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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Hebrew: 4285. מַחְשָׁך (machshak) -- Darkness</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/hebrew/4285.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/psalms/88-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/hebrew/4285.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Hebrew</a> > 4285</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../hebrew/4284.htm" title="4284">◄</a> 4285. machshak <a href="../hebrew/4286.htm" title="4286">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">machshak: Darkness</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="hebrew">מַחְשָׁךְ</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun Masculine<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>machshak<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>makh-shak'<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(makh-shawk')<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Darkness<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>darkness, a dark place<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the root חָשַׁךְ (chashak), meaning "to be dark" or "to grow dim."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span> - <b>G4655 (σκότος, skotos):</b> Often used in the New Testament to describe both physical and spiritual darkness.<p> - <b>G4653 (σκοτία, skotia):</b> Used to denote darkness, particularly in a metaphorical sense, such as in John 1:5, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The term "machshak" is used in the Hebrew Bible to denote physical darkness, often in the context of obscurity or the absence of light. It can also metaphorically represent spiritual or moral darkness, indicating a state of ignorance, sin, or divine judgment.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In ancient Near Eastern cultures, darkness was often associated with chaos, evil, and the unknown. It was contrasted with light, which symbolized order, goodness, and divine presence. In the Hebrew Bible, darkness is frequently used to describe the conditions before God's creative acts (Genesis 1:2) and as a symbol of God's judgment or the absence of His presence.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from <a href="/hebrew/2821.htm">chashak</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>dark place<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>dark place (1), dark places (4), darkness (2).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Brown-Driver-Briggs</div> <font class="hebrew2">מַחְשַׁךְ</font> <font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>noun masculine</b></font> <font size="+1"><b>dark place</b></font> (poetry) — absolute <font class="hebrew2">׳</font><font class="hebrew2">מ</font> <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/29-15.htm">Isaiah 29:15</a>; <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a>; <font class="hebrew2">מַחְשָׁ֑ךְ</font> <a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-19.htm">Psalm 88:19</a>; plural <font class="hebrew2">מַחֲשַׁכִּים</font> <a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-7.htm">Psalm 88:7</a>; <a href="/interlinear/psalms/143-3.htm">Psalm 143:3</a> = <a href="/interlinear/lamentations/3-6.htm">Lamentations 3:6</a> construct <font class="hebrew2">מַחֲשַׁכֵּי</font> <a href="/interlinear/psalms/74-20.htm">Psalm 74:20</a>; — <em>dark place:</em> <p><font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>a.</b></font> = <em>hiding-place</em> <font class="hebrew2">אֿרץ</font><font class="hebrew2">׳</font><font class="hebrew2">מח</font> <a href="/interlinear/psalms/74-20.htm">Psalm 74:20</a>. <p><font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>b.</b></font> <em>dark region</em>, in which men may lose their way <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a>. <p><font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>c.</b></font> = <em>grave</em>, or <font class="hebrew2">שׁאול</font> <a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-19.htm">Psalm 88:19</a> (see Che); of dark place of God's wrath (like She' ô l) <a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-7.htm">Psalm 88:7</a>; compare <a href="/interlinear/psalms/143-3.htm">Psalm 143:3</a> = <a href="/interlinear/lamentations/3-6.htm">Lamentations 3:6</a>. <p><font size="+1" color="#552200"><b>d.</b></font> = <em>secret place, secrecy</em> (of plots) <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/29-15.htm">Isaiah 29:15</a>. <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft2.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>darkness, place <p>From <a href="/hebrew/2821.htm">chashak</a>; darkness; concretely, a dark place -- dark(-ness, place). <p>see HEBREW <a href="/hebrew/2821.htm">chashak</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים בְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ במחשך במחשכים מַחְשָֽׁךְ׃ מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ מַחֲשַׁכֵּי־ מחשך מחשך׃ מחשכי־ bə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm ḇə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm ḇə·maḥ·šāḵ bemachashakKim bəmaḥăšakkîm ḇəmaḥăšakkîm ḇəmaḥšāḵ ma·ḥă·šak·kê- machashakkei machShach maḥ·šāḵ maḥăšakkê- maḥšāḵ vemachashakKim vemachshoCh<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/psalms/74-20.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Psalm 74:20</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/74.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">כִּ֥י מָלְא֥וּ <b> מַחֲשַׁכֵּי־ </b> אֶ֝֗רֶץ נְא֣וֹת</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/psalms/74.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> the covenant; <span class="itali">For the dark places</span> of the land<br><a href="/kjvs/psalms/74.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> unto the covenant: <span class="itali">for the dark</span> places of the earth<br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/74-20.