אֲפֵלָה (a.phe.lah)
a.phe.lah
darkness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun afealah denotes physical darkness or deep gloom, often carrying a sense of heavy obscurity. In the Old Testament, it appears ten times, with significant usage in Isaiah and Proverbs. The word describes a tangible lack of light, such as the thick darkness covering the land during the plagues or the shadows that fall upon the earth.
Beyond its literal meaning, afealah frequently serves as a metaphor for calamity or wickedness. When Zephaniah speaks of the day of the Lord, he describes it not merely as night, but as a time of distress and judgment wrapped in profound gloom (Zephaniah 1:15). This figurative use links moral corruption with spiritual blindness, suggesting that sin creates an environment where truth cannot be seen.
The term’s power lies in this dual nature. It is not simply the absence of photons, but a presence of danger and sorrow. Translators often render it as "darkness" or "gloom," capturing both the visual reality and the emotional weight. In Proverbs, for instance, the path of the wicked is described with this word, contrasting sharply with the light of righteousness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word afealah describes more than just the absence of light; it conveys a heavy, tangible obscurity that can feel overwhelming. In Scripture, this darkness often mirrors moments of distress or spiritual blindness, such as the thick gloom covering Egypt or the sorrow described in Isaiah. It reminds us that there are seasons when truth feels hidden and paths seem unclear.
Yet this word also carries a profound promise. In Isaiah 58:10, God assures those who care for the hungry that their light will rise even in darkness. This suggests that our faithful actions can bring clarity to difficult situations. When we feel lost in the gloom, we are invited to trust that God’s presence brings direction and hope, turning obscurity into a time of spiritual growth rather than despair.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ gloom3×
- in the/ darkness2×
- in <the>/ gloom<s>1×
- darkness1×
- and/ gloom/ your1×
- and/ darkness1×
- [is] like <the>/ darkness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֑ה1×
- וַ/אֲפֵלָתְ/ךָ֖1×
- וַ/אֲפֵלָֽה\׃1×
- וַ/אֲפֵלָ֗ה1×
- וַ/אֲפֵלָ֖ה1×
- וַ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה1×
- בָּֽ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה1×
- בָּ/אֲפֵלָ֔ה1×
- בָּ/אֲפֵל֥וֹת1×
- אֲפֵלָ֛ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 58:10
and if you pour out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise in darkness, and your obscurity will be as the noonday;
This verse uniquely contrasts the word with rising light, showing that faithful service can bring clarity even in difficult times.
-
Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Here the word illustrates the confusion and lack of direction that comes from living apart from wisdom.
-
Exodus 10:22
Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
The thick darkness here serves as a specific judgment, demonstrating the word’s power to represent divine intervention and separation.
-
Zephaniah 1:15
That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
This occurrence links darkness directly with the day of wrath, emphasizing the emotional weight of judgment and distress.