חֲשׁוֹךְ (cha.shokh)
cha.shokh
darkness
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun cha.shokh means darkness, serving as the direct counterpart to the Hebrew mach.shakh found in the rest of the Old Testament. It appears only once in the biblical canon, located in Daniel 2:22.
In this single instance, the term is used emphatically to describe God’s power to reveal hidden things. The verse states that He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding, for He reveals deep and hidden things. Here, darkness represents the obscurity of human knowledge or the secrecy of dreams, which God illuminates with His insight.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its specific function in Daniel’s court narratives. By using this Aramaic word, the text emphasizes that even in a foreign land, the God of Israel controls the mysteries of kings and the shadows of uncertainty. Translators typically render it simply as "darkness," capturing the literal absence of light that symbolizes hidden truth.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for darkness here appears only once in Scripture, nestled within Daniel’s account of interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. It reminds us that God is not confined by our limited perspective or the shadows of uncertainty we face. He sees what is hidden and brings clarity to situations that seem impenetrable to human reason.
When you feel like you are walking through a fog of confusion, this verse offers a quiet comfort. The same God who illuminates the secrets of kings dwells with light. You do not need to have all the answers right now; His wisdom is sufficient for your current season, even when the path ahead feels obscured.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] in/ darkness/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַ/חֲשׁוֹכָ֔/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
This verse uniquely uses the Aramaic term to affirm that God’s light resides with Him, allowing Him to reveal what is hidden in darkness.