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חָשֹׁךְ

𐤇𐤔𐤊

châshôk

H2823 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root חשך to be dark, become dark, lack light

Definition

Used as an adjective, 'חָשֹׁךְ' denotes darkness or obscurity, especially as a physical or metaphorical absence of light. It describes a state, place, or time characterized by the lack of light, or metaphorically by a lack of clarity, knowledge, or favor.

Semantic Range

darkness; obscurity; absence of light; metaphorical darkness (adversity, ignorance, confusion)

Root / Etymology

From the root חָשַׁךְ (ח-ש-ך), which means 'to be dark' or 'to become dark'. 'חָשֹׁךְ' is the noun/adjectival form derived from this root and functions as an abstract or descriptive noun indicating darkness or obscurity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'חָשֹׁךְ' appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily utilized in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Isaiah 8:22). It typically evokes a sense of overwhelming or impenetrable darkness, as opposed to mere absence of daylight (which may be indicated by לַיְלָה, 'night'). In biblical usage, חָשֹׁךְ can have figurative applications, expressing adversity (such as distress, lack of insight, or absence of YHWH's favor) beyond the merely physical. Later traditions sometimes translated חָשֹׁךְ using Greek terms for 'darkness', occasionally shaping interpretations about evil or doom, but the original Hebrew is more flexible, referring both to the literal and figurative states of being dark or obscure. It is distinct from terms like אֹפֶל (translucent gloom, often linked with thick darkness such as that over Egypt in Exodus), and from צַלְמָוֶת (deep shadow, often translated 'shadow of death'). English translations usually render 'חָשֹׁךְ' as 'darkness,' but may not fully account for its metaphorical breadth.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָשַׁךְ; dark (figuratively, i.e. obscure); meaning

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חשך (ḥ-š-k) — to be dark, become dark, lack light

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2816 חֲשׁוֹךְ the darkness
H2820 חָשַׂךְ he withheld
H2821 חָשַׁךְ he withheld
H2822 חֹשֶׁךְ in the darkness
H2824 חֶשְׁכָה darkness of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2823-01 חֲשֻׁכִּֽים chashukim HAampa obscure men dark ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2823-01 Proverbs 22:29 חֲשֻׁכִּֽים chashukim HAampa obscure men dark ones
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