Original Word: חָשַׁךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chashak
Pronunciation: khaw-shak'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-shak')
Definition: To be dark, to grow dim, to obscure
Meaning: to be dark, to darken

be black, be make dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide

A primitive root; to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken -- be black, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be or grow dark
NASB Translation
blacker (1), brings darkness (1), dark (3), darkened (5), darkens (2), dim (1), grow dim (2), made it dark (1), make the dark (1).

חָשַׁךְ verb be, grow dark (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic חֲשַׁךְ, ; Arabic bear rancour, see Lag^{BN 30}) —

Qal Perfect ׳ח Isaiah 5:30 4t.; וְחָֽשְׁכָה consecutive Micah 3:6 (but see below); חָֽשְׁכוּ Lamentations 5:17; וְחָֽשְׁכוּ consecutive Ecclesiastes 12:3; Imperfect3feminine singular תֶּחְשַׁךְ Ecclesiastes 12:2; וַתֶּחְשַׁךְ Exodus 10:15; 3masculine plural יֶחְשְׁכוּ Job 3:9; 3feminine plural תֶּחְשַׁכְנָה Psalm 69:24; —

1 be, grow dark, אוֺר Isaiah 5:30, compare (figurative) Job 18:6; הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ Isaiah 13:10 (figurative); היום Ezekiel 30:18 (where read חשׁך, for ᵑ0 Baer חשׂך); Job 3:9 (subject כוכבים), compare Ecclesiastes 12:2 (subject השׁמשׁ, האור, הירח, הכוכבים); impersonal Micah 3:6; (si vera 1.; but read probably וַחֲשֵׁכָה, corresponding with לַיְלָה preceding).

2 have a dark colour: מִשְּׁחוֺר ׳ח תָּֽאֳרָם Lamentations 4:8 darker than blackness is their visage; of the earth הָאֶרֶץ Exodus 10:15.

3 grow dim Lamentations 5:17 (subject עינינו), compare Psalm 69:24 (figurative), Ecclesiastes 12:3 subject הָראֹוֺת i.e. the eyes.

Hiph`il Perfect הֶחְשִׁיךְ Amos 5:8, וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֫י Amos 8:9; Imperfect יַחֲשִׁיךְ Psalm 139:12; יַחְשִׁךְ Jeremiah 13:16;וַיַּחְשִׁךְ Psalm 105:28; Participle מַחְשִׁיךְ Job 38:2; —

1 make dark, ׳יום לילה הח Amos 5:8; absolute cause darkness Jeremiah 13:16; Psalm 105:28, compare Amos 8:9 (לארץ).

2 = hide, conceal, followed by מִמֶּךָּ Psalm 139:12.

3 figurative obscure, confuse Job 38:2 (object עֵצָה).

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2928 (κρύπτω, krypto): To hide, conceal
• G4653 (σκότος, skotos): Darkness
• G4654 (σκοτίζω, skotizo): To darken
• G4656 (σκοτόω, skotoo): To cover with darkness, to blind

These Greek terms share thematic connections with חָשַׁךְ, particularly in their use to describe darkness, both literal and metaphorical, in the New Testament. They reflect similar theological themes of light and darkness as seen in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The verb חָשַׁךְ is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the state of being dark or the action of becoming dark. It can refer to physical darkness, such as the absence of light, or metaphorical darkness, such as obscurity or adversity.

Context: • Literal Usage: The term חָשַׁךְ is often used in the context of physical darkness. For example, in Genesis 1:2, the earth is described as being "formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep." This usage highlights the absence of light and the primordial state before creation.
• Metaphorical Usage: Beyond its literal sense, חָשַׁךְ can also convey a sense of spiritual or moral darkness. In Isaiah 60:2, it is written, "For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you." Here, darkness symbolizes ignorance or adversity that will be dispelled by divine intervention.
• Theological Implications: The concept of darkness in the Hebrew Bible often contrasts with light, which symbolizes God's presence, truth, and salvation. Darkness, therefore, can represent separation from God, judgment, or the absence of divine revelation.
• Occurrences in Scripture: The verb חָשַׁךְ appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, including descriptions of natural phenomena, expressions of lament, and prophetic declarations. It serves as a powerful image for both physical and existential conditions.

הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ החשיך וְהַחֲשַׁכְתִּ֥י וְחָשְׁכ֥וּ וְחָשְׁכָ֥ה וַיַּחְשִׁ֑ךְ וַתֶּחְשַׁ֣ךְ והחשכתי וחשכה וחשכו ויחשך ותחשך חָשְׁכ֥וּ חָשַׁ֖ךְ חָשַׁ֣ךְ חָשַׁ֤ךְ חָשַׂ֣ךְ חשך חשכו יֶחְשְׁכוּ֮ יַחְשִׁ֔ךְ יַחְשִׁ֪יךְ יחשיך יחשך יחשכו מַחְשִׁ֖יךְ מחשיך תֶּחְשַׁ֣כְנָה תֶחְשַׁ֤ךְ תחשך תחשכנה chaSach chaShach chasheChu ḥā·śaḵ ḥā·šaḵ ḥā·šə·ḵū ḥāśaḵ ḥāšaḵ ḥāšəḵū hechShich heḥ·šîḵ heḥšîḵ machShich maḥ·šîḵ maḥšîḵ techShach techShachnah ṯeḥ·šaḵ teḥ·šaḵ·nāh ṯeḥšaḵ teḥšaḵnāh vaiyachShich vattechShach vechasheChah vechasheChu vehachashachTi wat·teḥ·šaḵ watteḥšaḵ way·yaḥ·šiḵ wayyaḥšiḵ wə·ha·ḥă·šaḵ·tî wə·ḥā·šə·ḵāh wə·ḥā·šə·ḵū wəhaḥăšaḵtî wəḥāšəḵāh wəḥāšəḵū yachShich yaḥ·šiḵ yaḥ·šîḵ yaḥšiḵ yaḥšîḵ yechsheChu yeḥ·šə·ḵū yeḥšəḵūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts