲשִׁיךְ ψ 139:12; יַחְשִׁךְ Je 13:16; וַיַּחְשִׁךְ ψ 105:28; Pt. מַחְשִׁיךְ Jb 38:2;— 1. make dark, יום לילה הח׳ Am 5:8; abs. cause darkness Je 13:16 ψ 105:28, cf. Am 8:9 (לארץ). 2. = hide, conceal, sq. מִמֶּךָּ ψ 139:12. 3. fig. obscure, confuse Jb 38:2 (obj. עֵצָה).

σκοτί-α, ἡ, (σκότος) darkness, gloom, NT+3rd c.BC+ __II in Architecture, scotia, cavetto, a sunken moulding, so called from the dark shadow it casts, Refs 1st c.BC+ __III Σκοτιά, epithet of Aphrodite in Egypt, Refs

† עֲרָפֶל n.m. cloud, heavy cloud (perhaps from above √ + ל afform; NH = BH; Syriac ܥܰܪܦܶܠܴܐ; 𝔗 עֲרָפֵילָא; Mand. ארפילא NöM 126, 128; on vocaliz. v. BaNB 160 and against him SchwallyZAW x (1890), 178 who proposes עַרְפֶּל);—ע׳ in which God dwells Ex 20:18 (Gi; van d. H. v 21), 1 K 8:12 = 2 Ch 6:1; + עָנָן Dt 4:11 (also חֹשֶׁךְ), 5:19 (22) ψ 97:2; Jb 22:13 v בַּעַד; ע׳ תַּחַת רַגְלָיו 2 S 22:10 = ψ 18:10; as swaddling-bands of sea Jb 38:9; fig. of misery Is 60:2 (‖ חֹשֶׁךְ); of י׳’s judgment Je 13:16 (‖ צַלְמָוֶת), as a past day יוֹם עָנָן וַע׳ Ez 34:12 = (of future day of י׳) Zp 1:15 (‖ יוֹם חשֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה) = Jo 2:2 (‖ id.).

† אֲפֵלָה n.f. darkness, gloominess, calamity—א׳ Ex 10:22 +; אֲפֵלָתְךָ Is 58:10; pl. אֲפֵלוֹת Is 59:9— 1. darkness Dt 28:29 Pr 7:9 (‖ אִישׁוֹן לַיְלָה); of supernatural darkness in Egypt Ex 10:22; of day of י׳ (cf. Am 5:20 sub אָפֵל) Jo 2:2 Zp 1:15 (both ‖ חשׁך, ענן, ערפל) sim. of wickedness Je 23:12 Pr 4:19. 2. fig. of calamity Is 8:22 (‖ חֲשֵׁכָה), 58:10 (‖ חשׁך, opp. צהרים), 59:9 (‖ id., opp. נגהות).

† אֹ֫פֶל n.m. Jb 3:6 darkness, gloom (only poet.)—א׳ always abs.— 1. darkness, of night ψ 91:6 (opp. צָֽהֳרָֽיִם); deep in the earth, אֶבֶן א׳ Jb 28:3 (‖ חֹשֶׁךְ, צַלְמָוֶת); darkness, gloom of underworld Jb 10:22(×2) (‖ אֶרֶץ חֹשֶׁךְ, א׳ עֵיפָפָה, צַלְמָוֶת); personif. Jb 3:6 that night—let darkness take it יִקָּחֵהוּ א׳; fig. of spiritual darkness Is 29:18 (‖ חֹשֶׁךְ); of secrecy, treachery ψ 11:2. 2. especially fig. of calamity Jb 23:17 (‖ חשׁך q.v.), 30:26 (opp. אוֹר).

† מַחְשָׁךְ n.m. dark place (poet.)—abs. מ׳ Is 29:15; 42:16; מַחְשָׁ֑ךְ ψ 88:19; pl. מַחֲשַׁכִּים 88:7; 143:3 = La 3:6; cstr. מַחֲשַׁכֵּי ψ 74:20;—dark place: a. = hiding-place מח׳־ארץ 74:20. b. dark region, in which men may lose their way Is 42:16. c. = grave, or שׁאול ψ 88:19 (v. Che); of dark place of God’s wrath (like Sheʾôl) 88:7; cf. 143:3 = La 3:6. d. = secret place, secrecy (of plots) Is 29:15.

