Lexical Summary skotizó: To darken, to obscure Original Word: σκοτίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance darken. From skotos; to obscure (literally or figuratively) -- darken. see GREEK skotos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4654 skotízō – become dark, obscuring God's light (the manifestation of His life). This verb form focuses on the sovereign action of God (versus the impact of it with 4656 /skotóō). See 4655 (skotos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom skotos Definition to darken NASB Translation darkened (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4654: σκοτίζωσκοτίζω: passive, perfect participle ἐσκοτισμενος (Ephesians 4:18 R G); 1 aorist ἐσκοτίσθην; 1 future σκοτισθήσομαι; (σκότος); to cover with darkness, to darken; passive, to be covered with darkness, be darkened": properly, of the heavenly bodies, as deprived of light ((Ecclesiastes 12:2)), Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 23:45 (T WH ἐκλείπω (which see 2)); Revelation 8:12; Revelation 9:2 (L T WH σκοτόω, which see); metaphorically, of the eyes, viz. of the understanding, Romans 11:10; ἡ καρδία, the mind (see καρδία, 2 b. β.), Romans 1:21; men τῇ διάνοια, Ephesians 4:18 R G. (Plutarch (adv. Col. 24, 4; Cleomed. 81, 28); Tzetzes, hist. 8, 929; the Sept. several times for חָשַׁך; (Polybius 12, 15, 10; 3Macc. 4:10; Test xii. Patr., test. Rub. § 3; test. Levi § 14).) Topical Lexicon Biblical Portrait of DarkeningIn Scripture the darkening of heart, eyes, sun, moon, or stars is consistently portrayed as a divine response to sin and a harbinger of judgment. Whether applied to the inner life of unbelieving humanity or to the very luminaries of heaven, it signals the withdrawal of God’s light and the intrusion of His righteous wrath. Old Testament Foundations Prophetic texts prepare the way. Exodus 10 records a plague of thick darkness over Egypt; Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:10, and Amos 8:9 foresee cosmic gloom that accompanies the “day of the LORD.” These passages establish darkness as both a literal plague and an emblem of moral blindness and impending judgment. New Testament Occurrences 1. Spiritual Degeneration (Romans 1:21) “Their foolish hearts were darkened.” The verse follows humanity’s suppression of truth. The darkening is not merely psychological but judicial; God gives people over to the blindness they have chosen. 2. Judicial Blindness of Israel (Romans 11:10) “May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see.” Quoting Psalm 69, Paul explains the partial hardening of Israel. Even this darkness serves a redemptive purpose, opening the door for Gentile inclusion and anticipating Israel’s future restoration (Romans 11:25–27). 3. Cosmic Portents of the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24) “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” These parallel sayings of Jesus frame the darkening of heavenly bodies as a sign that the age is drawing to its climax and that the Son of Man is about to appear in power and glory. 4. Trumpet Judgment in the Apocalypse (Revelation 8:12) “A third of the sun, moon, and stars was struck, and a third of them was darkened.” The fourth trumpet vividly fulfills prophetic expectation, underscoring that cosmic order itself is subject to the Creator’s discipline. Theological Themes Divine Judgment Darkening never occurs in a moral or spiritual vacuum. It is God’s righteous reaction to idolatry, ingratitude, or persistent unbelief (Romans 1:18–32). Cosmic darkness dramatizes that judgment on a universal scale is approaching (Revelation 6–16). Revelation and Concealment God reveals Himself in light (John 1:4–9), yet those who reject that light experience progressive obscurity. Darkening, therefore, is both punitive and revelatory: it exposes sin while concealing truth from those who refuse it. Eschatological Expectation The synoptic prophecies and Revelation align: the darkening of the sun and moon precedes the visible return of Christ and the consummation of the kingdom. The phenomenon functions as a temporal marker, assuring the faithful that deliverance is near. Christological and Redemptive Context At Calvary “darkness fell over all the land” (Matthew 27:45), intensifying the link between judgment and redemption. The cross is the ultimate point where divine wrath and saving grace meet; through the temporary darkening of creation, God reveals the Light of the world. Historical Interpretation Early church fathers read the cosmic darkening literally but also allegorically, seeing it as the eclipse of pagan wisdom before the triumph of Christ. Reformers emphasized its judicial aspect, warning nations that despising gospel light invites divine dimming. Contemporary expositors often highlight both literal fulfillment in coming tribulation events and present application in societal moral decay. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Evangelism: The gospel confronts a world already “darkened in their understanding” (Ephesians 4:18). Proclaiming Christ as the true Light addresses humanity’s deepest need. Thus, every occurrence of the verb translated “be darkened” gathers together themes of sin, judgment, revelation, and hope, ultimately pointing to the triumph of the Light in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations εσκοτισθη εσκοτίσθη ἐσκοτίσθη εσκοτισμένοι σκοτισθη σκοτισθή σκοτισθῇ σκοτισθησεται σκοτισθήσεται σκοτισθητωσαν σκοτισθήτωσαν σκοτομήνη eskotisthe eskotisthē eskotísthe eskotísthē skotisthe skotisthē skotisthêi skotisthē̂i skotisthesetai skotisthēsetai skotisthḗsetai skotisthetosan skotisthētōsan skotisthḗtosan skotisthḗtōsanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 24:29 V-FIP-3SGRK: ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται καὶ ἡ NAS: THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON KJV: shall the sun be darkened, and INT: the sun will be darkened and the Mark 13:24 V-FIP-3S Romans 1:21 V-AIP-3S Romans 11:10 V-AMP-3P Revelation 8:12 V-ASP-3S Strong's Greek 4654 |
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