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> for are full <span class="itali">the dark</span> of the land of the habitations<p><b><a href="/text/psalms/88-6.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Psalm 88:6</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/88.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">בְּב֣וֹר תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת <b> בְּ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים </b> בִּמְצֹלֽוֹת׃ </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/psalms/88.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> pit, <span class="itali">In dark places,</span> in the depths.<br><a href="/kjvs/psalms/88.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> pit, <span class="itali">in darkness,</span> in the deeps.<br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-6.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> pit the lowest <span class="itali">dark</span> the depths<p><b><a href="/text/psalms/88-18.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Psalm 88:18</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/88.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">וָרֵ֑עַ מְֽיֻדָּעַ֥י <b> מַחְשָֽׁךְ׃ </b> </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/psalms/88.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> from me; My acquaintances <span class="itali">are [in] darkness.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/psalms/88.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> from me, [and] mine acquaintance <span class="itali">into darkness.</span><br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/88-18.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> and friend my acquaintances <span class="itali">are darkness</span><p><b><a href="/text/psalms/143-3.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Psalm 143:3</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/143.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">חַיָּתִ֑י הוֹשִׁיבַ֥נִי <b> בְ֝מַחֲשַׁכִּ֗ים </b> כְּמֵתֵ֥י עוֹלָֽם׃</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/psalms/143.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> He has made me dwell <span class="itali">in dark places,</span> like those who have long<br><a href="/kjvs/psalms/143.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> he hath made me to dwell <span class="itali">in darkness,</span> as those that have been long<br><a href="/interlinear/psalms/143-3.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> my life dwell <span class="itali">dark</span> been dead have long<p><b><a href="/text/isaiah/29-15.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Isaiah 29:15</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/isaiah/29.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">עֵצָ֑ה וְהָיָ֤ה <b> בְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ </b> מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/isaiah/29.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> And whose deeds <span class="itali">are [done] in a dark place,</span> And they say,<br><a href="/kjvs/isaiah/29.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and their works <span class="itali">are in the dark,</span> and they say,<br><a href="/interlinear/isaiah/29-15.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> their plans are in <span class="itali">A dark</span> deeds say<p><b><a href="/text/isaiah/42-16.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Isaiah 42:16</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/isaiah/42.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3">אַדְרִיכֵ֑ם אָשִׂים֩ <b> מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ </b> לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָא֗וֹר</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/isaiah/42.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> them. I will make <span class="itali">darkness</span> into light<br><a href="/kjvs/isaiah/42.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> I will make <span class="itali">darkness</span> light<br><a href="/interlinear/isaiah/42-16.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> will guide will make <span class="itali">darkness</span> before light<p><b><a href="/text/lamentations/3-6.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Lamentations 3:6</a> </b><br><a href="/interlinear/lamentations/3.htm" title="Hebrew">HEB:</a> <span class="hebrew3"> <b> בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּ֥ים </b> הוֹשִׁיבַ֖נִי כְּמֵתֵ֥י</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/lamentations/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> <span class="itali">In dark places</span> He has made me dwell,<br><a href="/kjvs/lamentations/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> He hath set <span class="itali">me in dark places,</span> as [they that be] dead<br><a href="/interlinear/lamentations/3-6.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> <span class="itali">dark</span> dwell been dead<p><i><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4285.htm">7 Occurrences</a></i><br /><br /><b><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4285.htm">Strong's Hebrew 4285<br>7 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/hebrew/bemachashakkim_4285.htm">bə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/machashakkei_4285.htm">ma·ḥă·šak·kê- — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/machshach_4285.htm">maḥ·šāḵ — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/vemachashakkim_4285.htm">ḇə·ma·ḥă·šak·kîm — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/hebrew/vemachshoch_4285.htm">ḇə·maḥ·šāḵ — 1 Occ.</a><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/hebrew/4284.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="4284"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="4284" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hebrew/4286.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="4286"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="4286" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>