Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:Gloom, in a biblical context, often refers to a state of darkness, despair, or spiritual desolation. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures to describe physical darkness, emotional distress, and spiritual separation from God.
Old Testament References:The concept of gloom is frequently associated with the judgment and wrath of God. In the prophetic literature, gloom is often depicted as a consequence of sin and rebellion against God. For instance, in
Isaiah 8:22 , the prophet speaks of those who reject God: "Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness."
The imagery of gloom is also present in the context of the Day of the Lord, a time of divine judgment.
Joel 2:2 describes it as "a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness." This portrayal serves as a warning to the people of Israel to repent and return to God.
New Testament References:In the New Testament, gloom is often associated with spiritual darkness and the absence of the light of Christ.
Jude 1:13 uses the term to describe the fate of false teachers: "They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever."
The theme of light versus darkness is prevalent in the teachings of Jesus. In
John 8:12 , Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." Here, gloom is contrasted with the light that Christ brings, emphasizing the hope and salvation found in Him.
Theological Implications:Gloom, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of the consequences of sin and the absence of God's presence. It underscores the need for repentance and the transformative power of God's light. The recurring theme of gloom in the context of judgment highlights the seriousness of turning away from God and the resultant spiritual desolation.
Practical Application:Believers are called to walk in the light of Christ, avoiding the spiritual gloom that comes from sin and separation from God.
Ephesians 5:8 exhorts Christians: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." This call to live in the light involves embracing the teachings of Christ, seeking His guidance, and reflecting His love and truth in a world often characterized by spiritual darkness.
Conclusion:While the Bible presents gloom as a reality of judgment and spiritual desolation, it also offers the hope of redemption and light through Jesus Christ. By turning to Him, believers can overcome the darkness and live in the fullness of God's presence and grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Partial or total darkness; thick shade; obscurity; as, the gloom of a forest, or of midnight.
2. (n.) A shady, gloomy, or dark place or grove.
3. (n.) Cloudiness or heaviness of mind; melancholy; aspect of sorrow; low spirits; dullness.
4. (n.) In gunpowder manufacture, the drying oven.
5. (v. i.) To shine or appear obscurely or imperfectly; to glimmer.
6. (v. i.) To become dark or dim; to be or appear dismal, gloomy, or sad; to come to the evening twilight.
7. (v. t.) To render gloomy or dark; to obscure; to darken.
8. (v. t.) To fill with gloom; to make sad, dismal, or sullen.
Greek
2217. zophos -- deepgloom... deep
gloom. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: zophos Phonetic Spelling:
(dzof'-os) Short Definition: darkness, murkiness Definition: darkness
...1105. gnophos -- darkness,gloom
... darkness,gloom. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: gnophos Phonetic
Spelling: (gnof'-os) Short Definition: darkness,gloom Definition: darkness...
2726. katepheia -- dejection
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katepheia Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ay'-fi-ah) Short Definition: a downcast countenance,gloom, dejection Definition...
Strong's Hebrew
4155. muaph --gloom...gloom. Transliteration: muaph Phonetic Spelling: (moo-awf') Short Definition:
gloom.
Word Origin from uph Definition
gloom NASB Word Usage
gloom (1). dimness.
...4588. mauph --gloom
...gloom. Transliteration: mauph Phonetic Spelling: (maw-off') Short Definition:gloom.
Word Origin from uph Definitiongloom NASB Word Usagegloom (1). dimness....
652. ophel -- darkness,gloom
... 651, 652. ophel. 653 . darkness,gloom. Transliteration: ophel Phonetic
Spelling: (o'fel) Short Definition: darkness. Word Origin...
6940. qadruth -- darkness,gloom
... 6939, 6940. qadruth. 6941 . darkness,gloom. Transliteration: qadruth
Phonetic Spelling: (kad-rooth') Short Definition: blackness....
8591b. teuphah --gloom
... teuphah. 8592 .gloom. Transliteration: teuphah Short Definition: darkness. Word
Origin from uph Definitiongloom NASB Word Usage darkness (1). 8591a, 8591b...
6205. araphel -- cloud, heavy cloud
... Word Origin from araph Definition cloud, heavy cloud NASB Word Usage deep darkness
(1),gloom (1), gloomy (1), thick cloud (3), thick darkness (7), thickgloom...
