Topical Encyclopedia
The term "darkened" in the Bible often symbolizes a state of spiritual blindness, moral confusion, or divine judgment. It is used both literally and metaphorically to describe the absence of light, understanding, or righteousness.
1.
Spiritual Blindness and Moral Confusion: In the New Testament, "darkened" is frequently used to describe the spiritual state of those who are separated from God. In
Romans 1:21 , the Apostle Paul writes, "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." Here, "darkened" signifies a willful rejection of God's truth, leading to a clouded understanding and moral decay.
2.
Divine Judgment: The concept of being darkened is also associated with God's judgment upon those who persist in sin. In
Ephesians 4:18 , Paul speaks of the Gentiles, saying, "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts." This passage highlights the consequence of persistent sin and rejection of God, resulting in a darkened understanding as a form of divine judgment.
3.
Metaphorical Use in Prophecy: The imagery of darkness is often used in prophetic literature to describe times of judgment and calamity. In
Isaiah 60:2 , it is written, "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." Here, darkness symbolizes the pervasive sin and despair in the world, contrasted with the hope of God's redemptive light.
4.
Contrast with Light: Throughout Scripture, darkness is contrasted with light, which represents truth, holiness, and the presence of God. In
John 1:5 , it is stated, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This verse emphasizes the victory of Christ, the Light of the world, over the darkness of sin and ignorance.
5.
Moral and Ethical Implications: The state of being darkened has moral and ethical implications for believers. In 1
John 2:11 , it is written, "But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." This passage warns against the moral blindness that results from hatred and sin, urging believers to walk in the light of love and truth.
6.
Call to Enlightenment: The Bible calls individuals to move from darkness to light, symbolizing a transition from ignorance and sin to knowledge and righteousness. In
Ephesians 5:8 , Paul exhorts believers, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." This call to enlightenment is a central theme in the Christian journey, emphasizing the transformative power of Christ's light in overcoming spiritual darkness.
In summary, the concept of being "darkened" in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual blindness, moral confusion, and divine judgment, while also highlighting the hope and redemption found in the light of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Darken.
Greek
4654. skotizo -- to darken... See 4655 (). Word Origin from skotos Definition to darken NASB Word Usage
darkened (5). darken. From skotos; to obscure (literally or figuratively) -- darken.
...4656. skotoo -- to darken
... obscurity, blindness). See 4654 (). Word Origin from skotos Definition to
darken NASB Word Usagedarkened (3). to darken. From skotos...
Strong's Hebrew
2345. chum --darkened, dark brown or black... 2344, 2345. chum. 2346 .
darkened, dark brown or black. Transliteration:
chum Phonetic Spelling: (khoom) Short Definition: black.
...2821. chashak -- to be or grow dark
... 2820, 2821. chashak. 2822 . to be or grow dark. Transliteration: chashak Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-shak') Short Definition:darkened. Word Origin a prim....
6272. atham -- perhaps to burn
... bedarkened. A primitive root; probably to glow, ie (figuratively) be desolated --
bedarkened. 6271, 6272. atham. 6273 . Strong's Numbers.
6150. arab -- to become evening, grow dark
... evening (1), turns to gloom (1). bedarkened, toward evening. A primitive
root (identical with arab through the idea of covering...
Library
Whether the Demons' Intellect isDarkened by Privation of the...
... THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DEMONS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the demons' intellect
isdarkened by privation of the knowledge of all truth?...
The NightDarkened Steadily Down Over London, -- a Chill Dreary...
... XXXIX. The nightdarkened steadily down over London, " a chill dreary
night of heavy fog? The nightdarkened steadily down over...
Whether Towards the Time of the Judgment the Sun and Moon Will be...
... OF THE SIGNS THAT WILL PRECEDE THE JUDGMENT (THREE ARTICLES) Whether towards the
time of the judgment the sun and moon will bedarkened in very truth?...
Herein is a Mirror to be Blamed, --If Its Clearness isDarkened...
... Hymn XVI. Herein is a mirror to be blamed,"if its clearness is
darkened"because there are spots on its substance. 1. Herein is...
Our Lord's Olivet Discourse Shows that There is no Universal...
... In verses 29 and 30 of Matt.24 we read, "Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun bedarkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and...
But as the Wills of Friends, which are not Seen, are Believed...
... thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink; let their table become a snare before them,
and a recompense, and a stumbling-block: let their eyes bedarkened that they...
It is Written that in Our Lord's Passion There was Darkness Over...
... world. Again, another Prophet witnesses of the same, "The light shall be
darkened upon the earth in the day-time." Amos viii. 9. 24....
The Life of God
... First he says, 'Their understanding wasdarkened.' But what part of it?... What
part of their understanding was it which wasdarkened? St....
The Saviour's Last Hours.
... It was about the sixth hour, says the evangelist, and there was a darkness over
all the earth until the ninth hour, and the sun wasdarkened....
The Story of David
... [Illustration: Saul sat day after day in hisdarkened tent.]. Saul, the King of
Israel, sat day after day in hisdarkened tent ill and full of misery....
Thesaurus
Darkened (28 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Darkened (28 Occurrences).
... Mark 10:22 At these words his
brow
darkened, and he went away sad; for he was possessed of great wealth.
...Distress (169 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will bedarkened,
the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament...
Dark (234 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky...
Stars (64 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky...
Oppression (67 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky...
Lightened (11 Occurrences)
... The lamp of the body is the eye, when then thine eye may be simple, thy whole body
also is lightened; and when it may be evil, thy body also isdarkened; (YLT)....
Tribulation (43 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun bedarkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from...
Darken (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To make dark or black; to deprive of light; to
obscure; as, adarkened room. 2. (v.) To render dim; to deprive of vision....
Shed (73 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will bedarkened,
the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament...
Moon (70 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky...
Resources
Is an eclipse a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God draws us to salvation? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view the intellect? | GotQuestions.orgDarkened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