† אִישׁוֹן n.[m.] pupil of eye (cf. DlHA 9 PrätLOPh, Feb. 1884, but also Ar. إِنْسَانٌ العَيْنِ, & NöZMG 1886, 739)—א׳ all cstr.—א׳ עַיִן Dt 32:10 Pr 7:2; א׳ בַּת־עַיִן ψ 17:8 (in all, sim. of preciousness); = middle, midst of night בְּא׳ לַיְלָה וַאֲפֵלָה Pr 7:9; בְּא׳ חֹשֶׁךְ 20:20 Kt i.e. in deep darkness (Qr בֶּאֱשׁוּן v. Now).

† שָׁחֹר adj. black;—שׁ׳ of hair Lv 13:31, 37 (P), so fpl. שְׁחֹרוֹת Ct 5:11; of skin, fs. שְׁחוֹרָה 1:5; of horses, mpl. שְׁחֹרִים Zc 6:2, 6.

ζόφος, ὁ, nether darkness, ἱεμένων Ἔρεβόσδε ὑπὸ ζόφον NT+8th c.BC+; Ἀΐδης δ᾽ ἔλαχε ζόφον ἠερόεντα obtained the realms of gloom for his share, Refs 8th c.BC+ __2 generally, gloom, darkness, NT+8th c.BC+; χειμέριος ζ. the gloom of winter, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II the dark quarter, i.e. the West, ἤδη γὰρ φάος οἴχεθ᾽ ὑπὸ ζόφον Refs 8th c.BC+; ποτὶ ζόφον, opposed to πρὸς ἠῶ τ᾽ ἠέλιόν τε, Refs 8th c.BC+ (the North accusative to Refs 1st c.BC+; Γαδείρων τὸ πρὸς ζόφον to the west of.., Refs 5th c.BC+ —poetical and later Prose. (Prob. _cognate_ with ζέφυρος.)

† חֲשֵׁכָה n.f. darkness (chiefly poet.)—ח׳ Gn 15:12 + 2 times, so read also prob. Mi 3:6 (for MT חָֽשְׁכָה); חֲשֵׁיכָה ψ 139:12; cstr. חֶשְׁכַּת ψ 18:12; pl. חֲשֵׁכִים Is 50:10;—darkness, opp. light (אוֹרָה) ψ 139:12; supernat., ח׳ גדולה Gn 15:12 (JE); חֶשְׁכַּת־מַיִם ψ 18:12 in theoph. (but ‖ 2 S 22:12 חַשְׁרַת־מים a mass of water); fig. = lack of understanding ψ 82:5; = distress Is 8:22 (‖ צָרָה), 50:10.

† עֲלָטָה n.f. thick darkness (*NH עֲלָטָה (rare); according to BaES 5 transp. from Arabic غَطَلَ [be cloudy]; غَيْطَلَةٌ darkness);—abs. ע��, attending sunset Gn 15:17 (c. vb. masc.; AlbrZAW xv (1895). 325 KöSynt. § 350 e read הָֽיְתָה); בַּע׳ Ez 12:7 (‖ בָּעֶרֶב), v 6, 12.

