from the same as אָפֵל; something opaque; darkness.
Transliteration:maʼăphêl
Pronunciation:mah-af-ale'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word maʼăphêl (`{{H3990}}`) is a noun derived from the root aphel (אָפֵל), which signifies "to grow dark" or "to set (of the sun)." The base definition provided, "something opaque; darkness," highlights its core semantic range. Maʼăphêl denotes a profound and impenetrable darkness, not merely the absence of light, but a substantial, dense obscurity. The nuance of "opaque" suggests a quality that actively blocks light, implying a deeper, more oppressive, and perhaps even suffocating form of darkness than a simple lack of illumination. It refers to darkness as a tangible, enveloping state or condition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word maʼăphêl (`{{H3990}}`) appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each instance powerfully conveying its meaning:
* **[[Jeremiah 2:31]]**: "O generation, see the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of *darkness* (maʼăphêl)?"
* In this prophetic lament, God addresses Israel's apostasy. The rhetorical question contrasts God's faithful provision with Israel's ungrateful turning away. To describe God as a "land of maʼăphêl" is to suggest a place devoid of life, guidance, and divine presence. Here, maʼăphêl symbolizes spiritual desolation, a state of obscurity and danger that stands in stark opposition to the life-giving light and abundance God intended for His people. It underscores the spiritual barrenness that results from abandoning the covenant.
* **[[Psalm 88:6]]**: "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in *darkness* (bəmaʼăphêlîm), in the deeps."
* This psalm is one of the most profound expressions of human suffering and despair. The psalmist describes being in the "lowest pit" and "the deeps," and the plural form maʼăphêlîm intensifies the sense of overwhelming, multi-layered darkness. Here, maʼăphêl portrays an oppressive, suffocating, and hopeless affliction. It is a darkness that encompasses both the physical (the pit, the grave) and the spiritual/emotional dimensions, signifying utter abandonment, isolation, and the depths of despair. The plural emphasizes the totality and pervasive nature of this oppressive gloom.
In both contexts, maʼăphêl consistently conveys a sense of profound, oppressive, and often negative darkness. It is associated with desolation, spiritual abandonment, and extreme suffering, extending beyond mere physical obscurity to encompass existential and spiritual distress.
### Related Words & Concepts
Maʼăphêl (`{{H3990}}`) exists within a semantic field of words related to darkness and light in Hebrew:
* **Synonyms/Near Synonyms:**
* Choshek (חֹשֶׁךְ - `{{H2822}}`): The most common Hebrew word for "darkness," often denoting the natural state of night or general obscurity. While maʼăphêl can be a form of choshek, it typically carries a stronger connotation of density, impenetrability, or an oppressive quality.
* Araphel (עֲרָפֶל - `{{H6205}}`): Thick darkness, gloom, often associated with divine manifestation (e.g., at Mount Sinai, [[Exodus 20:21]]). This word shares maʼăphêl's intensity, both describing a substantial, often awe-inspiring or terrifying darkness.
* **Antonyms/Contrasts:**
* Or (אוֹר - `{{H216}}`): Light, the fundamental opposite of darkness, representing life, truth, and divine presence.
* Nogah (נֹגַהּ - `{{H5051}}`): Brightness, radiance, often associated with divine glory.
* **Broader Concepts:** Maʼăphêl is conceptually linked to chaos and formlessness (as in [[Genesis 1:2]]), divine judgment (e.g., plagues of darkness), spiritual blindness and ignorance, and the realm of Sheol or the grave, which is often depicted as a place devoid of light.
### Theological Significance
The infrequent but potent use of maʼăphêl (`{{H3990}}`) carries profound theological implications:
* **Divine Presence vs. Absence:** In [[Jeremiah 2:31]], maʼăphêl serves as a stark metaphor for a life lived apart from the Lord. God is consistently depicted as light, life, and the source of all good. To be a "land of maʼăphêl" is to be a place where God's illuminating presence, guiding truth, and life-sustaining grace are absent. It signifies spiritual desolation and moral decay, the grim consequences of abandoning the divine covenant.
* **Human Suffering and Despair:** [[Psalm 88:6]] powerfully illustrates maʼăphêl as the embodiment of profound human suffering. It represents a state of utter despair, isolation, and the perceived absence of hope or divine intervention. This is a darkness that is not merely physical but deeply existential and spiritual, reflecting the soul's anguish when it feels abandoned by God.
* **The Nature of Sin and Rebellion:** The "land of maʼăphêl" in Jeremiah can be understood as the direct consequence of sin and rebellion. Sin is frequently portrayed in Scripture as "walking in darkness," leading to spiritual blindness, moral confusion, and separation from the source of truth and life. Maʼăphêl thus embodies the grim reality of a life alienated from God's light and truth.
* **Contrast with God's Character:** The very existence and description of maʼăphêl highlight the glorious, luminous nature of God, who is light and in whom there is no darkness at all ([[1 John 1:5]]). While God can manifest Himself in thick darkness (`{{H6205}}`), maʼăphêl in these contexts primarily signifies the *consequence* of separation from God or the *experience* of extreme distress, rather than God's inherent nature.
### Summary
The Hebrew word maʼăphêl (`{{H3990}}`) denotes a deep, oppressive, and impenetrable darkness, derived from the root aphel, meaning "to be dark." Though appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, its usage carries significant theological weight. In [[Jeremiah 2:31]], it describes a "land of maʼăphêl," metaphorically representing the spiritual desolation and barrenness experienced by Israel due to their abandonment of the Lord. Here, it signifies a state of spiritual absence and moral obscurity resulting from apostasy. In [[Psalm 88:6]], the plural maʼăphêlîm vividly portrays the psalmist's profound suffering, isolation, and despair, being cast into "darkness" and "the deeps," symbolizing an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and perceived divine abandonment. Across both contexts, maʼăphêl transcends mere physical dimness, embodying a substantive, heavy presence of obscurity, distress, and the dire consequences of separation from divine light and life. It stands in stark contrast to God's illuminating presence, underscoring the spiritual dangers and existential agony associated with profound darkness.
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