Reference: Darkness
American
The absence of natural light, Ge 1:2, and hence figuratively a state of misery and adversity, Job 18:6; Ps 107:10; Isa 8:22-9:1; also the absence of the sun and stars, and hence the fall of chief men and national convulsions, Isa 13:10; Ac 2:20. "Works of darkness," are the impure mysteries practiced in heathen worship, Eph 5:11. "Outer darkness" illustrates the gloom of those on whom the gates of heaven are closed, Mt 8:12. The darkness in Egypt, Ex 10:21-23, was miraculous; also that which covered all Judea with sympathetic gloom at the crucifixion of Christ, Lu 23:43. This could not have been caused by an eclipse of the sun; for at Passover the moon was full, and on the opposite side of the earth from the sun.
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And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness. And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens; and there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt three days: read more. they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place, for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
The light shall become dark in his tent, and his lamp over him shall be put out.
Such as inhabit darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron,
For the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
the sun shall be changed to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and gloriously appearing day of the Lord come.
and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove them,
Easton
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. Ex 10:23).
When Jesus hung upon the cross (Mt 27:45; Lu 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 (1Ki 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; Mt 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; Eze 30:18). The "day of darkness" in Joe 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; Mt 6:23) and of death (Job 10:21; 17:13).
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And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness.
they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place, for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the obscurity where God was.
Then said Solomon: Jehovah said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Before I go, and never to return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
The light shall become dark in his tent, and his lamp over him shall be put out.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
Such as inhabit darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron,
and they will look to the earth; and behold, trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they shall be driven into thick darkness.
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the earth desolate; and he will destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen on thee.
And at Tehaphnehes the day shall be darkened, when I break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her strength shall cease in her; as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and gross darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, to the years of generations and generations.
but if thine eye be wicked, thy whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great the darkness!
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
And it was about the sixth hour, and there came darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove them,
Fausets
The ninth Egyptian plague (Ex 10:21, etc.). Especially calculated to affect the Egyptians who worshipped Ra, the sun god. Its sudden and intense coming when Moses stretched out his hand marked it as supernatural. Its basis was natural, namely, the chamsin or sandstorm (see Septuagint), from the S.W. desert. It produces a darkness denser than the densest fog, so that no man rises from his place; men and beasts hide until it is over, for it penetrates even through well closed windows. This explains the peculiar phrase "darkness which may be felt." What still more marked its judicial character was (compare Isa 13:9-10; Joe 2:31; 3:15; Mt 24:29) "the children of Israel had light in their dwellings."
The date of Am 8:9 coincides with a total eclipse visible at Jerusalem shortly after noon, Feb. 9th, 784 B.C.; the date of Mic 3:6 with the eclipse June 5th, 716 B.C. (Dionys. Hal., 2:56); the date of Jer 15:9 with the eclipse of Sept. 30th, 610 B.C. (Herodotus, 1:74,103.) The darkness over all the land (Juaea) from the sixth to the ninth hour during Christ's crucifixion (Mt 27:45) cannot have been an eclipse, for it would not last three hours, seldom intensely more than six minutes. The eclipse, darkness and earthquake in Bithynia, noted by Phlegon of Tralles, was probably in the year before. This darkness at Christ's crucifixion was nature's sympathy with her suffering Lord; perhaps partly intended by the prophecy Am 8:9.
As the glory of the Lord shone around the scene of His birth (Lu 2:9), so a pall of darkness was fitly spread over His dying scene. By the paschal reckoning the moon must then have been at its full phase, when the sun could not be eclipsed. Darkness is the image of spiritual ignorance and unbelief (Isa 60:2; Joh 1:5; 3:19; 1Jo 2:8). "Outer darkness" expresses exclusion from the brightness of the heavenly banquet (Mt 8:12). "The works of darkness," i.e. sins (Eph 5:11). God dwells in thick darkness; i.e., we cannot penetrate the awe inspiring mysteries of His person and His dealings. But God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jo 1:5; 1Ki 8:12; Ps 97:2).
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And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness.
And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the earth desolate; and he will destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the earth desolate; and he will destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
For the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen on thee.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen on thee.
She that hath borne seven languisheth, she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it is yet day; she is put to shame and confounded. And the residue of them will I give up to the sword before their enemies, saith Jehovah.
