Lexical Summary qadar: To be dark, to mourn, to grow dark Original Word: קָדַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be blackish, be make darken, heavily, cause to mourn A primitive root; to be ashy, i.e. Dark-colored; by implication, to mourn (in sackcloth or sordid garments) -- be black(-ish), be (make) dark(-en), X heavily, (cause to) mourn. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be dark NASB Translation become dark (1), dark (1), darken (2), grew black (1), grow dark (2), mourn (3), mourning (6), sit (1), turbid (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קָדַר verb be dark (dull-coloured, compare Arabic  be dirty (on  = ד see NöZMG xl (1886), 729); Late Hebrew Hiph`il (of face) shew gloom; ᵑ7J קְדַר be dark); — Qal Perfect consecutive וְקָדַר Micah 3:6; 1singular קָדַרְתִּי Jeremiah 8:21, etc.; Participle קֹדֵר Psalm 35:14 +; plural קֹדְרִים Job 5:11; Job 6:16; — be dark, of sky Jeremiah 4:28 (leaden-coloured, as with clouds, see Hithpa`el), of sun and moon Joel 2:10; Joel 4:15; figurative of lack of revelation from ׳י, עֲלֵיהֶם הַיּוֺם ׳וְק Micah 3:6; of turbid stream Job 6:16; figurative of mourning (probably be squalid, of neglected person and dress of mourner, compare 2 Samuel 19:25) Jeremiah 8:21; Jeremiah 14:2 (לָאָרֶץ, metaphor of gates); Job 5:11; Job 30:28 (בְּלֹא חַמָּה), Psalm 35:14; Psalm 38:7; Psalm 42:10; Psalm 43:2. Hiph`il 1. darken: Perfect1singular consecutive וְהִקְדַּרְתִּי Ezekiel 32:7 (object stars), compare Imperfect1singular suffix אַקְדִּירֵם עָלֶיךָ Ezekiel 32:8. 2 cause to mourn וָאַקְדִּר עָלָיו לְבָנוֺן Ezekiel 31:15. Hithpa`el Perfect3plural וְהַשָּׁמַיִם הִתְקַדְּרוּ עָבִים 1 Kings 18:45 and the heavens grew dark with clouds. Topical Lexicon Underlying Motifs of קָדַרThe verb denotes the movement from brightness to gloom, whether in the sky, the human countenance, or the national mood. Consequently, its appearances pivot on two chief ideas: literal darkening and figurative mourning. Scripture weaves these strands together, portraying darkness as both a physical phenomenon and a moral-spiritual condition that calls people back to God. Meteorological Darkening The first occurrence, 1 Kings 18:45, captures the sudden shift on Mount Carmel: “Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.” Here קָדַר marks the rapid buildup of thunderheads that confirm Elijah’s prophetic word and Yahweh’s supremacy over Baal. The darkening sky, far from random weather, testifies to covenant faithfulness—rain returns when Israel repents. Personal Grief and Lament Job employs the verb to voice inner turmoil. In Job 30:28 he confesses, “I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.” The outer pallor mirrors an eclipsed spirit. David echoes the same tone: “I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning” (Psalm 38:6). These texts teach that sorrow is not denied in the life of the faithful; it is articulated before God, who alone turns mourning to joy (Psalm 30:11). National Anguish Jeremiah repeatedly adopts קָדַר to convey Judah’s calamity. “Because of the brokenness of the daughter of my people, I am crushed; I mourn” (Jeremiah 8:21). Again, “Judah mourns; her gates languish” (Jeremiah 14:2). The darkened gates symbolize civic paralysis under divine discipline. By giving poetic expression to national grief, the prophet urges repentance and reliance on covenant mercy. Cosmic Portents of Judgment Prophetic books widen the canvas. Joel foresees a universal disturbance: “The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness” (Joel 3:15; cf. 2:10). Ezekiel pronounces a like verdict on Egypt: “I will cover the heavens and darken their stars” (Ezekiel 32:7-8). קָדַר underscores that no empire is beyond God’s reach; celestial dimming mirrors terrestrial downfall, prefiguring the eschatological Day of the Lord. Imagery of Cut-Off Revelation Micah 3:6 warns corrupt prophets, “Therefore night will come upon you without vision, and darkness without divination.” The verb here transfers from weather to revelation: when leaders reject truth, God withholds light. The moral order itself darkens, leaving society disoriented. Pastoral and Homiletical Implications 1. Honest Lament. The term validates seasons of heaviness. Believers need not feign cheer; they may, like Job and David, bring darkened spirits into God’s presence. 2. Call to Repentance. National usages show that collective sin invites collective gloom. Preaching on קָדַר invites congregations to examine societal idols and seek revival. 3. Eschatological Hope. While קָדַר signals judgment, it also anticipates dawn. The same prophets who foretell darkening promise outpourings of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32). The pattern culminates at Calvary, where midday darkness precedes resurrection light (Matthew 27:45; 28:1). Practical Ministry Applications • Funeral and memorial services: Psalms 38:6 and 42:9 offer language for godly grief without despair. Theological Synthesis Across narrative, poetry, and prophecy, קָדַר presents darkness as a measured act of God—sometimes chastening, sometimes protective, always purposeful. Every shadow in Scripture finally serves the movement toward redemption, ensuring that “the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). Forms and Transliterations אַקְדִּירֵ֖ם אקדירם הִֽתְקַדְּרוּ֙ הַקֹּדְרִ֥ים הקדרים התקדרו וְ֝קֹדְרִ֗ים וְהִקְדַּרְתִּ֖י וְקָדְר֥וּ וְקָדַ֥ר וָאַקְדִּ֤ר ואקדר והקדרתי וקדר וקדרו וקדרים קָדְר֣וּ קָדַ֕רְתִּי קָדָ֑רוּ קָדָ֔רוּ קֹדֵ֣ר קֹדֵ֥ר קדר קדרו קדרתי ’aq·dî·rêm ’aqdîrêm akdiRem hakkodeRim haq·qō·ḏə·rîm haqqōḏərîm hiṯ·qad·də·rū hitkaddeRu hiṯqaddərū kaDarti kaDaru kadeRu koDer qā·ḏā·rū qā·ḏar·tî qā·ḏə·rū qāḏartî qāḏārū qāḏərū qō·ḏêr qōḏêr vaakDir vehikdarTi vekaDar vekadeRu vekodeRim wā’aqdir wā·’aq·dir wə·hiq·dar·tî wə·qā·ḏar wə·qā·ḏə·rū wə·qō·ḏə·rîm wəhiqdartî wəqāḏar wəqāḏərū wəqōḏərîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 18:45 HEB: כֹּ֗ה וְהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ הִֽתְקַדְּרוּ֙ עָבִ֣ים וְר֔וּחַ NAS: the sky grew black with clouds KJV: that the heaven was black with clouds INT: such the sky grew clouds and wind Job 5:11 Job 6:16 Job 30:28 Psalm 35:14 Psalm 38:6 Psalm 42:9 Psalm 43:2 Jeremiah 4:28 Jeremiah 8:21 Jeremiah 14:2 Ezekiel 31:15 Ezekiel 32:7 Ezekiel 32:8 Joel 2:10 Joel 3:15 Micah 3:6 17 Occurrences |
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