μέλᾱς (μέλᾰς Refs 3rd c.BC+; genitive μέλᾰνος, μελαίνης, μέλᾰνος, etc.; Epic dialect dative μείλανι (for the sake of meter) Refs 8th c.BC+: Aeolic dialect nominative μέλαις, from *μέλανς, Refs 7th c.BC+:—black, dark: in Refs 8th c.BC+ generally, dark in colour, οἶνος Refs 8th c.BC+; μέλαν αἷμα, κῦμα, Refs 8th c.BC+, from its being pitched over, Refs 8th c.BC+; of men, dark, swarthy, μέλανας δὲ ἀνδρικοὺς ἰδεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ μ. black marks about the ears of dogs, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II dark, murky, ἕσπερος Refs 8th c.BC+ __III metaphorically, black, dark, θάνατος Refs 8th c.BC+; ὀδύναι Refs; μ. τύχα, ἀρά, Refs 4th c.BC+; Ἅιδης Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡμέραι μέλαιναι, = Latin dies atri, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III.2 of the voice, indistinct, Refs 4th c.BC+; βραχὺ καὶ μ. φώνημα, of Nero, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __III.3 dark, obscure, enigmatical, ἱστορίη Refs 1st c.AD+ __III.4 of character, dark, malignant, μ. φρήν, καρδία, Refs 6th c.BC+; μ. ἦθος M. Ant.4.28. __IV comparative μελάντερος, α, ον, blacker, very black, τοῦ δ᾽ οὔ τι μελάντερον ἔπλετο ἔσθος Refs 8th c.BC+: superlative μελάντατος Refs 5th c.BC+:— comparative also μελανώτερος Refs 1st c.BC+: superlative μελαινότατος Refs 1st c.AD+ __V μέλαινα (i.e. νοῦσος), ἡ, in Medicine texts, of diseases causing black secretions (such as melaena), Refs 5th c.BC+ __VI μέλαν, τό, see entry (Cf. Sanskrit málam 'dirt', malinás 'dirty', Lett. melns 'black'.)

σκοτειν-ός, ή, όν, (σκότος) dark, νυκτὸς ἅρμ᾽ ἐπείγεται σ. Refs 4th c.BC+; σ. περιβολαί, of a scabbard, Refs 5th c.BC+; [ὁδοί] Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀνὰ τὸ σ. προϊδεῖν in the darkness, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a person, blind, καίπερ σ. Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ σ. the dark shadows in a picture, Refs 5th c.BC+ adverb, σκοτεινὸν ζῆν to live in privacy, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II metaphorically, dark, obscure, opposed to ἐλλόγιμος καὶ φανός, Refs; Heraclitus was called ὁ σκοτεινός, Refs 4th c.BC+; σ. ἀκοαί obscure reports, Refs 5th c.BC+; σ. μηχανήματα dark, secret, Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb, -νῶς διαλέγεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+ __III probably falsa lectio for{κοτ-} in Refs 5th c.BC+

† II. [עָמַם] vb. darken, dim (NH id.; Arabic غَمَّ cover, veil, conceal; 𝔗 עֲמַם grow dark);— Qal Pf. 3 pl. sf. עֲמַמֻהוּ Ez 31:8 dub., but prob. (as Thes) cedars did not eclipse him; עֲמָמוּךָ 28:3 no secret do they hold dark (= is held dark) for thee (Ges§ 117 x). Hoph. Impf. 3 ms. יוּעַם זָהָב La 4:1 (fig.) how is the gold dimmed! cf. Bu.

ἀχλύς, ύος, ἡ, (accusative ἀχλύαRefs 5th c.AD+ mist, Refs 8th c.BC+ of a mist over the eyes, as of one dying, κατὰ δ᾽ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτ᾽ ἀ.Refs 8th c.BC+; as result of ulceration, ἀχλύεςRefs 5th c.BC+; or in emotion, Ἔρως πολλὴν κατ᾽ ἀχλὺν ὀμμάτων ἔχευενRefs 7th c.BC+; of drunkenness, πρὸς ὄμμ᾽ ἀ. ἀμβλωπὸς ἐφίζειRefs 5th c.BC+; of one whom a god deprives of the power of seeing and knowing others, κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμῶν χέεν ἀχλύνRefs 8th c.BC+:— personified as Sorrow, πὰρ δ᾽ Ἀχλὺς εἱστήκει ἐπισμυγερή τε καὶ αἰνή, χλωρή, ἀϋσταλέηRefs 8th c.BC+ __2 metaphorically, δνοφεράν τιν᾽ ἀχλὺν.. αὐδᾶταιRefs 4th c.BC+ __3 ἀ. ὑγρή liquid emitted by cuttlefish, Refs 2nd c.AD+—Mostly poetry, but used by Refs 5th c.BC+: also in later Prose, Refs 2nd c.BC+. [ῡ in nominative and accusative singular, Refs 8th c.BC+

† I. עֵיפָה n.f. darkness;—עֹשֵׂה שַׁחַר עֵיפָה Am 4:13; אֶרֶץ עֵפָ֫תָה Jb 10:22 (Ges§ 90 g; ‖ צַלְמָוֶת).

