Hebrew · H6205

עֲרָפֶל

Gloom (as of a lowering sky)

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עֲרָפֶלH6205
Pronunciationʿărāpel

What does עֲרָפֶל (ʿărāpel) mean in the Bible?

עֲרָפֶל (ʿărāpel): Thick, oppressive darkness or cloud-cover; often marks divine presence or judgment in theophany and covenant contexts

Full entry for עֲרָפֶל (H6205) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does עֲרָפֶל (ʿărāpel) mean in the Bible?

עֲרָפֶל (ʿărāpel): Thick, oppressive darkness or cloud-cover; often marks divine presence or judgment in theophany and covenant contexts

How does the BSB render H6205?

The BSB source-word alignment has 15 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and blackness (2), and darkness (2), and thick darkness (2), in the thick cloud (2), thick darkness (2).

Where does עֲרָפֶל (ʿărāpel) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 20:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (2), Job (2), Psalms (2), 1 Kings (1).

Source Word Evidence

BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.

How English Renders It
and blacknessJoel 2:2, Zephaniah 1:15
and darknessPsalms 97:2, Ezekiel 34:12
and thick darknessJob 38:9, Isaiah 60:2
in the thick cloud1 Kings 8:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1
thick darknessJob 22:13, Jeremiah 13:16
with dark clouds2 Samuel 22:10, Psalms 18:9
and deepDeuteronomy 4:11
and the deep darknessDeuteronomy 5:22
the thick darknessExodus 20:21
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map

A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.

First aligned rowExodus 20:21
Aligned rows15
Books represented12
Exodus1Deuteronomy22 Samuel11 Kings12 Chronicles1Job2Psalms2Isaiah1Jeremiah1Ezekiel1Joel1Zephaniah1
Source forms
וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃3xwa·‘ă·rā·p̄elDeuteronomy 4:11, Ezekiel 34:12, Zephaniah 1:15
בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃2xbā·‘ă·rā·p̄el1 Kings 8:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1
וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל2xwa·‘ă·rā·p̄el2 Samuel 22:10, Isaiah 60:2
וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל2xwa·‘ă·rā·p̄elJob 38:9, Psalms 18:9
הָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל1xhā·‘ă·rā·p̄elExodus 20:21
וְהָֽעֲרָפֶ֔ל1xwə·hā·‘ă·rā·p̄elDeuteronomy 5:22
וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל1xwa·‘ă·rā·p̄elPsalms 97:2
וַעֲרָפֶ֔ל1xwa·‘ă·rā·p̄elJoel 2:2
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular9xDeuteronomy 4:11, 2 Samuel 22:10, Job 38:9, Psalms 18:9
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular2x1 Kings 8:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1
Article | Noun - masculine singular1xExodus 20:21
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 5:22
Noun - masculine singular1xJob 22:13
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular1xJeremiah 13:16
Sources