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אֲפֵלָה

𐤀𐤐𐤋𐤄

ʼăphêlâh

H653 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אפל to be dark, obscure, cover with darkness

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.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of אָפֵל; duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment; dark, darkness, gloominess, [idiom] thick.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אפל (ʾ-p-l) — to be dark, obscure, cover with darkness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3990 מַאֲפֵל deep gloom
H3991 מַאְפֵלְיָה deep darkness
H648 אָפִיל unripe ones
H651 אָפֵל and deep-dark
H652 אֹפֶל in the deep darkness

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H653-05 וַ/אֲפֵלָ֖ה vaafelah HC/Ncfsa and gloom and deep gloom 4
H653-02 בָּ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה baafelah HRd/Ncfsa in darkness in the deep darkness 2
H653-04 כָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֑ה kaafelah HRd/Ncfsa like darkness deep gloom 1
H653-01 אֲפֵלָ֛ה afelah HNcfsa thick deep darkness 1
H653-03 בָּ/אֲפֵל֥וֹת baafelot HRd/Ncfpa in gloom in the deep glooms 1
H653-06 וַ/אֲפֵלָתְ/ךָ֖ vaafelatekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your gloom and your deep darkness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H653-01 Exodus 10:22 אֲפֵלָ֛ה afelah HNcfsa thick deep darkness
H653-02 Deuteronomy 28:29 בָּ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה baafelah HRd/Ncfsa in the darkness in the deep darkness
H653-05 Isaiah 8:22 וַ/אֲפֵלָ֖ה vaafelah HC/Ncfsa and thick darkness and deep gloom
H653-06 Isaiah 58:10 וַ/אֲפֵלָתְ/ךָ֖ vaafelatekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your gloom and your deep darkness
H653-03 Isaiah 59:9 בָּ/אֲפֵל֥וֹת baafelot HRd/Ncfpa in gloom in the deep glooms
H653-02 Jeremiah 23:12 בָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה baafelah HRd/Ncfsa in darkness in the deep darkness
H653-05 Joel 2:2 וַ/אֲפֵלָ֗ה vaafelah HC/Ncfsa and gloom and deep gloom
H653-05 Zephaniah 1:15 וַ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה vaafelah HC/Ncfsa and gloom and deep gloom
H653-04 Proverbs 4:19 כָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֑ה kaafelah HRd/Ncfsa like darkness deep gloom
H653-05 Proverbs 7:9 וַ/אֲפֵלָֽה vaafelah HC/Ncfsa and darkness and deep gloom
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