In the biblical narrative, the color black often symbolizes affliction, calamity, and the absence of joy or prosperity. This symbolism is woven throughout Scripture, reflecting the somber realities of human suffering and divine judgment.

One of the most poignant uses of black as a symbol of affliction is found in the book of Job. Job, a man who experiences profound suffering, laments his condition with vivid imagery: "My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever" (Job 30:30). Here, the color black is directly associated with Job's physical and emotional torment, underscoring the depth of his affliction.

The prophetic literature also employs the color black to convey themes of calamity and divine judgment. In Jeremiah 8:21, the prophet expresses his deep sorrow for the impending disaster upon his people: "For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me." While the color black is not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the imagery of mourning and horror is often associated with darkness and blackness, symbolizing the severity of the calamity.

In the book of Lamentations, which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, the imagery of blackness is again evident. Lamentations 4:8 describes the dire state of the people: "Their appearance is darker than soot; they go unrecognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick" . The darkened appearance of the people serves as a metaphor for the extreme suffering and desolation they endure.

The New Testament also reflects this symbolism. In the book of Revelation, black is used to depict the severity of divine judgment. Revelation 6:5-6 describes the opening of the third seal: "Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and wine.'" The black horse and its rider symbolize economic hardship and scarcity, further emphasizing the theme of calamity.

Throughout Scripture, the color black serves as a powerful symbol of affliction and calamity, reflecting the profound impact of sin, suffering, and divine judgment on humanity. This symbolism invites believers to reflect on the realities of a fallen world and the hope of redemption through Christ.Job 3:5
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell on it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
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Job 10:20-22
Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
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Job 30:26
When I looked for good, then evil came to me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
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Psalm 107:10,11
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
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Psalm 143:3
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
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Isaiah 5:30
And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look to the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
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Isaiah 8:22
And they shall look to the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
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Isaiah 9:19
Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
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Isaiah 24:11
There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
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Isaiah 50:3
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
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Joel 2:6,10
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
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Joel 3:14,15
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
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Amos 5:8
Seek him that makes the seven stars and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night: that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
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Nahum 2:10
She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melts, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
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Zephaniah 1:14,15
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hastens greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
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Matthew 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Matthew 22:13
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Matthew 25:30
And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment;
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Jude 1:13
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
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Revelation 16:10
And the fifth angel poured out his vial on the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
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