αὐχμηρός, ά, όν, dry, without rain, χειμώνRefs 5th c.BC+; of places, dry, parched, τόποιNT+5th c.BC+ __b parching, νόσοιRefs 5th c.BC+ __2 dry, rough, squalid, οὖδαςRefs 5th c.BC+; especially of hair (compare {αὐχμηροκόμης}), Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb -ρῶς, ἔχειν τοῦ προσώπουRefs 2nd c.AD+ __3 miserable, Refs 4th c.AD+ uncertain reading in Refs 5th c.BC+

γνόφ-ος, later form for δνόφος, darkness, NT+4th c.BC+: plural, storm-clouds, Refs 4th c.BC+

† [אָפִיל] adj. (darkened, concealed, thence) late, of crops;—אֲפִילֹת Ex 9:32 of wheat & spelt.

† אָפֵל adj. gloomy, of day of י׳ Am 5:20 (‖ חשׁך, opp. נֹגַהּ) cf. אֲפֵלָה.

† [חֲשׁוֹךְ] n.[m.] darkness;—emph. חֲשׁוֹכָא Dn 2:22.

† חָשֹׁךְ () adj. obscure, low, only mpl. as subst.; בַּל־יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי חֲשֻׁכִּים Pr 22:29 he shall not stand before obscure men (opp. לפני־מלכים).

† מַאֲפֵל n.[m.] darkness, Jos 24:7 (E) וַיָּשֶׂם מ׳ בֵּינֵיכֶם וג׳, between Hebrews & Egyptians.

† מַאְפֵּלְיָה n.f. deep darkness ( = מַאֲפֵל יָהּ according to Thes MV cf. Ct 8:6 שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה; but Ew§ 165 b & on Je 2:31 reads מַאְפִּלִיָּה, fem. of [מאפלי], der. from Hiph. Pt.; cf. Sta§ 302 b מַאְפְּלִיָּה; JägerBAS 471 thinks this יָה an enclitic part. of emphasis, & comp. Assyrian)—only אֶרֶץ מ׳ Je 2:31 fig. of י׳ in dealing with his people (‖ מִדְבָּר).

† מוּעָף n.[m.] gloom;—Is 8:23.

† תְּעֻפָה n.f. id.;—so read prob. for תָּעֻ֫פָה Jb 11:17 (opp. בֹּקֶר).

† [עָתַם] vb. dub.; Niph. Pf. 3 ms. נֶעְתַּם אָ֑רֶץ Is 9:18 (غَتَمَ is be clogged in speech, غَتْمٌ suffocating heat, مَغْتُومٌ burned by heat; hence Thes scorched, but derived sense dub.; v. RSJPhil. xiii. 61 f.);—read perhaps נִצְּתָה (√ יָצַת) is burned up, cf. RSl.c., Krochm Kit CheHpt..

† קַדְרוּת n.f. darkness, gloom;—אַלְבִּישׁ שָׁמַיִם ק׳ Is 50:3 (cf. √, Je 4:28; 1 K 18:45; ‖ שַׂק).

† שְׁחוֹר n.[m.] blackness;—חָשַׁךְ מִשּׁ׳ תָּאֳרָם La 4:8.

† I. שָׁחַר vb. be black (NH שָׁחוֹר and deriv., black, blackness, etc., Ecclus 25:17 Hiph. make black; Aramaic שְׁחַר (Jastr Dalm), Aph. grow black, so ܫܚܰܪ, ܫܘܽܚܳܪܳܐ coal; JägerBAS ii. 295 cp. Assyrian šûru, coal); Qal Pf. שׁ׳, of skin Jb 30:30.

† [שְׁחַרְחֹר Ges§ 84 b n] adj. blackish (GannJAS 1883, Fev.-Mars, 156, no. 41, cp. Isr. n.pr. שחרחר on seal = ‘le burn’);—f. שְׁחַרְחֹ֫רֶת Ct 1:6.