ἀποσκίασμα (aposkiasma)
aposkiasma
shadow
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun aposkiasma refers to a shadow or shade cast by one object onto another. It is derived from a verb meaning to cast a shadow, combining a prefix indicating separation or removal with the root for shade. This construction emphasizes the active creation of darkness or relief from light.
In Scripture, this word appears only once, in James 1:17, where it describes the Father of lights who has no variation or shifting shadow. The imagery likely draws on the behavior of celestial bodies; as stars and planets move across the sky, they cast fleeting shadows that shift and change. By contrast, the divine source of all good gifts remains constant and unchanging.
Translators typically render this term simply as "shadow" to convey the idea of something temporary or unstable. The word highlights the difference between created things, which are subject to change and impermanence, and the Creator, who is steady and reliable. This single usage underscores a key theological point about God's nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aposkiasma describes a shifting shadow, like those cast by moving stars or clouds. In James 1:17, this image highlights how different God is from the changing sky. Created things shift and fade, but God remains steady. This truth offers deep comfort when life feels unstable.
When you face uncertainty, remember that your good Father does not change His love for you. He is not like a flickering light or a moving shadow. You can trust Him completely because He is constant. This reliability means you do not need to worry about whether His care will shift or disappear tomorrow.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shadow.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποσκίασμα.1×
Key Verses
-
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.
This verse uses the word to contrast God's unchanging nature with the shifting shadows of celestial bodies, emphasizing His reliability.