אֲפֵלָה
𐤀𐤐𐤋𐤄
ʼăphêlâh
H653 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Darkness, intense gloom, or deep obscurity—especially a state of deep shade, absence of light, or condition of being hidden from view. The term primarily denotes a palpable, enveloping darkness or gloom, whether literal (as of night or a shadow cast) or figurative (as a metaphor for distress or peril). In various texts, it may imply physical darkness, emotional or spiritual heaviness, or circumstances characterized by danger, uncertainty, or misfortune.
Semantic Range
darkness (literal), thick or dense gloom, deep obscurity, concealment, figurative gloom or despair, distress, trouble, misfortune, calamity
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אָפֵל (afl), meaning “to be dark, obscure, cover with darkness.” The feminine noun form אֲפֵלָה specifies a state or condition of intense darkness or gloom. Root meanings pertain to darkness or the act of making dark, which leads to the nominal meaning of 'darkness' or 'gloom.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, אֲפֵלָה appears in texts describing states of deep darkness, such as the plagues on Egypt (Exodus 10:22), cosmic imagery linked to divine judgment (e.g., Joel 2:2), or metaphorical uses related to despair, uncertainty, or calamity. The term is employed both for literal, physical obscurity (such as a thick or supernatural darkness) and figurative states (trouble, anguish). Unlike חֹשֶךְ (ḥōshekh), which generally refers to darkness in a more neutral or general sense (opposite of light), אֲפֵלָה often conveys an intensified, oppressive, or threatening aspect of darkness. English translations may render it as 'gloom,' 'deep darkness,' or 'thick darkness,' but such renderings sometimes flatten the nuance of total, enveloping obscurity or distress. In prophetic and poetic contexts, it often appears in parallel with words connoting disaster or the reversal of creation's light. In later texts and interpretations, it can acquire more abstract or metaphorical resonances, but its primary biblical usage remains the description of tangible or existential darkness, especially in moments of judgment or crisis.
Translation Consistency
אֲפֵלָה primarily denotes literal and figurative darkness or deep gloom. "Darkness" is the most natural, widely used English noun that covers the full semantic range (literal absence of light, dense gloom, concealment, and figurative distress/peril), and it yields idiomatic English across contexts better than adjectives like "deep." It therefore provides the most consistent and readable base rendering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of אָפֵל; duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment; dark, darkness, gloominess, [idiom] thick.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אפל (maʼăphêl) — to become dark, obscure, grow dim
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3990 | מַאֲפֵל | deep gloom |
| H3991 | מַאְפֵלְיָה | deep darkness |
| H651 | אָפֵל | and deep-dark |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H653-05 |
וַ/אֲפֵלָ֖ה | vaafelah | HC/Ncfsa |
and gloom | and deep gloom | and deep gloom | 4 |
H653-02 |
בָּ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה | baafelah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in darkness | in the deep darkness | in the deep darkness | 2 |
H653-01 |
אֲפֵלָ֛ה | afelah | HNcfsa |
thick | deep darkness | deep darkness | 1 |
H653-03 |
בָּ/אֲפֵל֥וֹת | baafelot | HRd/Ncfpa |
in gloom | in the deep glooms | in deep glooms | 1 |
H653-04 |
כָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֑ה | kaafelah | HRd/Ncfsa |
like darkness | deep gloom | like deep gloom | 1 |
H653-06 |
וַ/אֲפֵלָתְ/ךָ֖ | vaafelatekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your gloom | and your deep darkness | and your deep darkness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H653-01 |
Exodus 10:22 | אֲפֵלָ֛ה | afelah | HNcfsa |
thick | deep darkness | deep darkness |
H653-02 |
Deuteronomy 28:29 | בָּ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה | baafelah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the darkness | in the deep darkness | in the deep darkness |
H653-05 |
Isaiah 8:22 | וַ/אֲפֵלָ֖ה | vaafelah | HC/Ncfsa |
and thick darkness | and deep gloom | and deep gloom |
H653-06 |
Isaiah 58:10 | וַ/אֲפֵלָתְ/ךָ֖ | vaafelatekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your gloom | and your deep darkness | and your deep darkness |
H653-03 |
Isaiah 59:9 | בָּ/אֲפֵל֥וֹת | baafelot | HRd/Ncfpa |
in gloom | in the deep glooms | in deep glooms |
H653-02 |
Jeremiah 23:12 | בָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה | baafelah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in darkness | in the deep darkness | in the deep darkness |
H653-05 |
Joel 2:2 | וַ/אֲפֵלָ֗ה | vaafelah | HC/Ncfsa |
and gloom | and deep gloom | and deep gloom |
H653-05 |
Zephaniah 1:15 | וַ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה | vaafelah | HC/Ncfsa |
and gloom | and deep gloom | and deep gloom |
H653-04 |
Proverbs 4:19 | כָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֑ה | kaafelah | HRd/Ncfsa |
like darkness | deep gloom | like deep gloom |
H653-05 |
Proverbs 7:9 | וַ/אֲפֵלָֽה | vaafelah | HC/Ncfsa |
and darkness | and deep gloom | and deep gloom |