She that hath borne seven languisheth, she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it is yet day; she is put to shame and confounded. And the residue of them will I give up to the sword before their enemies, saith Jehovah.
The sun shall be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
The sun shall be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.
therefore ye shall have night without a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, without divination; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.
therefore ye shall have night without a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, without divination; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.
but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
And lo, an angel of the Lord was there by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear.
And lo, an angel of the Lord was there by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear.
And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.
And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.
and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove them,
and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove them,
And this is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And this is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Hastings
Morish
Used in various significations in scripture.
1. State of the earth before God said, Let there be light. Ge 1:2.
2. Temporary absence of light in the night. Ge 1:5.
3. Extraordinary darkness sent by God. Ex 10:21; 14:20; Mt 27:45.
4. The darkness by which God shrouded His glory. Ex 20:21; Ps 18:9,11; 97:2; Heb 12:18.
5. State of death as compared with natural life. Job 10:21-22.
6. Moral darkness as the consequent state of man fallen. Ps 82:5; Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16; Joh 1:5; 3:19; 2Co 6:14; 1Pe 2:9.
7. It characterises Satan and his agents. Lu 22:53; Eph 6:12; Re 16:10.
8. It is the abode of wicked spirits and will characterise the place of punishment of the wicked. Mt 8:12; 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6,13. God is light, and Christ came into the world as the true light: everything shut out from God, or opposed to God and to the Lord Jesus, must partake of moral darkness.
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And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening, and there was morning the first day.
And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness.
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and was a cloud and darkness, and lit up the night; and the one did not come near the other all the night.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the obscurity where God was.
Before I go, and never to return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of gloom, as darkness itself; of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as thick darkness.
And he bowed the heavens, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
He made darkness his secret place, his tent round about him: darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
They know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are moved.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.
the people sitting in darkness has seen a great light, and to those sitting in the country and shadow of death, to them has light sprung up.
but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
When I was day by day with you in the temple ye did not stretch out your hands against me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness.
And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.
because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual power of wickedness in the heavenlies.
For ye have not come to the mount that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,
And angels who had not kept their own original state, but had abandoned their own dwelling, he keeps in eternal chains under gloomy darkness, to the judgment of the great day;
raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shames; wandering stars, to whom has been reserved the gloom of darkness for eternity.
And the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast; and its kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues with distress,
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.
The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land,"
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,
and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light.
Joh 1:5; 3:19
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And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the obscurity where God was.
Before I go, and never to return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of gloom, as darkness itself; of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as thick darkness.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.
Watsons
DARKNESS, the absence of light. "Darkness was upon the face of the deep," Ge 1:2; that is, the chaos was immersed in thick darkness, because light was withheld from it. The most terrible darkness was that brought on Egypt as a plague; it was so thick as to be, as it were, palpable; so horrible, that no one durst stir out of his place; and so lasting, that it endured three days and three nights, Ex 10:21-22; Wisdom 17:2, 3. The darkness at our Saviour's death began at the sixth hour, or noon, and ended at the third hour, or three o'clock in the afternoon. Thus it lasted almost the whole time he was on the cross; compare Mt 27:45, with Joh 19:14, and Mr 15:25. Origen, Maldonatus, Erasmus, Vatablus, and others, were of opinion that this darkness covered Judea only; which is sometimes called the whole earth; that is, the whole country. Chrysostom, Euthymius, Theophylact, and others, thought it extended over a hemisphere. Origen says it was caused by a thick mist, which precluded the sight of the sun. That it was preternatural is certain, for, the moon being at full, a natural eclipse of the sun was impossible. Darkness is sometimes used metaphorically for death. "The land of darkness" is the grave, Job 10:22; Ps 107:10. It is also used to denote misfortunes and calamities: "A day of darkness" is a day of affliction, Esther 11:8. "Let that day be darkness; let darkness stain it,"
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And the earth was waste and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness in the land of Egypt so that one may feel darkness. And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens; and there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt three days:
That day let it be darkness, let not +God care for it from above, neither let light shine upon it: Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it; let clouds dwell upon it; let darkeners of the day terrify it.
A land of gloom, as darkness itself; of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as thick darkness.
Such as inhabit darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron,
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour;
And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
(now it was the preparation of the passover; it was about the sixth hour;) and he says to the Jews, Behold your king!