The Hebrew word kimrîyr, represented by H3650, describes a profound obscuration or blackness. Derived from a root suggesting a shrinkage of light, as in an eclipse, its meaning is intense and absolute. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, which concentrates its meaning within a single, powerful context.
The sole appearance of H3650 is in Job 3:5, where Job curses the day of his birth. In his anguish, he cries, "Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it." Here, kimrîyr is the climax of a list of dreadful phenomena, invoked to completely obliterate the day. It is used alongside darkness H2822, the shadow of death H6757, and a cloud H6053 to express a wish for the day to be terrifyingly dark and erased from memory.
Several related words from its context in Job 3:5 highlight the themes of darkness and dread:
- H2822 chôshek (darkness): Defined as the dark, this word can signify literal darkness, but also figuratively represents misery, destruction, and death. It appears in the account of creation Genesis 1:2 and is contrasted with divine light Isaiah 9:2.
- H6757 tsalmâveth (shadow of death): This term literally means the "shade of death" and is used to describe the grave or a state of extreme calamity. It is famously used in Psalms 23:4 to depict a valley of ultimate peril, and is often paired with darkness H2822, as seen in Psalms 107:14.
- H1204 bâʻath (terrify): This root word means to affright or terrify. In Job 3:5, it is the blackness H3650 that is meant to terrify the day, linking the visual image of darkness directly to an emotional state of fear and trouble, as when Haman was afraid before the king and queen Esther 7:6.
The theological weight of H3650 is derived entirely from its singular, potent use in the book of Job.
- Expression of Anguish: The word gives voice to the depth of human suffering. Its use in Job's curse is a raw expression of a desire to see a day completely annihilated, capturing a level of despair that longs for non-existence.
- Imagery of Uncreation: By invoking the ultimate blackness, Job essentially calls for a reversal of creation. The terms used in Job 3:5, especially darkness H2822, echo the formless state of the earth before God's creative act Genesis 1:2, framing Job's suffering as an "un-creating" force.
- Stark Contrast to Light: This intense obscuration stands as the ultimate opposite of God, who forms light and creates darkness Isaiah 45:7. While scripture proclaims that the Lord is a light in the darkness Micah 7:8, the cry for kimrîyr is a cry for a darkness so absolute that no light can penetrate it.
In summary, H3650 kimrîyr is a uniquely powerful term for blackness. Though used only once, its placement in Job 3:5 makes it a cornerstone for understanding the biblical expression of profound despair. It functions alongside other words of dread, like darkness H2822 and the shadow of death H6757, to paint a picture of utter desolation. Theologically, it represents the human experience of suffering at its limit, invoking an "uncreation" that stands in stark and terrifying contrast to the life and light of God.
TRV