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Topic

Darkness

117 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.

These works date from 1884–1897 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.

The verses

The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.

Exodus 20:21Easton · Smith · Nave · Torrey Miraculous — At Mount Sinai
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
1 Kings 8:12Easton · Smith · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
¶ Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
Matthew 27:45Easton · Smith · Nave · Torrey Miraculous — At the crucifixion
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Exodus 10:21Easton · Nave · Torrey Miraculous — In Egypt
¶ 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.
Job 10:21Easton · Smith · Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The grave
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
Psalms 97:2Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Isaiah 8:22Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
Joel 2:2Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Matthew 6:23Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 24:29Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
¶ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
John 1:5Smith · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Ephesians 5:11Easton · Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Show 105 more

Genesis 1:2 Nave · Torrey Over the face of the earth
Genesis 1:5 Nave · Torrey Called NIGHT
Exodus 10:22 Nave · Torrey Miraculous — In Egypt
Exodus 19:16 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
Job 10:22 Smith · Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The grave
Job 38:9 Nave · Torrey Over the face of the earth
Psalms 107:10 Easton · Torrey THE WICKED — Live in
Isaiah 9:2 Easton · Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Isaiah 13:10 Easton · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Isaiah 45:7 Nave · Torrey God creates
Isaiah 60:2 Easton · Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Ignorance and error
Jeremiah 13:16 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Matthew 8:12 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — “ Outer darkness,”
Matthew 22:13 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — “ Outer darkness,”
John 3:19 Smith · Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Ignorance and error
Acts 26:18 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Ephesians 6:12 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — “ Power of darkness,”
Colossians 1:13 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — “ Power of darkness,”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Nave · Torrey FIGURATIVE — “ Power of darkness,”
Hebrews 12:18 Nave · Torrey Miraculous — At Mount Sinai
Genesis 1:4 Torrey Separated from the light
Genesis 15:12 Torrey DEGREES OF, MENTIONED — Great
Genesis 15:17 Torrey Caused by the setting of the sun
Exodus 10:23 Torrey EFFECTS OF — Keeps us from seeing objects
Deuteronomy 5:22 Torrey DEGREES OF, MENTIONED — Thick
1 Samuel 2:9 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The grave
2 Samuel 22:10–12 Nave FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
2 Samuel 22:10 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Greatness and unsearchableness of God
2 Samuel 22:12 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Greatness and unsearchableness of God
2 Chronicles 6:1 Nave FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
Job 3:4–9 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Anything hateful
Job 17:13 Easton
Job 18:6 Easton
Job 23:17 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Heavy afflictions
Job 24:16 Torrey THE WICKED — Perpetuate their designs in
Job 28:3 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Abstruse and deep subjects
Job 37:19 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Ignorance and error
Job 38:8 Torrey Exhibits God's power and greatness
Job 38:19 Torrey Inexplicable nature of
Job 38:20 Torrey Inexplicable nature of
Psalms 18:11 Nave FIGURATIVE — See also the following scriptures
Psalms 82:5 Torrey THE WICKED — Walk in
Psalms 91:6 Torrey Often put for night
Psalms 104:20 Torrey Created by God
Psalms 105:28 Nave Miraculous — In Egypt
Psalms 112:4 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Heavy afflictions
Psalms 139:11 Torrey Cannot hide us from God
Psalms 139:12 Torrey Cannot hide us from God
Proverbs 2:13 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — A course of sin
Proverbs 20:20 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Ecclesiastes 5:17 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Heavy afflictions
Isaiah 5:30 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Heavy afflictions
Isaiah 13:9 Easton
Isaiah 42:16 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Isaiah 45:19 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Secrecy
Isaiah 50:10 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Isaiah 59:9 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Heavy afflictions
Isaiah 59:10 Torrey EFFECTS OF — Causes us to stumble
Jeremiah 4:23 Nave Over the face of the earth
Jeremiah 4:28 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Lamentations 3:2 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Ezekiel 30:18 Easton
Ezekiel 32:7 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Ezekiel 32:8 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Joel 2:10 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Amos 4:13 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Amos 5:18 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Amos 5:20 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Amos 8:9 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Micah 7:8 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Matthew 4:16 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Matthew 6:22 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Matthew 10:27 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — Secrecy
Matthew 25:30 Nave FIGURATIVE — “ Outer darkness,”
Mark 13:24 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Mark 15:33 Nave Miraculous — At the crucifixion
Luke 1:79 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Luke 22:53 Nave FIGURATIVE — “ Power of darkness,”
Luke 23:44 Easton
Luke 23:45 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
John 3:19–21 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
John 6:17 Torrey Caused by the setting of the sun
John 8:12 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
John 11:9 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
John 11:10 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
John 12:35 Torrey EFFECTS OF — Causes us to go astray
Romans 1:21 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Romans 13:12 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Romans 13:13 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
1 Corinthians 4:5 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
2 Corinthians 4:6 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
2 Corinthians 6:14 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
Ephesians 5:8 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
1 Thessalonians 5:4 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
1 Peter 2:9 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
2 Peter 2:4 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The punishment of devils and wicked men
2 Peter 2:17 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The punishment of devils and wicked men
1 John 1:5–7 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
1 John 2:8–11 Nave FIGURATIVE — OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
1 John 2:11 Torrey EFFECTS OF — Causes us to go astray
Jude 1:6 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The punishment of devils and wicked men
Jude 1:13 Torrey ILLUSTRATIVE OF — The punishment of devils and wicked men
Revelation 8:12 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Revelation 9:2 Nave FIGURATIVE — Of judgments
Revelation 16:10 Nave FIGURATIVE — “ Power of darkness,”

In the reference works

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 21 references

The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (ver. 23).

