Word Study · Strong's H2822 · Hebrew
חֹשֶׁךְ
choshek
kho-shek'
Strong's 1890 spelling: chôshek
“the dark”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
Rendered in the KJV as
dark(-ness), night, obscurity.
- 80occurrencesin the Old Testament
- 18 of 39Old Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 36inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 80 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 36
- חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃10
- חֹ֥שֶׁךְ6
- חֹ֣שֶׁךְ6
- בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ5
- חֹ֑שֶׁךְ5
- חֹ֔שֶׁךְ5
- בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ3
- חֹ֭שֶׁךְ3
- בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙2
- הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ2
- הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃2
- חֹשֶׁךְ֮2
and 24 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 18
- darkness43
- in the darkness12
- the darkness6
- and darkness2
- and in the darkness2
- darkness my2
- into darkness2
- [are] in the darkness1
- [be] darkness1
- [is] darkness1
- [will be] darkness1
- and from darkness1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 10
- noun · masculine singular46
- preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular15
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular6
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular3
- preposition + noun · masculine singular3
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular2
- noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular2
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular1
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular1
- noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)1
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- HNcmsa · 46
- HRd/Ncmsa · 15
- HTd/Ncmsa · 6
- HC/Rd/Ncmsa · 3
- HR/Ncmsa · 3
- HC/Ncmsa · 2
- HNcmsc/Sp1bs · 2
- HC/R/Ncmsa · 1
- HC/Td/Ncmsa · 1
- HNcmsc · 1
All 80, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
- Job23 of 80 · 29%
- Isaiah14 of 80 · 18%
- Psalms11 of 80 · 14%
- Ecclesiastes6 of 80 · 8%
- Genesis4 of 80 · 5%
Job carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
Genesis4 occurrences
- Genesis 1:2וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְvechoshekhconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singularNow the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.here: and darkness
- Genesis 1:4הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃hachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularAnd God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.here: the darkness
- Genesis 1:5וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְvelachoshekhconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularGod called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.here: and to the darkness
- Genesis 1:18הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְhachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularto preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.here: the darkness
Exodus4 occurrences
- Exodus 10:21חֹ֖שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularThen the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”here: darkness
- Exodus 10:21חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularThen the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.”here: darkness
- Exodus 10:22חֹֽשֶׁךְ־choshekh-noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days.here: darkness of
- Exodus 14:20וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְvehachoshekhconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularso that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.here: and the darkness
Deuteronomy2 occurrences
- Deuteronomy 4:11חֹ֖שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularYou came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.here: darkness
- Deuteronomy 5:23הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְhachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularAnd when you heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me,here: the darkness
2 Samuel2 occurrences
- 2 Samuel 22:12חֹ֛שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe made darkness a canopy around Him, a gathering of water and thick clouds.here: darkness
- 2 Samuel 22:29חָשְׁכִּֽי׃chashekinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singularFor You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.here: darkness my
Job23 occurrences
- Job 3:4חֹ֥שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularIf only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.here: darkness
- Job 3:5חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularMay darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.here: darkness
- Job 5:14חֹ֑שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularThey encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.here: darkness
- Job 10:21חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularbefore I go—never to return— to a land of darkness and gloom,here: darkness
- Job 12:22חֹ֑שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.here: darkness
- Job 12:25חֹ֥שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularThey grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.here: darkness
- Job 15:22חֹ֑שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.here: darkness
- Job 15:23חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularHe wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.here: darkness
- Job 15:30חֹ֗שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.here: darkness
- Job 17:12חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularThey have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.here: darkness
- Job 17:13בַּ֝חֹ֗שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularIf I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,here: in the darkness
- Job 18:18חֹ֑שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world.here: darkness
- Job 19:8חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe has blocked my way so I cannot pass; He has veiled my paths with darkness.here: darkness
- Job 20:26חֹשֶׁךְ֮choshekhnoun · masculine singularTotal darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.here: darkness
- Job 22:11חֹ֥שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularit is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.here: darkness
- Job 23:17חֹ֑שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularYet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.here: darkness
- Job 24:16בַּחֹ֗שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularIn the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.here: in the darkness
- Job 26:10חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularHe has inscribed a horizon on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.here: darkness
- Job 28:3לַחֹ֗שֶׁךְlachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularMan puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.here: to the darkness
- Job 29:3חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularwhen His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,here: darkness
- Job 34:22חֹ֭שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularThere is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.here: [is] darkness
- Job 37:19חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularTeach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.here: darkness
- Job 38:19וְ֝חֹ֗שֶׁךְvechoshekhconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singularWhere is the way to the home of light? Do you know where darkness resides,here: and darkness
Psalms11 occurrences
- Psalms 18:11חֹ֨שֶׁךְ׀choshekhnoun · masculine singularHe made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.here: darkness
- Psalms 18:28חָשְׁכִּֽי׃chashekinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singularFor You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.here: darkness my
- Psalms 35:6חֹ֥שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularMay their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.here: darkness
- Psalms 88:12בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularWill Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?here: in the darkness
- Psalms 104:20חֹ֭שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularYou bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the beasts of the forest prowl.here: darkness
- Psalms 105:28חֹ֭שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularHe sent darkness, and it became dark— yet they defied His words.here: darkness
- Psalms 107:10חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularSome sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains,here: darkness
- Psalms 107:14מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְmechoshekhpreposition + noun · masculine singularHe brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.here: from darkness
- Psalms 112:4בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularLight dawns in the darkness for the upright— for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.here: in the darkness
- Psalms 139:11חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularIf I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—here: darkness
- Psalms 139:12חֹשֶׁךְ֮choshekhnoun · masculine singulareven the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.here: darkness
Proverbs2 occurrences
Ecclesiastes6 occurrences
- Ecclesiastes 2:13הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃hachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularAnd I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:here: the darkness
- Ecclesiastes 2:14בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularThe wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.here: in the darkness
- Ecclesiastes 5:17בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularMoreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.here: in the darkness
- Ecclesiastes 6:4וּבַחֹ֣שֶׁךְuvachoshekhconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularFor a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.here: and in the darkness
- Ecclesiastes 6:4וּבַחֹ֖שֶׁךְuvachoshekhconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularFor a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.here: and in the darkness
- Ecclesiastes 11:8הַחֹ֔שֶׁךְhachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularSo if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.here: the darkness
Isaiah14 occurrences
- Isaiah 5:20חֹ֤שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularWoe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.here: darkness
- Isaiah 5:20לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְlechoshekhpreposition + noun · masculine singularWoe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.here: into darkness
- Isaiah 5:30חֹ֔שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularIn that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.here: darkness
- Isaiah 9:2בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularThe people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.here: in the darkness
- Isaiah 29:18וּמֵחֹ֔שֶׁךְumechoshekhconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singularOn that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.here: and from darkness
- Isaiah 42:7חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃choshekhnoun · masculine singularto open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.here: darkness
- Isaiah 45:3חֹ֔שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularI will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.here: darkness
- Isaiah 45:7חֹ֔שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularI form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.here: darkness
- Isaiah 45:19חֹ֔שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularI have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.here: darkness
- Isaiah 47:5בַחֹ֖שֶׁךְvachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singular“Sit in silence and go into darkness, O Daughter of Chaldea. For you will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.here: in the darkness
- Isaiah 49:9בַּחֹ֖שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularto say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They will feed along the pathways, and find pasture on every barren hill.here: [are] in the darkness
- Isaiah 58:10בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙bachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularand if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.here: in the darkness
- Isaiah 59:9חֹ֔שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularTherefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.here: darkness
- Isaiah 60:2הַחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙hachoshekhthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularFor 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: the darkness
Lamentations1 occurrence
Ezekiel2 occurrences
- Ezekiel 8:12בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְbachoshekhpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singular“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”here: in the darkness
- Ezekiel 32:8חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙choshekhnoun · masculine singularAll the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.here: darkness
Joel2 occurrences
- Joel 2:2חֹ֣שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singulara day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.here: darkness
- Joel 2:31לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְlechoshekhpreposition + noun · masculine singularThe sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.here: into darkness
Amos2 occurrences
- Amos 5:18חֹ֥שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularWoe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.here: [will be] darkness
- Amos 5:20חֹ֛שֶׁךְchoshekhnoun · masculine singularWill not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?here: [be] darkness