### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **cheshkâh**, represented by `{{H2824}}`, is a specific term for being **dark**. Derived from the root word for darkness, חָשַׁךְ, it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. This rarity makes its single use highly specific, contributing to a powerful image of divine majesty.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The singular biblical use of `{{H2824}}` is found in a description of God's glorious and mysterious presence. In [[Psalms 18:11]], the psalmist declares, "He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were **dark** waters and thick clouds of the skies." Here, `cheshkâh` is used to describe the waters that form a part of God's dwelling, emphasizing the profound and unsearchable nature of His being. It is part of a cluster of terms used to convey the awesome spectacle of His appearance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words found in its immediate context help to build this imagery of divine concealment and power:
* `{{H2822}}` **chôshek** (the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness; dark(-ness), night, obscurity.): This common term for darkness is used in the same verse to establish God's "secret place" [[Psalms 18:11]]. It is also used to describe the primordial state before creation [[Genesis 1:2]] and as a metaphor for spiritual conditions [[Isaiah 9:2]].
* `{{H5645}}` **ʻâb** ((masculine and feminine); from עוּב; properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, [[2 Chronicles 4:17]]); specifically, a (scud) cloud; also a copse; clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare עֲבִי.): Translated as "thick clouds" in [[Psalms 18:11]], this word often signifies the visible manifestation of the Lord's presence, as when He came in a "thick cloud" to speak to Moses [[Exodus 19:9]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2824}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful appearance.
* **The Majesty of Divine Hiddenness:** The use of `cheshkâh` to describe the "dark waters" of God's pavilion [[Psalms 18:11]] portrays His glory as being intentionally veiled. This darkness is not an absence of God but a component of His holy and unapproachable presence.
* **A Theophanic Element:** The term appears within a theophany, or a visible manifestation of God. The darkness of `{{H2824}}` functions similarly to the "thick cloud" `{{H5645}}` in [[Exodus 19:9]], serving as a boundary between the divine and the human, inspiring awe and reverence.
* **Holiness, Not Evil:** While the related word `chôshek` `{{H2822}}` can symbolize evil or judgment [[Isaiah 5:20]], the context of `cheshkâh` in [[Psalms 18:11]] frames darkness as an attribute of God's magnificent and sovereign dwelling, separating it from concepts of sin.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2824}}` `cheshkâh` is a highly specific term whose meaning is defined entirely by its sole context in [[Psalms 18:11]]. It is not a general term for darkness but a precise descriptor for the "dark waters" that conceal the glorious presence of God. Paired with other atmospheric phenomena, it illustrates a core theological truth: God's majesty is awesome, powerful, and ultimately veiled from complete human understanding.
TRV