וַ/עֲלָטָ֖ה
𐤅/𐤏𐤋𐤈𐤄
ʻălâṭâh
and thick darkness
A period of deepening darkness, specifically occurring at dusk or twilight when daylight is waning and night approaches. The term designates the atmospheric conditions of diminished visibility at the end of the day but before full night.
Genesis 15:17 · Word #4
Lexicon H5939
| Lemma | עֲלָטָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤏𐤋𐤈𐤄 |
| Transliteration | ʻălâṭâh |
| Strong's | H5939 |
| Definition | A period of deepening darkness, specifically occurring at dusk or twilight when daylight is waning and night approaches. The term designates the atmospheric conditions of diminished visibility at the end of the day but before full night. |
Morphology HC/Ncfsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | f — Feminine — Feminine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | and thick darkness |
SIBI-P1 Translation H5939-02
enveloping dusk
| Morphological Notes | Feminine singular common noun, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The rendering reflects the feminine singular noun denoting a state of covering or enveloping darkness at day’s end. "Enveloping" preserves the root sense of covering, while "dusk" captures the specific twilight period indicated by the lexeme. |
View full lexicon entry for H5939 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
and deep dusk
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'enveloping dusk' over-translates; the vav is conjunctive, and 'deep dusk' fits the sense without added interpretation. |