← H6204 H6206 →

עֲרָפֶל

𐤏𐤓𐤐𐤋

ʻărâphel

H6205 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ערף to drip, trickle, be thick or dense

Definition

Deep darkness, dense cloud, or heavy obscurity, especially of an atmospheric or visual kind. The term typically refers to a thick, enveloping darkness such as that produced by storm clouds, mist, or overwhelming gloom, often associated with divine manifestation, mystery, or the concealment of the divine presence.

Semantic Range

dense darkness, heavy cloud, thick obscurity, enveloping gloom, atmospheric darkness associated with storm or divine presence

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ערף, which in the verbal form most commonly means 'to drip, trickle, drop' or 'to be thick, dense.' The noun עֲרָפֶל indicates something that is densely obscured, such as clouds or fog, making visual perception difficult.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֲרָפֶל predominantly appears in contexts describing theophany, particularly at Sinai (Exod 20:21 [Heb 18]), where it signals the presence of YHWH as enveloped in dense cloud, signifying awe, distance, or inaccessibility. The word is relatively rare and always carries a sense of dense obscurity, frequently mentioned alongside other terms for cloud (עָנָן) or darkness (חשך), but with a stronger emphasis on impenetrable or mysterious darkness rather than physical night. Unlike עָנָן, which denotes a regular cloud, עֲרָפֶל connotes particularly thick, dark, or mysterious covering, symbolically marking the boundary of divine-human interaction. Later Jewish and translation tradition sometimes associates this with mystical or metaphysical hiddenness, occasionally rendering it as 'thick darkness.' However, this risks obscuring the original emphasis on atmospheric density and visual impenetrability. Its use is not limited to Sinai, appearing also in poetic passages as an image for utter darkness. There is no evidence for ethnic or religious identity being associated with the term. The English 'thick darkness' partially captures the sense but may under-translate the atmospheric vividness of the original Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from עָרַף; gloom (as of a lowering sky); (gross, thick) dark (cloud, -ness).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ערף (ʿ-r-p̄) — to drip, trickle, be thick, be dense

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6183 עָרִיף in her dripping-skies
H6201 עָרַף they will break the neck
H6202 עָרַף neck-broken (feminine)
H6203 עֹרֶף their nape
H6204 עׇרְפָּה Orpah

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6205-05 וַ/עֲרָפֶֽל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom 9
H6205-02 בָּ/עֲרָפֶֽל baarafel HRd/Ncmsa in the thick darkness in the dense gloom 2
H6205-03 הָֽ/עֲרָפֶ֔ל haarafel HTd/Ncmsa the thick darkness the dense cloud-darkness 1
H6205-01 עֲרָפֶ֣ל arafel HNcmsa the thick darkness dense gloom 1
H6205-04 לַ/עֲרָפֶֽל laarafel HR/Ncmsa to-gloom to dense gloom 1
H6205-06 וְ/הָֽ/עֲרָפֶ֔ל vehaarafel HC/Td/Ncmsa and the thick darkness and the dense gloom 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6205-03 Exodus 20:21 הָֽ/עֲרָפֶ֔ל haarafel HTd/Ncmsa the thick darkness the dense cloud-darkness
H6205-05 Deuteronomy 4:11 וַ/עֲרָפֶֽל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom
H6205-06 Deuteronomy 5:22 וְ/הָֽ/עֲרָפֶ֔ל vehaarafel HC/Td/Ncmsa and the thick darkness and the dense gloom
H6205-05 2 Samuel 22:10 וַ/עֲרָפֶ֖ל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa thick darkness and dense gloom
H6205-02 1 Kings 8:12 בָּ/עֲרָפֶֽל baarafel HRd/Ncmsa in the thick darkness in the dense gloom
H6205-05 Isaiah 60:2 וַ/עֲרָפֶ֖ל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom
H6205-04 Jeremiah 13:16 לַ/עֲרָפֶֽל laarafel HR/Ncmsa to-gloom to dense gloom
H6205-05 Ezekiel 34:12 וַ/עֲרָפֶֽל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom
H6205-05 Joel 2:2 וַ/עֲרָפֶ֔ל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom
H6205-05 Zephaniah 1:15 וַ/עֲרָפֶֽל vaarafel HC/Ncmsa and thick darkness and dense gloom
← H6204 Hebrew Lexicon H6206 →