651. aphel -- gloomy
... 650, 651. aphel. 652 . gloomy. Transliteration: aphel Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-fale') Short Definition:gloom. Word Origin from the...
653. aphelah -- darkness, gloominess, calamity
... 652, 653. aphelah. 654 . darkness, gloominess, calamity. Transliteration:
aphelah Phonetic Spelling: (af-ay-law') Short Definition:gloom....
5890. ephah -- darkness
... Definition: darkness. Word Origin from uph Definition darkness NASB Word
Usage darkness (1), uttergloom (1). darkness. Feminine from...
6150. arab -- to become evening, grow dark
... Word Origin denominative verb from ereb Definition to become evening, grow dark
NASB Word Usage close (1), evening (1), turns togloom (1)....
Library
Glory Shone Within theGloom,
... EASTER Glory shone within thegloom,. 7,7,7,7 tr., John Brownlie. I. Glory shone
within thegloom,. Vacant eyes in wonder gazed; Shook the portals of the tomb,....
Thou Didst Seek theGloom,
... Thou didst seek thegloom,. tr., John Brownlie 6,5,6,5,7,7.... I. When, O King Immortal,.
Thou didst seek thegloom,. Tasting death in meekness,. Resting in the tomb...
What is the DivineGloom?
... MYSTIC THEOLOGY. CAPUT I. What is the DivineGloom? SECTION I. TRIAD supernal,
both super-God and super-good, Guardian of the Theosophy...
Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the EncirclingGloom
... Lead, kindly Light, amid the encirclinggloom. 10.4.10.4.10.10 [936]Lux Benigna:...
John Henry Newman, 1833. Lead, kindly Light, amid the encirclinggloom,....
He was Transfigured
... Thegloom of their surroundings seems in harmony with their sorrowful lives,
around which the clouds are gathering and thickening....
The Joy-Bringer
... There we have two contrasted pictures suggested: one of a mourner with grey ashes
strewed upon his dishevelled locks, and his spirit clothed ingloom like a...
Putting Clouds Over the Sun
... How much better it would be to take away the clouds, to banish thegloom!... I am not
writing a mere theory. I know what pain andgloom and heaviness are....
Light after Darkness
... Profoundgloom enveloped him. His every sense was frustrated.... Meanwhile, what might
not be happening to Rachel in this chaos ofgloom and clamor?...
The Realization of Selfless Love
... It is well that lover, brother, sister, husband, wife should suffer deep anguish,
and be enveloped ingloom when the visible object of their affections is torn...
The Gethsemane Prayer
... The Gethsemane prayer is that same sun declining in the west, plunged into an ocean
of storm and cloud, storm-covered, storm-eclipsed withgloom, darkness and...
Thesaurus
Gloom (29 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Partial or total darkness; thick shade; obscurity;
as, the
gloom of a forest, or of midnight.
...Gloom (29 Occurrences).
...Blackness (13 Occurrences)
... qadhruth, "darkness"; gnophos, "darkness" zophos "blackness"): Terms rarely used
but of special significance in picturing the fearfulgloom and blackness of...
Shadow (72 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) To represent faintly or imperfectly; to adumbrate; hence, to represent
typically. 15. (n.) To cloud; to darken; to cast agloom over. 16....
Gloomy (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Affected with, or expressing,gloom; melancholy; dejected; as, a gloomy
temper or countenance. Multi-Version Concordance Gloomy (10 Occurrences)....
Gross (12 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:2 a day of darkness andgloom, a day of clouds and gross darkness, as the
dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not...
Thick (129 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:4 For if God messengers who sinned did not spare, but with chains of thick
gloom, having cast 'them' down to Tartarus, did deliver 'them' to judgment...
Anguish (75 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:22 and look to the earth, and see distress, darkness, and the
gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness....
Kedron (1 Occurrence)
... The LXX., in 1 Kings 15:13, translate "of the cedar." The word means "black," and
may refer to the colour of the water or thegloom of the ravine, or the black...
Outspread (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 8:22 and they shall look unto the earth, and behold, distress and darkness,
thegloom of anguish; and into thick darkness they shall be driven away....
Laughter (14 Occurrences)
... James 4:9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your joy togloom. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Resources
What is Tisha B'Av? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God's mercies are new every morning? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Tartarus? | GotQuestions.orgGloom: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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