H2822 H2822
darkness, obscurity; the absence of light whether physical, primordial, metaphorical, or theophanic
Hebrew choshek denotes the fundamental absence of light, appearing first in the primordial chaos of Genesis 1:2 before God speaks light into existence. The word carries enormous theological range: the tangible plague-darkness over Egypt (Exod 10:21-22), the thick darkness shrouding Sinai at the theophany (Deut 4:11; 5:22), and the metaphorical darkness of ignorance, judgment, and death (Job 3:4-5; Isa 45:7). Notably, darkness is not merely the negation of light but an active, almost material presence — God forms light and creates darkness (Isa 45:7). Spanish oscuridad, French tenebres, and German Finsternis all capture the gravity of the term.
Senses
1. darkness, absence of light — The absence or opposite of light, encompassing primordial darkness before creation (Gen 1:2), the supernatural plague-darkness in Egypt (Exod 10:21-22), theophanic cloud-darkness at Sinai (Deut 4:11), and metaphorical darkness signifying death, judgment, or moral blindness (Job 17:12; Isa 45:7). Hebrew treats choshek as a near-tangible reality that God actively creates, not merely the passive absence of illumination. 80×
AR["الظُّلمَةِ", "الظُّلْمَةَ", "الظُّلْمَةُ", "الظُّلْمَةِ", "ظُلْمَةً", "ظُلْمَةٌ", "ظُلْمَةٍ"]·ben["অন্ধকার", "অন্ধকারের"]·DE["Finsternis"]·EN["darkness"]·FR["ténèbres"]·heb["חושך"]·HI["अंधकार", "अंधकार-का", "अंधकार-की", "अंधकार-के", "अंधकार-में", "अंधेरा", "और-अंधकार", "और-भगाएंगे"]·ID["kegelapan"]·IT["tenebre"]·jav["pepeteng", "peteng"]·KO["어둠", "어둠-을", "어둠을", "어둠의", "어둠이", "어둡", "어둡을", "어둡이"]·PT["as-trevas.", "escuridão", "trevas"]·RU["тьма", "тьмой", "тьмою", "тьму", "тьмы"]·ES["la-oscuridad", "la-oscuridad,", "oscuridad", "tiniebla", "tinieblas"]·SW["giza", "kwa-Musa"]·TR["karanlık", "karanlıkla", "karanlığı", "karanlığın"]·urd["اندھیرا", "اندھیرے", "اندھیرے-سے", "اندھیرے-میں", "اندھیرے-کا", "اندھیرے-کی", "اندھیرے-کے"]
Exod 10:21, Exod 10:21, Deut 4:11, Josh 2:5, 1 Sam 2:9, 2 Sam 22:12, Job 3:4, Job 3:5, Job 5:14, Job 10:21, Job 12:22, Job 12:25 (+38 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×)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×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)H1259 1. hail (weather phenomenon) (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† 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…