Lexical Summary maapheleyah: Gloom, Darkness Original Word: מַאֲפֵלְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance opaquenessProl. Feminine of ma'aphel; opaqueness: see HEBREW ma'aphel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as ophel Definition deep darkness NASB Translation thick darkness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַאְמֵּלְיָה noun feminine deep darkness (= מַאֲפֵל יָהּ according to Thes MV compare Songs 8:6 שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה; but Ew§ 165 b & on Jeremiah 2:31 reads מַאְמִּלִיָה feminine of [מאפלי], derived from Hiph`il Participle; compare Sta§ 302 b מַאְמְּלִיָּה; JägerBAS 471 thinks this יָה an enclitic particle of emphasis, & compare Assyrian) — only ׳אֶרֶץ מ Jeremiah 2:31 figurative of ׳י in dealing with his people ("" מִרְבָּר). אֶפְלָל see below פלל . p. 813. אפן (meaning dubious, perhaps turn, compare פנה) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery The noun מַאֲפֵלְיָה evokes an atmosphere of heavy, enveloping gloom—darkness so thick that it hinders sight and breeds uncertainty. In Scripture, such darkness is never merely meteorological; it is laden with moral and spiritual overtones, portraying alienation from God, the peril of waywardness, and the dread that attends divine judgment. Biblical Occurrence (Jeremiah 2:31) “Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness?” (Jeremiah 2:31). Through this single use of מַאֲפֵלְיָה, the Lord confronts Judah’s charge that He has somehow failed them. By pairing “wilderness” with “land of thick darkness,” He highlights two perceived deficiencies—lack of provision and lack of light. The people’s complaint stands exposed as baseless; the gloom they feel is not God-imposed but self-inflicted by rebellion. Historical Setting Jeremiah ministered in the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC, addressing a nation teetering on the brink of exile. Idolatry, social injustice, and political alliances had eclipsed covenant faithfulness. Against that backdrop, the image of thick darkness serves as a prophetic warning: if Judah persists in forsaking the Lord, the metaphor will harden into lived reality—captivity, silence, and despair. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Faithfulness. God’s rhetorical question underscores His constancy. Darkness is not intrinsic to His character; “God is light” (1 John 1:5). When His people experience darkness, it signals estrangement, not a defect in God. Related Biblical Motifs • Exodus 20:21—darkness where God’s presence descended, showing that even oppressive gloom can host divine revelation when approached in faith. While the vocabulary differs, each passage converges on the principle that God alone dispels spiritual darkness. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching: Jeremiah 2:31 invites sermons contrasting perceived and actual character of God, urging congregations to examine whether feelings of abandonment stem from disobedience rather than divine neglect. Messianic and Eschatological Outlook Jesus Christ fulfills the reversal of מַאֲפֵלְיָה: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). At His return, “night will be no more” (Revelation 22:5), permanently banishing every vestige of thick darkness. Reflective Questions for Study 1. What patterns in personal or communal life today mirror Judah’s slide into self-inflicted darkness? Forms and Transliterations מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה מאפליה ma’·pê·lə·yāh ma’pêləyāh maPeleYahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 2:31 HEB: אִ֛ם אֶ֥רֶץ מַאְפֵּ֖לְיָ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ אָמְר֤וּ NAS: a land of thick darkness? Why KJV: a land of darkness? wherefore say INT: Or A land of thick how say 1 Occurrence |
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