The concept of "darkening" in the Bible often symbolizes a loss of understanding, spiritual blindness, or the judgment of God. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures to convey a range of meanings, from physical darkness to spiritual and moral decline.

Old Testament References

1. Physical Darkness: In the Old Testament, darkening is frequently associated with God's judgment. One of the most notable instances is the plague of darkness in Egypt. In Exodus 10:21-22 , the Lord instructs Moses: "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt." This darkness was a tangible sign of God's power and judgment against Pharaoh's hardened heart.

2. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets often used darkening as a metaphor for impending judgment and calamity. In Isaiah 13:10 , the prophet speaks of cosmic disturbances as a sign of God's wrath: "For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened as it rises, and the moon will not shed its light." This imagery underscores the severity of divine judgment.

3. Spiritual Blindness: Darkening also represents spiritual blindness and ignorance. In Isaiah 60:2 , the prophet contrasts the darkness covering the earth with the glory of the Lord: "For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you."

New Testament References

1. Moral and Spiritual Decline: In the New Testament, darkening is often associated with moral and spiritual decline. Romans 1:21 describes the consequences of humanity's rejection of God: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts."

2. Spiritual Enlightenment: Conversely, the New Testament speaks of Christ as the light that dispels darkness. In John 1:5 , it is written, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This highlights the transformative power of Christ's presence, bringing spiritual enlightenment and understanding.

3. End Times Imagery: The theme of darkening is also present in eschatological contexts. In Matthew 24:29 , Jesus describes the signs of the end times: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’" This apocalyptic imagery serves as a warning of the coming judgment and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Theological Implications

Darkening, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of God's judgment, the consequences of sin, and the spiritual blindness that results from turning away from God. It also contrasts with the light of Christ, which brings hope, redemption, and spiritual clarity. The recurring theme of darkening throughout Scripture underscores the importance of seeking God's light and truth in a world often shrouded in spiritual darkness.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Darken.

2. (n.) Twilight; gloaming.

887. achlus -- a mist
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: achlus Phonetic Spelling: (akh-looce')
Short Definition: a mist, dimness Definition: a mist, dimness, darkening ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/887.htm - 6k

The Saviour's Last Hours.
... This connection appears at the time of His death full of significance, first in
the darkening of the sun, and then in the rending of the temple veil. ...
/.../selected sermons of schleiermacher/xxv the saviours last hours.htm

The Hardening Operation of Love.
... There is also a mere "giving up," or "letting alone." This is followed by the more
gloomy "darkening." And only then comes the deadly operation in its proper ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxi the hardening operation of.htm

Whether Towards the Time of the Judgment the Sun and Moon Will be ...
... But this darkening of the sun and moon is stated to be simultaneous, when
the Lord shall come to judgment. Therefore the darkening ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether towards the time of.htm

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
... 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening
of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxiii the hardening in the.htm

Writing Blotted Out and Mist Melted
... That is my second lesson. III. The third is, that we have here suggested the
darkening power of sin. The prophet, as I said, mixes metaphors. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/writing blotted out and mist.htm

Heralds of the Morning.
... fatal day. Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the
prophecy,"the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /17 heralds of the morning.htm

Heralds of the Morning
... fatal day. Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the
prophecy"the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 17 heralds of the.htm

Private Property and the Common Good
... Placed in this connection, the saying about the darkening of the inner light seems
to refer to the influence of money-getting on the higher vision of the soul. ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter viii private property and.htm

Life of Bunyan
... day. The daws are taking short excursions from the steeple, and tamer fowls
have gone home from the darkening and dewy green. But ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hamilton/life of bunyan/life of bunyan.htm

On Patience
... But like as He is jealous without any darkening of spirit, [2629] wroth without
any perturbation, pitiful without any pain, repenteth Him without any wrongness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /on patience.htm

Darkening (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Twilight; gloaming. Multi-Version Concordance Darkening (2 Occurrences).
Job 38:2 Who 'is' this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge? (YLT). ...
/d/darkening.htm - 7k

Liberty (32 Occurrences)
... John 8:34), and liberty consists, not simply in external freedom, or in possession
of the formal power of choice, but in deliverance from the darkening of the ...
/l/liberty.htm - 20k

Eyelid
... let her take thee with her eyelids." Painting the eyelids was resorted to to intensify
the beauty, antimony (which see) being used for darkening the lashes (2 ...
/e/eyelid.htm - 7k

Darkens (2 Occurrences)

/d/darkens.htm - 6k

Darkeneth (1 Occurrence)

/d/darkeneth.htm - 6k

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... seen than in their power to emancipate the human mind and spirit from the mental
and moral darkness, the superstition and fear, and the darkening effect of ...
/e/enchantment.htm - 16k

Revelation (52 Occurrences)
... knowledge, or served Him as they ought, is not due therefore to failure on His part
to keep open the way to knowledge of Him, but to the darkening of their ...
/r/revelation.htm - 89k

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