Lexical Summary chashekah: darkness Original Word: חֲשֵׁכָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance darkness Or chashekah {khash-ay-kaw'}; from chashak; darkness; figuratively, misery -- darkness. see HEBREW chashak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chashak Definition darkness NASB Translation darkness (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲשֵׁכָה noun feminine darkness (chiefly in poetry) — ׳ח Genesis 15:12 2t., so read also probably Micah 3:6 (for ᵑ0 חָֽשְׁכָה); חֲשֵׁיכָה Psalm 139:12; construct חֶשְׁכַּת Psalm 18:12; plural חֲשֵׁכִים Isaiah 50:10; — darkness, opposed to light (אוֺרָה) Psalm 139:12; supernatural, גדולה ׳ח Genesis 15:12 (JE); חֶשְׁכַּתֿ מַיִם Psalm 18:12 in theoph. (but "" 2 Samuel 22:12 חַשְׁרַתמֿים a mass of water); figurative = lack of understanding Psalm 82:5; = distress Isaiah 8:22 ("" צָרָה), Isaiah 50:10. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope The noun חֲשֵׁכָה describes an enveloping gloom—a palpable darkness that overwhelms sight, guidance, and hope. Unlike the ordinary cycles of night and day established in Genesis 1, חֲשֵׁכָה depicts a moral-spiritual condition in which God withdraws visible signs of His presence so that human perception is clouded and direction is lost. Occurrences and Context 1. Genesis 15:12 introduces the word during Abram’s covenant vision: “As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended upon him”. Here חֲשֵׁכָה frames the awe-filled solemnity of a divine oath, revealing that total dependence on God is learned when human faculties are shut down. Theological Themes • Divine Revelation and Concealment: חֲשֵׁכָה often accompanies moments when God is simultaneously near and hidden. The covenant scene with Abram shows that God’s mighty acts may be wrapped in mystery. Prophetic Implications Isaiah’s picture of “thick darkness” sets the stage for the Messianic promise of Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Thus, חֲשֵׁכָה forms the negative backdrop against which the advent of Christ shines. It anticipates the New Testament declaration, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Practical Ministry Insights • Pastoral Care: Believers who “have no light” (Isaiah 50:10) are counseled not to ignite their own fires of self-help but to “trust in the name of the LORD.” Ministry should direct doubters to God’s character rather than to superficial remedies. Christological Foreshadowing At the crucifixion “darkness fell over all the land” (Matthew 27:45). The temporal darkness echoes חֲשֵׁכָה’s themes—judgment, mystery, and imminent redemption. Jesus, the Light of the World, entered our darkness, fulfilling the prophetic trajectory set by Isaiah and offering the ultimate solution to the human condition symbolized by חֲשֵׁכָה. Summary חֲשֵׁכָה is more than physical absence of light; it is a theological motif portraying the peril and potential of life without God’s immediate illumination. Yet every occurrence invites renewed trust, for the God who allows darkness also commands the dawn. Forms and Transliterations בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה בחשכה וַחֲשֵׁכָה֙ וחשכה חֲשֵׁכִ֗ים חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה חשכה חשכים כַּ֝חֲשֵׁיכָ֗ה כחשיכה ba·ḥă·šê·ḵāh bachasheChah baḥăšêḵāh chasheChah chasheChim ḥă·šê·ḵāh ḥă·šê·ḵîm ḥăšêḵāh ḥăšêḵîm ka·ḥă·šê·ḵāh kachasheiChah kaḥăšêḵāh vachasheChah wa·ḥă·šê·ḵāh waḥăšêḵāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 15:12 HEB: וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה נֹפֶ֥לֶת NAS: [and] great darkness fell KJV: of great darkness fell INT: and behold terror darkness great fell Psalm 82:5 Psalm 139:12 Isaiah 8:22 Isaiah 50:10 5 Occurrences |
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