DARK, DARKNESS (חֹ֫שֶׁכְ, H3125, darkness, obscurity; עֲרָפֶל, H6906, cloud, heavy cloud; σκότος, σκοτία). Darkness first appears in Scripture as a description of the chaotic condition of the world before God created light (Gen 1:2, 3). The subsequent division between light and darkness resulted in “day” and “night.” Darkness has a certain reality, being more than the absence of light (Isa 45:7). The regular succession of darkness and light is under God’s control, who can modify it as He wills. A day is lengthened to afford victorious Israel more time (Josh 10:12, 13), whereas darkness shrouds the scene of Christ’s death (Matt 27:45). Thick darkness plagued the Egyptians for three days (Exod 10:22). Mines are characterized by darkness (Job 28:3) as is Sheol (10:21, 22; Ps 88:11-13). Even darkness can not hide from God, to whom all is light (Ps 139:11, 12). The blind are said to be in darkness (Isa 42:7; 49:9).

Metaphorically darkness symbolizes distress (Isa 5:30; 9:1), mourning (47:5), perplexity (Job 5:14), ignorance (Job 12:24, 25; Matt 4:16), and captivity (Ezek 34:12). Statements made in secret are called “in the dark” (Matt 10:27). The judgment and terror of the day of the Lord are likened to darkness (Amos 5:18). In the spiritual sphere, darkness denotes sin and godlessness, everything that is opposed to God, including demonic forces (Isa 9:1; 42:7). Darkness represents the condition of the spiritually unenlightened (John 1:4, 5), who are blinded by the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). The eye which is evil fills the body with spiritual darkness (Matt 6:33). In general, the world loves darkness rather than the reproof of the light (John 3:19, 20). The unregenerate can even be directly called “darkness” (Eph 5:8).

Evil spirits are the “powers of darkness,” against which believers must be armed (Eph 6:11, 12). The wicked will be cast into this “darkness outside” (Matt 8:12; 22:13). Believers must beware lest they walk in darkness and mar their fellowship with God (1 John 1:6).

The term עֲרָפֶל, H6906, “cloud, heavy cloud,” can describe the place where God dwells (Exod 20:18; 1 Kings 8:12). It is parallel to חֹ֫שֶׁכְ, H3125, (Isa 60:2), where the darkness of the nations will be dispelled by the glory of Jehovah (cf. Rev 21:23-25).

Some scholars would include צַלְמָ֫וֶת, H7516, among words meaning “darkness.” Thomas claims that it is the strongest word for darkness and does not really mean “shadow of death” (Ps 23:4). Relating the word to Akkad. ṩalāmu “to be dark,” he feels that it should be tr. “very deep shadow, thick darkness.” צַלְמָ֫וֶת, H7516, is parallel to חֹ֫שֶׁכְ, H3125, in Psalm 107:10 and several times in Job.

Bibliography D. Winton Thomas “צַלְמָ֫וֶת, H7516, in the Old Testament,” JSS 7 (1962), 191-200; C. H. Dodd, The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel (1953), 201-212.