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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The Earth was void and empty and darkness was upon the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the water.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness." And Moses stretched forth his hand unto heaven, and there was a dark mist upon all the land of Egypt three days long, read more. so that no man saw another, neither rose up from the place where he was by the space of three days, but all the children of Israel had light where they dwelled.
The light shall be dark in his dwelling, and his candle shall be put out with him.
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being fast bound in misery and iron,
For the stars and planets of heaven shall not give their light; the sun shall be quenched in the rising, and the moon will not shine with his light.
And the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great, and notable day of the Lord come.'
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke 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 the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness."
so that no man saw another, neither rose up from the place where he was by the space of three days, but all the children of Israel had light where they dwelled.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses went into the thick cloud where God was.
Then spake Solomon, "The LORD said that he would dwell in darkness.
before I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death:
Though I tarry never so much, yet the grave is my house, and I must make my bed in the dark.
The light shall be dark in his dwelling, and his candle shall be put out with him.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being fast bound in misery and iron,
and behold, there is trouble and darkness; vexation is round about him, and the cloud of error. And out of such adversity, shall he not escape.
The people that have dwelt in darkness, shall see a great light. As for them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them shall the light shine.
For lo, the day of the LORD shall come: terrible, full of indignation and wrath, to make the land waste, and to root out the sinners thereof. For the stars and planets of heaven shall not give their light; the sun shall be quenched in the rising, and the moon will not shine with his light.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick mist the nations. But the LORD shall rise as the sun over thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark, when I break there the scepter of the land of Egypt, and when the pomp of her power shall have an end. A cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall be led away into captivity.
a dark and gloomy day, a cloudy and black day. As the morning is spread over the mountains, so it this populous and strong people: such as have not been since the beginning, neither shall be after them for evermore.
But and if thine eye be wicked, then all thy body shall be full of darkness. Wherefore if the light that is in thee, be darkness: how great is that darkness?
Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move.
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And it was about the sixth hour. And there came a darkness over all the land, until the ninth hour,
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke 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 the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness."
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness."
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
For lo, the day of the LORD shall come: terrible, full of indignation and wrath, to make the land waste, and to root out the sinners thereof.
For lo, the day of the LORD shall come: terrible, full of indignation and wrath, to make the land waste, and to root out the sinners thereof. For the stars and planets of heaven shall not give their light; the sun shall be quenched in the rising, and the moon will not shine with his light.
For the stars and planets of heaven shall not give their light; the sun shall be quenched in the rising, and the moon will not shine with his light.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick mist the nations. But the LORD shall rise as the sun over thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick mist the nations. But the LORD shall rise as the sun over thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
She that hath born seven children, shall have none; her heart shall be full of sorrow. The Sun shall fail her in the clear day, when she shall be confounded and faint for very heaviness. As for those that remain, I will deliver them unto the sword of their enemies, sayeth the LORD."
She that hath born seven children, shall have none; her heart shall be full of sorrow. The Sun shall fail her in the clear day, when she shall be confounded and faint for very heaviness. As for those that remain, I will deliver them unto the sword of their enemies, sayeth the LORD."
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come.
The sun and moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their light.
The sun and moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their light.
At the same time," sayeth the LORD God, "I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, and the land to be dark in the clear day.
At the same time," sayeth the LORD God, "I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, and the land to be dark in the clear day.
At the same time," sayeth the LORD God, "I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, and the land to be dark in the clear day.
At the same time," sayeth the LORD God, "I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, and the land to be dark in the clear day.
Therefore your vision shall be turned to night, and your prophesying to darkness. The Sun shall go down over those prophets, and the day shall be dark unto them.
Therefore your vision shall be turned to night, and your prophesying to darkness. The Sun shall go down over those prophets, and the day shall be dark unto them.
And the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
And the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move.
Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move.
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.
And the light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.
And this is the condemnation: that light is come into the world, and the men have loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.
And this is the condemnation: that light is come into the world, and the men have loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke them.
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke them.
And this is the tidings which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And this is the tidings which we have heard of him, and declare unto 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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The Earth was void and empty and darkness was upon the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the water.
and called the light "day," and the darkness "night." And so of the evening and morning was made the first day.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness."
and went between the host of the Egyptians and the host of Israel. It was a dark cloud, and gave light by night: so that all the night long the one could not come at the other.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses went into the thick cloud where God was.
before I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death: yea, into a land as dark as darkness itself, and into the shadow of death where is none order; but light there is as darkness."
He bowed the heavens, also, and came down, and it was dark under his feet. {TYNDALE: And he bowed heaven and came down, and darkness underneath his feet.}
He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion round about him; with dark waters and thick clouds to cover him. {TYNDALE: And he made darkness a tabernacle round about him, with water gathered together in thick clouds.}
They will not be learned nor understand, but walk on still in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
The people that have dwelt in darkness, shall see a great light. As for them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them shall the light shine.
the people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light has begun to shine."
And the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth hands against me. But this is even your very hour, and the power of darkness."
And the light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.
And this is the condemnation: that light is come into the world, and the men have loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood: but against rule, against power, and against worldly rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness for heavenly things.
For ye are not come unto the mount that can be touched, and unto burning fire, nor yet to mist and darkness and tempest of weather,
The angels also, which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day:
They are raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. They are wandering stars, to whom is reserved the mist of darkness forever.
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom waxed dark, and they gnawed their tongues for sorrow,
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 went into the thick cloud where God was.
before I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death: yea, into a land as dark as darkness itself, and into the shadow of death where is none order; but light there is as darkness."
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And the light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.
And this is the condemnation: that light is come into the world, and the men have loved darkness more than light, because their deeds 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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The Earth was void and empty and darkness was upon the deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the water.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Stretch out thy hand unto heaven, and let there be darkness upon the land of Egypt: even that they may feel the darkness." And Moses stretched forth his hand unto heaven, and there was a dark mist upon all the land of Egypt three days long,
The same day be turned to darkness, and not regarded of God from above, neither let the light shine upon it: but let it be stained with darkness, and the shadow of death. Let the dim cloud fall upon it, and let it be lapped in with sorrow.
yea, into a land as dark as darkness itself, and into the shadow of death where is none order; but light there is as darkness."
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being fast bound in misery and iron,
From the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him.
It was the Sabbath even which falleth in the Easter feast, and about the sixth hour. And he said unto the Jews, "Behold your King."