651. aphel

Lexicon

aphel: Dark, darkness, gloomy

Original Word: אָפֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: aphel
Pronunciation: ah-FAYL
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-fale')
Definition: Dark, darkness, gloomy
Meaning: dusky

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

very dark

From an unused root meaning to set as the sun; dusky -- very dark.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as ophel
Definition
gloomy
NASB Translation
gloom (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אָפֵל adj. gloomy, of day of ׳י Amos 5:20 ("" כשׁך opp נֹגַהּ) compareאֲפֵלָה .

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root אָפַל (afal), which conveys the idea of darkness or obscurity.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1105 (γνόφος, gnophos): This Greek term is used in the New Testament to describe a thick, dark cloud or gloom, similar to the Hebrew concept of אָפֵל. It appears in contexts that convey a sense of foreboding or divine judgment, such as in Hebrews 12:18, where it describes the terrifying scene at Mount Sinai.

In summary, Strong's Hebrew Number 651, אָפֵל, encapsulates the notion of darkness, both literal and metaphorical, within the biblical text. It serves as a powerful symbol of the absence of divine light and understanding, calling for the illumination that only God can provide.

Usage: The word אָפֵל is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe physical darkness or metaphorical obscurity. It is often associated with gloom or a lack of light, both literally and figuratively.

Context: • Occurrences: The term אָפֵל appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures, often to describe a setting or condition that is devoid of light. It is used to convey both physical darkness and metaphorical obscurity, such as in situations of confusion or lack of understanding.
• Biblical Context: In the Berean Standard Bible, the concept of darkness is frequently used to contrast with light, symbolizing evil versus good, ignorance versus knowledge, or judgment versus salvation. The term אָפֵל, with its connotation of "dusky," fits within this broader biblical theme of light and darkness.
• Theological Implications: The use of אָפֵל in Scripture often serves to highlight the need for divine intervention or revelation to bring clarity and understanding. It underscores the human condition of spiritual blindness without the illumination provided by God.
• Example Verse: While specific verses using the exact term אָפֵל may not be directly quoted in the Berean Standard Bible, the concept is prevalent throughout the biblical narrative, emphasizing the contrast between the darkness of the world and the light of God's truth.

Forms and Transliterations

וְאָפֵ֖ל ואפל veaFel wə’āp̄êl wə·’ā·p̄êl

Englishman's Concordance

Amos 5:20
HEB: וְלֹא־ א֑וֹר וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא־ נֹ֥גַֽהּ
NAS: of light, Even gloom with no
KJV: and not light? even very dark, and no brightness
INT: no of light gloom no brightness

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 651
1 Occurrence

wə·’ā·p̄êl — 1 Occ.