NAVE: Darkness
EBD: Darkness
SMITH: DARKNESS
BAKER: Darkness
BRIDGEWAY: DARKNESS
Darkness
DARK; DARKNESS [isbe]
DARK; DARKNESS - dark, dark'-nes (choshekh; skotos):1. Darkness and Light in Palestine:
The day and night, light and darkness, are notable antitheses in Palestine. There the day does not slowly fade away into the night after a period of twilight, but before sunset there is the brightness of day, and when the sun has disappeared everything has changed and night is at hand. From sunset until the darkness of night is less than an hour.
2. Symbolic Uses:
In the Bible the main use of darkness is in contrast to light. Light is the symbol of God's purity, wisdom and glory. Darkness is the opposite. Miraculous occurrence of darkness in the land of Egypt for three days is recorded in Ex 10:21,22, and at the death of Christ (Mt 27:45).
See PLAGUE; ECLIPSE.
The figurative uses of darkness are many and various. It is used as a symbol (a) of moral depravity and its punishment. The wicked walk and work in darkness (Ps 82:5; Prov 2:13; Jn 3:19; Rom 13:12), and their reward is to "sit in darkness" (Ps 107:10) or to be "cast forth into the outer darkness" (Mt 8:12); (b) of things mysterious or inexplicable (1 Ki 8:12; Ps 97:2); (c) of trouble and affliction (2 Sam 22:29; Job 5:14; Prov 20:20; Isa 9:2; compare Gen 15:12); (d) of punishment (Lam 3:2; Ezek 32:8; Zeph 1:15); (e) of death (1 Sam 2:9; Job 10:21 f; Eccl 11:8); (f) of nothingness (Job 3:4-6); (g) of human ignorance (Job 19:8; 1 Jn 2:11).
"A dark (the Revised Version, margin "squalid") place" (2 Pet 1:19) refers especially to the state of things described in 2 Pet 2.
Alfred H. Joy
Darkness [nave]
DARKNESSOver the face of the earth, Gen. 1:2; Job 38:9; Jer. 4:23.
Called Night, Gen. 1:5.
God creates, Isa. 45:7.
Miraculous: in Egypt, Ex. 10:21, 22; Psa. 105:28; at Sinai, Ex. 20:21; Heb. 12:18; at the crucifixion, Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33.
Figurative
Of judgments, Prov. 20:20; Isa. 8:22; 13:10; Jer. 4:28; 13:16; Lam. 3:2; Ezek. 32:7, 8; Joel 2:2, 10; Amos 4:13; 5:18, 20; 8:9; Mic. 7:8; Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 23:45; Rev. 8:12; 9:2.
Called outer darkness, Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30.
Of powers of evil, Luke 22:53; Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:5; Rev. 16:10.
Of Spiritual Blindness
Isa. 9:2 Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:79. Isa. 42:16; Isa. 50:10; Matt. 6:22, 23; Luke 11:34; John 1:5; John 3:19-21; John 8:12; John 11:9, 10; Acts 26:18; Rom. 1:21; Rom. 13:12, 13; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 4:6; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8, 11; 1 Thess. 5:4, 5; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 2:8-11 See: Blindness, Spiritual.
The darkness of the Holy of Holies was symbolical of the dwelling place of Jehovah. See: Tabernacle, Most Holy Place. See also the following scriptures: Ex. 19:16; 2 Sam. 22:10-12; 2 Chr. 6:1 1 Kin. 8:12; Psa. 18:11; Psa. 97:2; Heb. 12:18
Darkness [ebd]
The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness "which may be felt." It covered "all the land of Egypt," so that "they saw not one another." It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23).
When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the "sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."
On Mount Sinai, Moses (Ex. 20:21) "drew near unto the thick darkness where God was." This was the "thick cloud upon the mount" in which Jehovah was when he spake unto Moses there. The Lord dwelt in the cloud upon the mercy-seat (1 Kings 8:12), the cloud of glory. When the psalmist (Ps. 97:2) describes the inscrutable nature of God's workings among the sons of men, he says, "Clouds and darkness are round about him." God dwells in thick darkness.
Darkness (Isa. 13:9, 10; Matt. 24:29) also is a symbol of the judgments that attend on the coming of the Lord. It is a symbol of misery and adversity (Job 18:6; Ps. 107:10; Isa. 8:22; Ezek. 30:18). The "day of darkness" in Joel 2:2, caused by clouds of locusts, is a symbol of the obscurity which overhangs all divine proceedings. "Works of darkness" are impure actions (Eph. 5:11). "Outer darkness" refers to the darkness of the streets in the East, which are never lighted up by any public or private lamps after nightfall, in contrast with the blaze of cheerful light in the house. It is also a symbol of ignorance (Isa. 9:2; 60:2; Matt. 6:23) and of death (Job 10:21; 17:13).
