Lexical Summary skotos: Darkness Original Word: σκότος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance darkness. From the base of skia; shadiness, i.e. Obscurity (literally or figuratively) -- darkness. see GREEK skia HELPS Word-studies 4655 skótos (a neuter noun) – properly, darkness (obscurity); (figuratively) the principle of sin with its certain results. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition darkness NASB Translation darkness (30). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4655: σκότος, σκότουσκότος, σκότου, σκοτου, ὁ (cf. σκοτία, at the beginning), from Homer down, darkness: Hebrews 12:18 Rec. (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 158; Winer's Grammar, 66 (64); B 22 (20)). STRONGS NT 4655: σκότοςσκότος, σκότους, τό, from Pindar down (see the preceding word, and σκοτία, at the beginning), the Sept. chiefly for חֹשֶׁך, darkness; a. properly: Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; Acts 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:6; αὕτη ἐστιν ἡ ἐξουσία τοῦ σκότους, this is the power of (night's) darkness, i. e. it has the power of rendering men bold to commit crimes, Luke 22:53; τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους (see κρυπτός), 1 Corinthians 4:5; of darkened eyesight or blindness: σκότος ἐπιπίπτει ἐπί τινα i. e. on one deprived of sight, Acts 13:11; in figurative discourse, εἰ οὖν ..., τό σκότος πόσον; if the light that is in thee is darkness, darkened (i. e. if the soul has lost its perceptive power), how great is the darkness (how much more deplorable than bodily blindness), Matthew 6:23, cf. Luke 11:35. by metonymy, put for a dark place: Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30 (see ἐξώτερος); ζόφος τοῦ σκότους (see ζόφος), 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13. b. metaphorically, of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery (see σκοτία): John 3:19; Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9; (abstract for the concrete) persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway, Ephesians 5:8; τά ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, deeds done in darkness, harmonizing with it, Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11; σκότους εἶναι, to be given up to the power of darkness (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 5 a.), 1 Thessalonians 5:5; ἐν σκότει εἶναι, 1 Thessalonians 5:4; οἱ ἐν σκότει, Luke 1:79; Romans 2:19; ὁ λαός ὁ καθήμενος ἐν ἐκοτει, Matthew 4:16 R G T; ἐν σκότει περιπατεῖν, 1 John 1:6. Strong’s Greek 4655 gathers every occurrence of σκότος in its various forms. Throughout the New Testament, the word depicts both literal absence of light and, more often, the moral, intellectual, and spiritual condition opposed to God’s self-revelation. Every context accents the absolute contrast between darkness and the true Light that has come in Jesus Christ. Old Testament Background Greek-speaking Jews already used σκότος when translating Hebrew choshek (“darkness”) in Genesis 1:2, Exodus 10:21-23, and Isaiah 9:2. The Septuagint prepares readers to recognize darkness as the condition of chaos, judgment, or ignorance awaiting divine intervention. New Testament writers inherit this conceptual world and apply it christologically. Literal Dark Phenomena 1. Cosmic portents: “The sun will be turned to darkness” (Acts 2:20; Joel 2:31) anticipates the Day of the Lord. Figurative and Ethical Darkness Darkness signifies the realm of sin, falsehood, and Satanic deception. “Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Romans 13:12 urges believers to “lay aside the deeds of darkness,” while Ephesians 5:8 reminds them they “were once darkness, but now” are “light in the Lord.” Kingdom Transfer: From Darkness to Light Conversion is repeatedly framed as a rescue mission. “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). Paul’s commission in Acts 26:18 is “to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,” defining evangelism as liberation from a tyrannical realm. Outer Darkness and Final Judgment Three Matthean parables end with offenders being cast “into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). The phrase combines physical exclusion from the Messianic banquet with eternal anguish. 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13 intensify the image: “blackest darkness has been reserved forever” for false teachers, showing that judgment is both punitive and irreversible. The Passion Darkness The three-hour shroud at Golgotha recalls the ninth plague on Egypt and announces that the sin-bearer endures covenant curse. Darkness at midday underscores substitutionary atonement; nature itself testifies that the Light of the world is momentarily forsaken so that sinners may walk in light. Apostolic Ministry and Missionary Mandate Paul addresses the Corinthian believers: “God… made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Apostolic preaching dispels darkness intellectually and morally. Accordingly, “what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) lays down separation from idolatry without retreat from evangelistic engagement. Spiritual Warfare and Armor Imagery Ephesians 6:12 locates the battle “against the rulers… the powers of this world’s darkness.” The Christian’s armor (Romans 13:12) is essentially defensive light; ethical integrity and gospel proclamation are the means by which darkness is pushed back. Pastoral Warnings to Believers John confronts self-deception: “If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie” (1 John 1:6). Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 comforts and cautions: “You, brothers, are not in darkness… you are all sons of the light.” Believers must remain vigilant lest darkness encroach through moral compromise or doctrinal error. Eschatological Darkness The Day of the Lord arrives suddenly for the unprepared (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4). Cosmic darkening signs (Acts 2:20) presage the King’s return. Final darkness is reserved for the reprobate, while the redeemed inherit “an inheritance among those sanctified” (Acts 26:18). Doctrinal Synthesis 1. Ontological contrast: God is light; darkness defines everything contrary to His nature. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching must expose sin’s darkness and direct hearers to the Light. σκότος therefore functions as a unifying thread, highlighting humanity’s need, Christ’s accomplishment, and the Church’s vocation until the everlasting kingdom of light fully dawns. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:16 N-DNSGRK: καθήμενος ἐν σκότει φῶς εἶδεν INT: were sitting in darkness a light have seen Matthew 6:23 N-NNS Matthew 6:23 N-NNS Matthew 8:12 N-ANS Matthew 22:13 N-ANS Matthew 25:30 N-ANS Matthew 27:45 N-NNS Mark 15:33 N-NNS Luke 1:79 N-DNS Luke 11:35 N-NNS Luke 22:53 N-GNS Luke 23:44 N-NNS John 3:19 N-ANS Acts 2:20 N-ANS Acts 13:11 N-NNS Acts 26:18 N-GNS Romans 2:19 N-DNS Romans 13:12 N-GNS 1 Corinthians 4:5 N-GNS 2 Corinthians 4:6 N-GNS 2 Corinthians 6:14 N-ANS Ephesians 5:8 N-NNS Ephesians 5:11 N-GNS Ephesians 6:12 N-GNS Colossians 1:13 N-GNS Strong's Greek 4655 |
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