אֹפֶל
𐤀𐤐𐤋
ʼôphel
H652 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or condition of deep darkness or gloom, often used metaphorically for severe ignorance, calamity, or distress. In some contexts, denotes physical darkness or obscurity, particularly in highly poetic or descriptive passages.
Semantic Range
deep darkness, thick darkness, gloom, intense obscurity, distressing figurative darkness, oppressive darkness, calamity, metaphorical ignorance or affliction
Root / Etymology
From the root אָפַל (׳פל), meaning 'to be dark' or 'grow dark'. The noun אֹפֶל develops from this root to refer to the state or quality associated with darkness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֹפֶל primarily denotes a palpable or intense darkness. It is used in poetic and prophetic texts (e.g., Exodus 10:22, describing the tangible darkness during the plagues in Egypt; Isaiah 60:2, contrasting physical and moral darkness with the coming of light upon Zion). The term overlaps with חֹשֶׁךְ, the general word for 'darkness', but אֹפֶל often stresses an overwhelming, oppressive, or unnatural quality of darkness, sometimes associated with judgment or times of trouble. In later periods and translations (e.g., LXX, Vulgate), it is usually rendered as 'gloom', 'thick darkness', or 'obscurity'; in older English translations as 'darkness' or 'obscurity'. The word is seldom used for the mere absence of light and more frequently for darkness that conveys danger, suffering, or the unknown. This nuance is not always preserved in general English Bibles, where it may simply appear as 'darkness'. Related to but stronger than חֹשֶׁךְ, and often paralleled with concepts like צַלְמָוֶת ('deep shadow'). The root is not productive elsewhere in Hebrew, and the meaning is not related to later religious or ethnic identities.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as אָפֵל; dusk; darkness, obscurity, privily.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפל (ʾ-p-l) — to be dark, to grow dark, to obscure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3990 | מַאֲפֵל | deep gloom |
| H3991 | מַאְפֵלְיָה | deep darkness |
| H648 | אָפִיל | unripe ones |
| H651 | אָפֵל | and deep-dark |
| H653 | אֲפֵלָה | deep darkness |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H652-02 |
אֹ֝֗פֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
darkness | deep darkness | 7 |
H652-01 |
בָּ/אֹ֣פֶל | baofel | HRd/Ncmsa |
that walks in darkness | in the deep darkness | 1 |
H652-03 |
וּ/מֵ/אֹ֣פֶל | umeofel | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and out of gloom | and from deep darkness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H652-03 |
Isaiah 29:18 | וּ/מֵ/אֹ֣פֶל | umeofel | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and out of gloom | and from deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Psalms 11:2 | אֹ֝֗פֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
darkness | deep darkness |
H652-01 |
Psalms 91:6 | בָּ/אֹ֣פֶל | baofel | HRd/Ncmsa |
that walks in darkness | in the deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 3:6 | אֹ֥פֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
darkness | deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 10:22 | אֹ֗פֶל | ofel | HNcmsc |
darkness | deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 10:22 | אֹֽפֶל | ofel-2 | HNcmsa |
darkness | deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 23:17 | אֹֽפֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
thick darkness | deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 28:3 | אֹ֣פֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
in gloom | deep darkness |
H652-02 |
Job 30:26 | אֹֽפֶל | ofel | HNcmsa |
darkness | deep darkness |