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מַחְשָׁךְ

𐤌𐤇𐤔𐤊

machshâk

H4285 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חשך to be dark, grow dim, obscure

Definition

State or condition characterized by absence of light; can refer to literal darkness (as in unlit physical spaces) or metaphorically to obscurity, concealment, or distress. The term may denote a place of gloom or deep shadow, and in certain contexts, it evokes a sense of foreboding or peril associated with darkness.

Semantic Range

darkness, twilight, deep gloom, dark place, obscurity, shadowed area, metaphorical distress or peril

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָשַׁךְ, meaning 'to be dark' or 'to become dark.' The noun מַחְשָׁךְ is a formation denoting 'darkness' or 'a place of darkness,' emphasizing the resulting state or location rather than the process of becoming dark.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַחְשָׁךְ is a relatively rare term in biblical Hebrew, primarily found in poetic or prophetic contexts to evoke imagery of deep gloom or total obscurity (e.g., Psalms, Job, Isaiah). It is often used alongside terms like צַלְמָוֶת (deep shadow) or אֹפֶל (thick darkness), but unlike the more common חֹשֶׁךְ (general 'darkness'), מַחְשָׁךְ tends to have a concrete nuance, describing an actual space characterized by darkness or gloom rather than the abstract quality of being dark. In some poetic contexts, it metaphorically conveys distress, danger, or the unknown. Later translations sometimes render it as 'thick darkness' or 'gloom,' but care should be taken not to conflate its meaning with that of related roots used for moral or spiritual evil in Second Temple and later periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָשַׁךְ; darkness; concretely, a dark place; dark(-ness, place).

Bantu Hebrew

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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
H2822 חֹשֶׁךְ in the darkness
H2823 חָשֹׁךְ dark ones

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4285-01 בְּ֝/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים bemachashakim HR/Ncmpa in darknesses in dark places 2
H4285-03 מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ macheshakhe HNcmsa darkness darkness 2
H4285-05 בְ/מַחְשָׁךְ֙ vemacheshakhe HR/Ncmsa in darkness in dark-place 1
H4285-04 בְ֝/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים vemachashakim HR/Ncmpa in darkness in dark places 1
H4285-02 מַחֲשַׁכֵּי machashakey HNcmpc dark places dark places of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4285-05 Isaiah 29:15 בְ/מַחְשָׁךְ֙ vemacheshakhe HR/Ncmsa in darkness in dark-place
H4285-03 Isaiah 42:16 מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ macheshakhe HNcmsa darkness darkness
H4285-02 Psalms 74:20 מַחֲשַׁכֵּי machashakey HNcmpc dark places dark places of
H4285-01 Psalms 88:7 בְּ֝/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים bemachashakim HR/Ncmpa in darknesses in dark places
H4285-03 Psalms 88:19 מַחְשָֽׁךְ macheshakhe HNcmsa darkness darkness
H4285-04 Psalms 143:3 בְ֝/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים vemachashakim HR/Ncmpa in darkness in dark places
H4285-01 Lamentations 3:6 בְּ/מַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים bemachashakim HR/Ncmpa in dark places in dark places
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