σκότος G4655
Darkness, gloom; physical absence of light and metaphorical spiritual-moral blindness or divine judgment.
Skotos encompasses both literal and figurative darkness. Physically, it describes the three hours of darkness at the crucifixion (Matt 27:45) and the 'outer darkness' of exclusion from the banquet (Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). Metaphorically, it represents the domain of evil, ignorance, and separation from God—contrasted with light in the Johannine and Pauline writings (John 1:5, 1 Thess 5:4-5). German 'Finsternis,' Spanish 'tinieblas,' and French 'tenebres' all carry the same dual register of physical darkness and spiritual menace. Jesus warns that when the inner light becomes darkness, 'how great is that darkness' (Matt 6:23).
Senses
1. darkness — Darkness as the absence or opposite of light, spanning physical, moral, and eschatological registers. Literally, it marks the crucifixion darkness over the land (Matt 27:45, Mark 15:33). As a metaphor for spiritual blindness, it opposes the light of God and Christ (John 1:5, Acts 26:18, Col 1:13). The 'outer darkness' (Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30) represents final exclusion from God's presence. Paul urges believers to live as 'children of light,' not of darkness (1 Thess 5:4-5). 30×
AR["-الظُّلْمَةِ", "الظُّلمَةِ", "الظُّلْمَةِ", "ظَلامٌ", "ظُلمَةً", "ظُلمَةٌ", "ظُلمَةٍ", "ظُلمَةُ", "ظُلمَةِ", "ظُلْمَةً", "ظُلْمَةٌ", "ظُلْمَةٍ", "ظُلْمَةَ"]·ben["σκότος-অন্ধকার", "অন্ধকার", "অন্ধকারকে", "অন্ধকারে", "অন্ধকারে,", "অন্ধকারে?", "অন্ধকারের", "অন্ধকারের,"]·DE["Finsternis"]·EN["darkness"]·FR["ténèbres"]·heb["חֹשֶׁךְ"]·HI["-चाँद", "अंधकार", "अंधकार,", "अंधेरा", "अंधेरे", "अंधेरेसे", "अनधेर", "अन्धकार", "अन्धकार-में"]·ID["kegelapan", "kegelapan,"]·IT["tenebre"]·jav["pepeteng", "pepeteng,", "pepeteng?", "peteng", "peteng,"]·KO["그-", "어둠", "어둠-에", "어둠-을", "어둠-의", "어둠-이", "어둠에서", "어둠의", "어둠이", "어둡", "어둡이"]·PT["escuridão", "escuridão,", "trevas", "trevas,"]·RU["-света", "тьма", "тьме", "тьмой", "тьмой,", "тьму", "тьму,", "тьмы"]·ES["oscuridad", "tinieblas"]·SW["-", "giza", "giza,", "giza?", "gizani"]·TR["karanlik", "karanlik,", "karanlık", "karanlıkta", "karanlıktan", "karanlığa", "karanlığı", "karanlığın", "karanlığın-"]·urd["اندھیرا", "اندھیرے", "اندھیرے-میں", "اندھیرے-کی", "اندھیرے-کے"]
Matt 6:23, Matt 6:23, Matt 8:12, Matt 22:13, Matt 25:30, Matt 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 1:79, Luke 11:35, Luke 22:53, Luke 23:44, John 3:19 (+18 more)
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)H1259 1. hail (weather phenomenon) (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
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.…