What does אֲפֵלָה mean in the Bible?
אֲפֵלָה is a Hebrew word meaning "duskiness , figuratively, misfortune ; concrete, concealment".
Hebrew · H653
אֲפֵלָה
Duskiness , figuratively, misfortune ; concrete, concealment
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
אֲפֵלָה H653
What does אֲפֵלָה mean in the Bible?
אֲפֵלָה is a Hebrew word meaning "duskiness , figuratively, misfortune ; concrete, concealment".
Full entry for אֲפֵלָה (H653) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H653?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and gloom (2), and total (1), and your night (1), in gloom (1), in the darkness (1).
Where does אֲפֵלָה appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 10:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (3), Proverbs (2), Deuteronomy (1), Exodus (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 gloom 2× Joel 2:2, Zephaniah 1:15
and total 1× Exodus 10:22
and your night 1× Isaiah 58:10
in gloom 1× Isaiah 59:9
in the darkness 1× Deuteronomy 28:29
into the dark 1× Proverbs 7:9
into the darkness 1× Jeremiah 23:12
into utter darkness 1× Isaiah 8:22
is like the darkest gloom 1× Proverbs 4:19
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 10:22 אֲפֵלָ֛ה to and total Adjective - feminine singular Deuteronomy 28:29 בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה to in the darkness Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Proverbs 4:19 כָּֽאֲפֵלָ֑ה to is like the darkest gloom Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular Proverbs 7:9 וַאֲפֵלָֽה׃ to into the dark Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Isaiah 8:22 וַאֲפֵלָ֖ה to into utter darkness Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Isaiah 58:10 וַאֲפֵלָתְךָ֖ to and your night Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Isaiah 59:9 בָּאֲפֵל֥וֹת to in gloom Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural Jeremiah 23:12 בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה to into the darkness Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Joel 2:2 וַאֲפֵלָ֗ה to and gloom Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Zephaniah 1:15 וַאֲפֵלָ֔ה to and gloom Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 10:22
Aligned rows 10
Books represented 7
Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 1 Proverbs 2 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 1 Joel 1 Zephaniah 1
Source forms
אֲפֵלָ֛ה 1x ’ă·p̄ê·lāh Exodus 10:22
בָּאֲפֵלָ֔ה 1x bā·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Deuteronomy 28:29
בָּֽאֲפֵלָ֔ה 1x bā·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Jeremiah 23:12
בָּאֲפֵל֥וֹת 1x bā·’ă·p̄ê·lō·wṯ Isaiah 59:9
וַאֲפֵלָ֖ה 1x wa·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Isaiah 8:22
וַאֲפֵלָ֗ה 1x wa·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Joel 2:2
וַאֲפֵלָ֔ה 1x wa·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Zephaniah 1:15
וַאֲפֵלָֽה׃ 1x wa·’ă·p̄ê·lāh Proverbs 7:9
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 4x Proverbs 7:9, Isaiah 8:22, Joel 2:2, Zephaniah 1:15
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular 2x Deuteronomy 28:29, Jeremiah 23:12
Adjective - feminine singular 1x Exodus 10:22
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 58:10
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural 1x Isaiah 59:9
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular 1x Proverbs 4:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. duskiness , figuratively, misfortune ; concrete, concealment
Source Gloss
duskiness , figuratively, misfortune ; concrete, concealment
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment BDB: darkness Usage: dark, darkness, gloominess, × thick.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אֲפֵלָה is built from this root:
אָפֵל H651
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain