Original Word: חֶשְׁכָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: cheshkah
Pronunciation: khesh-kaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (khesh-kaw')
KJV: dark
Word Origin: [from H2821 (חָשַׁך - darkened)]

1. darkness

dark

From chashak; darkness -- dark.

see HEBREW chashak

Word Origin
the same as chashekah, q.v.

Biblical setting

Psalm 18 records David’s thanksgiving for deliverance from Saul and his enemies. In verse 11, the Psalmist declares: “He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him” (Psalm 18:11). The term חֶשְׁכָה highlights the thick darkness that envelops the Lord when He descends to deliver and to judge. In the psalm’s sweeping theophany (verses 7-15), earth, sky, and sea all convulse as the covenant King intervenes for His servant.

Imagery and theology

1. Divine transcendence

Darkness functions as a veil of mystery (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12). By cloaking Himself, God affirms both His nearness and His unapproachable holiness. The same presence that rescues David is too glorious for sinful eyes (Exodus 33:20).

2. Judgment and salvation intertwined

The storm-theophany in Psalm 18 echoes Sinai and the Exodus plagues, reminding the reader that God’s wrath against the wicked and His salvation of the righteous are two sides of one act. Darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23) preceded Israel’s redemption. Likewise, the Lord’s “dark pavilion” surrounds lightning, hailstones, and coals of fire that scatter David’s foes (Psalm 18:12-14).

3. Christological resonance

At Calvary “darkness fell over all the land” (Matthew 27:45). The Gospel writers present the crucifixion darkness as a climactic theophany—God both judging sin and delivering His people through the greater David. The solitary occurrence of חֶשְׁכָה thus foreshadows the ultimate act of deliverance in the New Testament.

Historical and cultural background

Ancient Near Eastern literature often depicts storm deities veiled in clouds. Scripture corrects and purifies this imagery: the Creator, not a capricious nature-god, rides on the cherubim (Psalm 18:10) and uses darkness as His temporary pavilion. The psalm likely draws on royal court ritual, where an enthroned monarch could be hidden behind curtains before appearing in glory. David applies that symbolism to the heavenly King.

Connections with other biblical themes

• Light out of darkness – From Genesis 1:2-3 onward, darkness sets the stage for God’s creative word. Psalm 18:11 situates deliverance in the same pattern: out of obscurity bursts rescue and revelation.
• Shelter and refuge – Darkness here is not menace but protection, paralleling “the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
• Eschatological day of the Lord – Prophets describe a future judgment day as “darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18). Psalm 18 previews that cosmic intervention, assuring believers of security amid upheaval.

Practical ministry applications

1. Confidence in hidden workings

When circumstances seem obscure, believers remember that God often operates behind a veil. Apparent silence may mask sovereign activity on their behalf (Romans 8:28).

2. Humble worship

The imagery cautions against casual approaches to God. Churches cultivate reverence by proclaiming His holiness and the necessity of Christ’s mediation (Hebrews 4:14-16).

3. Preaching deliverance and judgment together

Psalm 18 models balanced proclamation: the same God who shelters saints also shakes the earth against sin. Evangelistic ministry should hold both truths in tension.

Summary

חֶשְׁכָה in Psalm 18:11 portrays the protective, awe-inspiring darkness that surrounds the Lord when He intervenes. It affirms His holiness, underscores the unity of judgment and salvation, and points forward to the cross and final consummation. Understanding this single occurrence enriches worship, deepens trust, and equips believers to declare the mighty acts of God.

חֶשְׁכַת־ חשכת־ cheshchat ḥeš·ḵaṯ- ḥešḵaṯ-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts