“Darkness” חֹ֫שֶׁך-choshek versus לַיְלָה-layil

In my last post, I explored the origins behind the word light or owr (אור ) in Hebrew and went into how this word embodies not only the physical properties of brightness but also has strong spiritual overtones associated with joy and G-d’s glory. Today I would like to explore its opposite, the word “choshek”. The dictionary defines this word as darkness or obscurity and as with owr also has strong spiritual significance but in a very negative sense.

Have you ever committed a great sin and then woke up the next morning feeling very depressed as if a dark cloud had descended upon you? If so, then you have some idea of the spiritual sense of this word. In the book of Exodus, when G-d was casting plagues on the land of Egypt, this is the exact same word used in the following verses:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.” Exodus 10:21-22

or

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”- Isaiah 45:7

At this juncture, it should be mentioned that “choshek” does not translate into the neutral opposite of daytime. That Hebrew word is “layil”which simply means night or nighttime and is devoid of any spiritual significance.

It should also be noted that choshek is naturally what occurs when G-d’s owr or light is absent. Metaphorically speaking, think of a glass filled with water. All though you can fill a glass with water, you can’t fill it with emptiness so to speak can you? Emptiness is just what results when the water is gone. Hence, if we’re not filled with G-d’s owr, the resulting outcome is a depressing dark emptiness of gloom and doom with no hope.

Therefore, let us put our hope in Jesus who sacrificed himself to save us from eternal choshek, so that we may forever be surrounded by his eternal owr.

Amen