### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H4155 (מוּעָף, *mûwʻâph*) is a noun derived from the root `{{H5774}}` (עוּף, *ʻûph*). While `{{H5774}}` primarily means "to fly," it also carries secondary semantic ranges related to obscurity, dimness, or faintness, particularly in its Niphal and Hiphil stems. H4155 thus signifies a state of being "covered" or "veiled," leading to meanings such as "darkness," "dimness," or "obscurity." Abstractly, this physical or visual dimness extends metaphorically to a condition of "distress" or "anguish," where one is enveloped by trouble, lacking clarity or hope. The word encapsulates both a literal lack of light and a profound existential or spiritual gloom.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H4155 appears only once in the Masoretic Text, making its singular occurrence highly significant for understanding its precise nuance.
* **[[Isaiah 8:22]]**: "And they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the dimness of anguish; and they will be driven into thick darkness." (ESV, various translations)
* In this prophetic passage, מוּעָף (mûwʻâph) is found in the phrase "מְעוּף מְצוּקָה" (*me'uph metsuqah*), translated as "the dimness of anguish" or "gloom of distress." It stands in close parallel with "צָרָה" (*tsarah*, distress) and "חֹשֶׁךְ" (*choshek*, darkness), emphasizing a multifaceted state of affliction.
* The immediate context of [[Isaiah 8:22]] describes the severe judgment awaiting Judah and Israel due to their unfaithfulness and reliance on foreign powers or occult practices instead of Yahweh. The people are depicted as looking to the earth (perhaps seeking answers from the dead or false gods, as mentioned earlier in the chapter), only to find a landscape of utter despair.
* The "dimness" (mûwʻâph) here is not merely a physical lack of light but a spiritual and national catastrophe, a pervasive sense of being lost, without direction or divine favor. It signifies a profound spiritual blindness and the oppressive weight of God's judgment. The subsequent "thick darkness" (אֲפֵלָה, *'aphelah*) reinforces the absolute nature of their impending doom.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding H4155 is enhanced by examining its linguistic and conceptual neighbors:
* `{{H5774}}` (עוּף, *ʻûph*): The root verb, which, in addition to "to fly," can mean "to be dark," "to grow dim," or "to faint." This direct etymological link grounds H4155 in the concept of fading light or clarity.
* `{{H2822}}` (חֹשֶׁךְ, *choshek*): "Darkness." This is a fundamental biblical term for literal darkness, but also metaphorically for evil, ignorance, judgment, death, and chaos. H4155 is often used in conjunction with or in parallel to `{{H2822}}` to amplify the sense of gloom and despair.
* `{{H6862}}` (צָרָה, *tsarah*): "Distress," "trouble," "anguish." This word frequently describes periods of national or personal suffering, and it appears in direct parallelism with H4155 in [[Isaiah 8:22]].
* `{{H4695}}` (מְצוּקָה, *metsuqah*): "Anguish," "distress," "straits." This term is used in the construct phrase "מְעוּף מְצוּקָה" with H4155, indicating a state of being hemmed in by trouble.
* Concepts of divine judgment, spiritual blindness, desolation, and exile are all closely related to the state described by H4155. The prophetic literature often uses imagery of darkness to convey God's withdrawal of favor and the resulting desolation.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of H4155 in [[Isaiah 8:22]] carries profound theological weight, serving as a stark portrayal of the consequences of apostasy and divine judgment.
1. **Consequence of Rebellion**: H4155 vividly illustrates the spiritual and existential state of a people who have turned away from God and His light. Their "dimness of anguish" is a direct result of rejecting the "light of the Lord" (cf. [[Isaiah 2:5]]) and seeking counsel from false sources (cf. [[Isaiah 8:19]]). It is a state where spiritual discernment is lost, and only trouble and darkness remain.
2. **Divine Judgment**: The "dimness" is not merely a natural phenomenon but a divinely ordained consequence. God's judgment is manifest in the removal of His illuminating presence, plunging the nation into a state of profound distress and spiritual obscurity. It underscores the severity of God's wrath against sin and unfaithfulness.
3. **Anticipation of Messiah**: Crucially, the extreme darkness described in [[Isaiah 8:22]] sets the stage for the glorious promise in the very next chapter. [[Isaiah 9:2]] proclaims, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." This stark contrast highlights that the מוּעָף is not the final word. The ultimate solution to this "dimness of anguish" is the advent of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is the true light that dispels all darkness and brings salvation. Thus, H4155 functions as a powerful descriptor of the dire need for divine intervention and the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H4155 (מוּעָף, *mûwʻâph*) signifies a state of "dimness," "obscurity," or "distress," derived from a root meaning "to grow dim" or "to be dark." Its singular yet powerful occurrence in [[Isaiah 8:22]] describes a profound "dimness of anguish" experienced by a people under divine judgment, enveloped by spiritual and existential darkness due to their rebellion against God. This term encapsulates both a physical lack of light and a deep, oppressive sense of trouble and despair. Theologically, H4155 serves as a stark depiction of the consequences of rejecting God's truth, setting the stage for the glorious promise of the Messiah, the "great light" who would ultimately dispel such profound darkness.
TRV