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חֹשֶׁךְ

𐤇𐤔𐤊

chôshek

H2822 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חָשַׁךְ to be dark, grow dim, obscure

Definition

A condition of the absence or withholding of light; darkness. In literal usage, denotes physical darkness, such as that occurring at night or the obscurity experienced in enclosed spaces. Figuratively, used as a symbol for distress, calamity, ignorance, or moral evil. The term can also refer to periods or states characterized by lack of insight, knowledge, or the presence of suffering and threat.

Semantic Range

physical darkness, absence of light, night, obscurity, ignorance, calamity, distress, moral evil, judgment, threat, sorrow

Root / Etymology

Root: חשך, meaning 'to be dark, grow dim, obscure.' The noun חֹשֶׁךְ derives from this root, indicating the state or condition caused by the action of the verb: 'darkness' or 'obscurity.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֹשֶׁךְ occurs frequently in the Hebrew Bible, both with reference to the physical phenomenon opposed to light and in figurative senses. In the creation account (Genesis 1:2), it describes the primordial state prior to the introduction of light. Throughout the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it primarily conveys the idea of literal darkness. However, in prophetic and wisdom literature, the word acquires broad metaphorical senses associated with adversity, ignorance, or divine judgment. For example, in Isaiah and Amos, חֹשֶׁךְ can characterize a time of distress or an experience of divine absence. It is often contrasted with אוֹר (light), both physically and metaphorically, marking states of blessing and clarity versus those of suffering or confusion. In later biblical texts, this figurative extension is sometimes rendered as 'misery' or 'wickedness' in translation, but such renderings can obscure its primary connotation as the absence of light. English translations tend to rely on 'darkness,' which underrepresents the full semantic field; rarely, translations such as 'obscurity' or 'shadow' may also appear. The word is distinct from related terms such as לַיְלָה (night), which refers to a specific period, or צֵל (shadow), suggesting partial darkness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָשַׁךְ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness; dark(-ness), night, obscurity.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Bemba Ubushiku Ubushiku night, darkness, difficulty
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Root Family

חשך (ḥ-š-k) — to be dark, grow dim, obscure

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2816 חֲשׁוֹךְ the darkness
H2820 חָשַׂךְ he withheld
H2821 חָשַׁךְ he withheld
H2823 חָשֹׁךְ dark ones
H2824 חֶשְׁכָה darkness of

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2822-03 חֹ֖שֶׁךְ choshekhe HNcmsa darkness darkness 47
H2822-01 בַּ/חֹ֨שֶׁךְ֙ bachoshekhe HRd/Ncmsa in the darkness in the darkness 13
H2822-04 הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ hachoshekhe HTd/Ncmsa the darkness the darkness 6
H2822-06 לְ/חֹ֔שֶׁךְ lechoshekhe HR/Ncmsa for darkness to darkness 2
H2822-11 וְ/חֹ֖שֶׁךְ vechoshekhe HC/Ncmsa and darkness and darkness 2
H2822-09 וּ/בַ/חֹ֣שֶׁךְ uvachoshekhe HC/Rd/Ncmsa and in the darkness 2
H2822-02 חָשְׁכִּֽ/י chasheki HNcmsc/Sp1cs my darkness my darkness 2
H2822-05 לַ/חֹ֗שֶׁךְ lachoshekhe HRd/Ncmsa to darkness to darkness 1
H2822-10 בַ/חֹ֖שֶׁךְ vachoshekhe HRd/Ncmsa into darkness in the darkness 1
H2822-07 מֵ/חֹ֣שֶׁךְ mechoshekhe HR/Ncmsa out of darkness from darkness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

80 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2822-11 Genesis 1:2 וְ/חֹ֖שֶׁךְ vechoshekhe HC/Ncmsa and darkness and darkness
H2822-04 Genesis 1:4 הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ hachoshekhe HTd/Ncmsa the darkness the darkness
H2822-13 Genesis 1:5 וְ/לַ/חֹ֖שֶׁךְ velachoshekhe HC/Rd/Ncmsa and to the darkness and to the darkness
H2822-04 Genesis 1:18 הַ/חֹ֑שֶׁךְ hachoshekhe HTd/Ncmsa the darkness the darkness
H2822-03 Exodus 10:21 חֹ֖שֶׁךְ choshekhe HNcmsa darkness darkness
H2822-03 Exodus 10:21 חֹֽשֶׁךְ choshekhe-2 HNcmsa darkness darkness
H2822-03 Exodus 10:22 חֹֽשֶׁךְ choshekhe HNcmsc darkness darkness
H2822-12 Exodus 14:20 וְ/הַ/חֹ֔שֶׁךְ vehachoshekhe HC/Td/Ncmsa and the darkness and the darkness
H2822-03 Deuteronomy 4:11 חֹ֖שֶׁךְ choshekhe HNcmsa darkness darkness
H2822-04 Deuteronomy 5:23 הַ/חֹ֔שֶׁךְ hachoshekhe HTd/Ncmsa the darkness the darkness
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