When Jesus hung upon the cross (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44), from the “sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

On Mount Sinai, Moses (Ex. 20:21) “drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” This was the “thick cloud upon the mount” in which Jehovah was when he spake unto Moses there. The Lord dwelt in the cloud upon the mercy-seat (1 Kings 8:12), the cloud of glory. When the psalmist (Ps. 97:2) describes the inscrutable nature of God’s workings among the sons of men, he says, “Clouds and darkness are round about him.” God dwells in thick darkness.

Darkness (Isa. 13:9, 10; Matt. 24:29) also is a symbol of the judgments that attend on the coming of the Lord. It is a symbol of misery and adversity (Job 18:6; Ps. 107:10; Isa. 8:22; Ezek. 30:18). The “day of darkness” in Joel 2:2, caused by clouds of locusts, is a symbol of the obscurity which overhangs all divine proceedings. “Works of darkness” are impure actions (Eph. 5:11). “Outer darkness” refers to the darkness of the streets in the East, which are never lighted up by any public or private lamps after nightfall, in contrast with the blaze of cheerful light in the house. It is also a symbol of ignorance (Isa. 9:2; 60:2; Matt. 6:23) and of death (Job 10:21; 17:13).

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 7 references

is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks, --the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (Job 10:21,22) and frequently, figuratively, for ignorance and unbelief, as the privation of spiritual light. (John 1:5; 3:19)

In the topical indexes

Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 74 references, grouped by sub-topic

→ Over the face of the earth Ge 1:2; Job 38:9; Jer 4:23
→ Called NIGHT Ge 1:5
→ God creates Isa 45:7
→ Miraculous
- In Egypt Ex 10:21,22; Ps 105:28
- At Mount Sinai Ex 20:21; Heb 12:18
- At the crucifixion Mt 27:45; Mr 15:33
→ FIGURATIVE
- Of judgments Pr 20:20; Isa 8:22; 13:10; Jer 4:28; 13:16; La 3:2; Eze 32:7,8; Joe 2:2,10; Am 4:13; 5:18,20; 8:9; Mic 7:8; Mt 24:29; Mr 13:24; Lu 23:45; Re 8:12; 9:2
- “ Outer darkness,” Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30
- “ Power of darkness,” Lu 22:53; Eph 6:12; Col 1:13; 1Th 5:5; Re 16:10
- OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS Isa 9:2; 42:16; 50:10; Mt 4:16; 6:22,23; 8:12; Lu 1:79; Joh 1:5; 3:19-21; 8:12; 11:9,10; Ac 26:18; Ro 1:21; 13:12,13; 1Co 4:5; 2Co 4:6; 6:14; Eph 5:8,11; 1Th 5:4,5; 1Pe 2:9; 1Jo 1:5-7; 2:8-11
- See BLINDNESS, SPIRITUAL
- The darkness of the Holy of Holies was symbolical of the dwelling place of Jehovah
- See MOST HOLY PLACE, under the topic TABERNACLE
- See also the following scriptures Ex 19:16; 2Sa 22:10-12; 1Ki 8:12; 2Ch 6:1; Ps 18:11; 97:2; Heb 12:18

Torrey's New Topical Textbook (1897) · 69 references, grouped by sub-topic

Created by God Ps 104:20; Isa 45:7
Originally covered the earth Ge 1:2
Separated from the light Ge 1:4
Called night Ge 1:5
Caused by the setting of the sun Ge 15:17; Joh 6:17
Inexplicable nature of Job 38:19,20
Exhibits God's power and greatness Job 38:8,9
DEGREES OF, MENTIONED
- Great Ge 15:12
- That may be felt Ex 10:21
- Thick De 5:22; Joe 2:2
- Gross Jer 13:16
- Outer or extreme Mt 8:12
EFFECTS OF
- Keeps us from seeing objects Ex 10:23
- Causes us to go astray Joh 12:35; 1Jo 2:11
- Causes us to stumble Isa 59:10
Often put for night Ps 91:6
Called the swaddling band of the sea Job 38:9
Cannot hide us from God Ps 139:11,12
THE WICKED
- The children of 1Th 5:5
- Live in Ps 107:10
- Walk in Ps 82:5
- Perpetuate their designs in Job 24:16
- Are full of Mt 6:23
MIRACULOUS
- On mount Sinai Ex 19:16; Heb 12:18
- Over the land of Egypt Ex 10:21,22
- At the death of Christ Mt 27:45
- Before the destruction of Jerusalem Mt 24:29
ILLUSTRATIVE OF
- Greatness and unsearchableness of God Ex 20:21; 2Sa 22:10,12; 1Ki 8:12; Ps 97:2
- Abstruse and deep subjects Job 28:3
- Secrecy Isa 45:19; Mt 10:27
- Ignorance and error Job 37:19; Isa 60:2; Joh 1:5; 3:19; 12:35; Ac 26:18
- Anything hateful Job 3:4-9
- A course of sin Pr 2:13; Eph 5:11
- Heavy afflictions Job 23:17; Ps 112:4; Ec 5:17; Isa 5:30; 8:22; 59:9
- The power of Satan Eph 6:12; Col 1:13
- The grave 1Sa 2:9; Job 10:21,22
- The punishment of devils and wicked men Mt 22:13; 2Pe 2:4,17; Jude 1:6,13

Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); Nave's Topical Bible (1896); Torrey's New Topical Textbook (1897), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.

Darkness

The verses

In the reference works

In the topical indexes

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