σκότος (skotos)
skotos
darkness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun skotos refers to darkness, covering both physical obscurity and spiritual blindness. In the New Testament, it describes literal night or the gloom that fell over the land during Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44). It also characterizes a state of moral ignorance, where people fail to understand divine truth and live in ungodliness.
The word carries strong theological weight as a metaphor for separation from God. Paul contrasts it with light, describing believers as those who have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9). This shift is not merely intellectual but involves a change in allegiance and way of life.
Etymologically, skotos relates to obscurity or shadow. Translators consistently render it as "darkness," preserving its dual sense of physical absence of light and spiritual blindness. The term appears frequently in contexts warning against evil deeds hidden in secrecy (Ephesians 5:11) or describing the powerlessness of spiritual forces opposed to God (Ephesians 6:12).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word skotos describes more than just the absence of sunlight; it points to a condition where divine truth is obscured. In the New Testament, this darkness often represents spiritual blindness or a life hidden from God’s moral clarity. It is a state of separation, where individuals struggle to see the way forward because they are disconnected from the source of all light.
Yet the biblical narrative does not leave us in this gloom. Scripture presents a decisive shift: believers are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. This transition is not merely intellectual but involves a complete change in allegiance and daily conduct. As you navigate seasons of uncertainty, remember that your identity is rooted in the light that has already dawned.
This hope invites you to walk as children of light, leaving behind deeds that thrive in secrecy. The presence of God’s light does not erase the reality of darkness but exposes it, offering a path toward peace and integrity. You are invited to rest in this freedom, knowing that the ultimate victory belongs to Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- darkness19×
- of darkness4×
- darkness,3×
- of darkness,2×
- of darkness.1×
- darkness?1×
- darkness.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σκότος12×
- σκότους8×
- σκότει3×
- σκότους.¶2×
- σκότους,2×
- σκότει,2×
- σκότος;1×
- σκότος,1×
Key Verses
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Colossians 1:13
who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
This verse defines the core theological shift, describing believers as those delivered from darkness’s power and placed into Christ’s kingdom.
-
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Here the word marks a past identity ('once darkness') that contrasts with the current reality of being light in the Lord, grounding ethical instruction in theological fact.
-
John 3:19
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
This occurrence explains the human reaction to divine revelation, showing how moral evil drives people to prefer darkness over the exposing light.
-
Matthew 27:45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
The physical darkness during the crucifixion serves as a cosmic sign of judgment and the weight of sin being borne by Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does skotos mean in the New Testament?
How is skotos different from general night or shadow?
Where does the Bible speak about being transferred out of darkness?
Every Occurrence (30 verses across 15 books)
Matthew 6 verses
the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has…
Matthew 6:23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness,…
Matthew 8:12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of…
Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
Matthew 25:30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.