חֹ֫שֶׁךְ (cho.shekh)
cho.shekh
darkness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 68 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chosek describes literal darkness, specifically the absence of light or a place of obscurity. It appears frequently in poetic books like Job and Psalms, where it often stands in direct contrast to orh, the word for light. This physical reality serves as the foundation for its broader symbolic uses throughout Scripture.
Beyond mere visual darkness, chosek carries significant emotional and spiritual weight. It represents distress, terror, and the dread of judgment, as seen when Job describes his suffering as being surrounded by thick darkness (Job 18:18). The sources note that it can also signify ignorance or wickedness, pointing to a state of moral blindness or separation from divine truth.
Its etymology links it to the verb chashak, meaning to be dark or dim. This root connection reinforces the idea that chosek is not just a neutral condition but often an oppressive force. Translators typically render it as "darkness" or "night," capturing both the physical setting and the heavy atmosphere of despair associated with it.
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 in Hebrew often describes a heavy, tangible presence rather than just the absence of light. In places like Job, it captures the feeling of being lost or overwhelmed by circumstances that seem impossible to navigate. This imagery reminds us that our struggles are real and visible to God, who sees into the deepest parts of our lives.
Yet this same word appears in Genesis to show that darkness was part of the original creation before light was separated from it. Later, in Psalms, we see a promise that God can turn night into day for those who trust Him. This suggests that even when we feel surrounded by obscurity or fear, we are not abandoned but held within a larger story of hope.
When you face seasons where the way forward is unclear, remember that darkness does not mean God has left. It often marks a time of waiting for His light to break through. You can find comfort in knowing that He walks with you through these shadows until morning comes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 68 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- darkness40×
- in the/ darkness4×
- in <the>/ darkness4×
- the/ darkness3×
- <the>/ darkness3×
- and/ in <the>/ darkness2×
- and/ darkness2×
- to the/ darkness1×
- into/ darkness1×
- from/ darkness1×
- darkness/ my1×
- darkness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֹֽשֶׁךְ\׃9×
- חֹ֥שֶׁךְ6×
- חֹ֣שֶׁךְ6×
- חֹ֔שֶׁךְ5×
- חֹ֑שֶׁךְ5×
- חֹ֭שֶׁךְ3×
- בַּ/חֹ֣שֶׁךְ3×
- חֹשֶׁךְ֮2×
- חֹ֛שֶׁךְ2×
- חֹ֖שֶׁךְ2×
- הַ/חֹֽשֶׁךְ\׃2×
- הַ/חֹ֔שֶׁךְ2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
This verse establishes darkness as the initial state of the earth before God's creative light began to shape order from chaos.
-
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 phrase 'darkness which may be felt' highlights the physical weight and oppressive nature of this judgment upon Egypt.
-
II Samuel 22:29
For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.
Here the word shifts from a place of fear to a context where God acts as the lamp that actively lights up the darkness.
-
Job 3:5
Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes the day black terrify it.
Job uses this term to describe a profound desire for his suffering day to be covered by the shadow of death and obscurity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word for darkness (chosek) mean?
Is darkness always bad in the Bible?
How is darkness used in the book of Job?
Every Occurrence (68 verses across 16 books)
Genesis 4 verses
The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the…
Genesis 1:4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:5God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Genesis 1:18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.