DARKNESS [smith]
is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks, --the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1Â Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (Job 10:21,22) and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light. (John 1:5; 3:19)Darkness [baker]
[N] [T] [E] [S]"Darkness" in both the Old Testament (Heb. hasak [J;v'j]) and New Testament (Gk.skotos [skovto"]) is an evocative word. If light symbolizes God, darkness connotes everything that is anti-God: the wicked (Prov 2:13-14; 1 Thess 5:4-7), judgment (Exod 10:21; Matt 25:30), and death (Psalm 88:12). Salvation brings light to those in darkness (Isa 9:2). Although darkness is opaque to man, it is transparent to God (Psalm 139:12). Indeed, God can veil himself in darkness at moments of great revelation (Deut 4:11; 5:23; Psalm 18:11).
God Rules the Darkness. The biblical view of darkness and light offers a unique contrast. There is no thought that darkness is equal in power to God's light. The absolute, sovereign God rules over the darkness and the powers of evil. This is evident in several ways. First, God knows the darkness. He knows where it is (Job 34:22) and what it contains (Dan 2:22). Second, God rules over the darkness because he created it (Isa 45:7; cf. Amos 4:13; 5:8). Third, God uses the darkness for his own purposes: to hide himself from the sight of men (Psalm 18:11; 1 Kings 8:12) and to bring his judgment on evildoers (Deut 28:28-29; Matt 8:12; 22:13), evil nations (Eze 30:18-19), and false prophets (Jer 23:12; Micah 3:6; Rev 16:10). Finally, God rules over the darkness eschatologically. The time of God's ultimate judgment, the day of the Lord, is portrayed in both the Old Testament and New Testament as a day of darkness (Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph 1:15; Matt 24:29; Rev 6:12-17).
Darkness and Crucifixion. It is against this background that the emphasis on darkness in the crucifixion scene may be understood. Luke records, "it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two" (23:44-45; cf. Matt 27:45; Mark 15:33). While darkness often accompanies the conception of death in Scripture (cf. Job 10:21-22), darkness at the crucifixion scene displays God's displeasure on humankind for crucifying his son. It also indicates God's judgment on evil. But the torn curtain exhibits the opening of salvation to all through the death of God's Son.
Final Darkness. The Old Testament and New Testament describe the future of the ungodly in terms of eschatological darkness, symbolizing perdition (1 Sam 2:9; Matt 22:13; Jude 12-13). "Hell" and "pits of darkness" describe the fate of angels who sinned (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). But for believers darkness will be dispelled by the presence of the light of the glory of God (Rev 21:23-24; 22:5). It is only through the light of God in Jesus Christ that darkness can be dispelled.
Michael J. Wilkins
See also Hell
Bibliography. E. R. Achtmeier, Int17 (1963): 439-49; G. L. Borchert, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, sv. "Light and Darkness"; F. G. Carver, Wesleyan Theological Journal 23 (1986): 7-32; H. Conzelmann, TDNT, 7:423-45; D. Guthrie, New Testament Theology: H.-C. Hahn, NIDNTT, 1:420-25; G. E. Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament; G. F. Shirbroun, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, s.v. "Light"; G. Wenham, Genesis 1-15.
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[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[T] indicates this entry was also found in Torrey's Topical Textbook
[E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
DARKNESS [bridgeway]
Apart from its literal meaning, darkness often has a figurative meaning in the Bible. Its most common figurative usage is as a symbol for evil. This symbolic usage is natural, for wrongdoers prefer darkness to light. It enables them to carry out their wrongdoing more easily (Neh 6:10; Ps 91:5-6; Isa 29:15; Jer 49:9; Luke 22:53; John 3:19-20; Rom 13:12-13; 1 Thess 5:2,7).The world of humankind, because of sin, is a place of darkness and death. Believers need not fear this darkness, for God has become their light (Ps 23:4; 27:1; Micah 7:8; Eph 5:14). In fact, when people receive God’s salvation they come, as it were, out of a kingdom of darkness into one of light (Isa 9:2; 42:6-7; Luke 1:76-79; Col 1:13). They must therefore no longer live as if they belonged to the darkness, but live as those who belong to the light (2 Cor 6:14; Eph 5:8-11; see LIGHT).
An intervention by God in human affairs may be accompanied by unnatural darkness (Deut 4:11; Matt 27:45-46). This is particularly the case if the intervention is one of judgment (Joel 2:2,31; cf. Rev 16:10-11). Therefore, the Bible may speak symbolically of a day of judgment as a day of darkness (Amos 5:20; Zeph 1:15). In keeping with this symbolism, the Bible depicts the final destiny of unrepentant sinners as a place of terrifying and everlasting darkness (Matt 8:12; 22:13; 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 13).
