Original Word: σκοτία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: skotia
Pronunciation: sko-tee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (skot-ee'-ah)
Definition: darkness; fig: spiritual darkness.
Meaning: The term "σκοτία" refers to darkness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It can denote the absence of light or symbolize spiritual ignorance, moral depravity, or the realm of sin and evil.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word σκοτός (skotos), meaning "darkness."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek word σκοτία corresponds to several Hebrew terms that convey the concept of darkness, including:
• Strong's Hebrew 2822: חֹשֶׁךְ (choshek) • meaning darkness, obscurity.
• Strong's Hebrew 6205: עֲרָפֶל (arafel) • meaning thick darkness, gloom.
• Strong's Hebrew 653: אָפֵל (afel) • meaning darkness, gloominess.

These Hebrew terms similarly convey both the literal absence of light and the metaphorical sense of spiritual or moral darkness, aligning with the Greek usage in the New Testament.

Usage: The word σκοτία is used in the New Testament to describe both physical darkness and spiritual or moral darkness. It often contrasts with light, symbolizing the presence of God, truth, and righteousness.

Context: • Literal Usage: In its literal sense, σκοτία is used to describe the physical absence of light. For example, in Matthew 4:16, it is written, "the people living in darkness have seen a great light," where darkness refers to the literal absence of light.

• Metaphorical Usage: More frequently, σκοτία is employed metaphorically to describe spiritual or moral darkness. In John 1:5, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it," σκοτία represents the spiritual ignorance and sin that oppose the truth and righteousness of Christ. Similarly, in 1 John 1:6, "If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth," σκοτία symbolizes a life lived apart from God's truth and moral standards.

• Theological Implications: The use of σκοτία in the New Testament often highlights the contrast between the kingdom of God and the realm of sin. It underscores the transformative power of Christ, who is the Light of the world, bringing illumination and redemption to those who dwell in spiritual darkness. The recurring theme of light versus darkness serves as a call to believers to live in the light of Christ, rejecting the deeds of darkness and embracing the truth of the Gospel.

Cognate: 4653 skotía (a feminine noun) – darkness, a brand of moral, spiritual obscurity (i.e. which blocks the light of God when faith is lacking). See also 4655 /skótos ("darkness").

Word Origin
from skotos
Definition
darkness
NASB Translation
dark (3), darkness (14).

STRONGS NT 4653: σκοτία

σκοτία, σκοτίας, ἡ (on its derivation cf. σκηνή), (Thomas Magister, ὁ σκότος καί τό σκότος. τό δέ σκοτία οὐκ ἐν χρησει namely, in Attic (cf. Moeris, under the word; Liddell and Scott, under the word σκότος, at the end)), darkness: properly, the darkness due to want of daylight, John 6:17; John 20:1; ἐν τῇ σκοτία (λαλεῖν τί), unseen, in secret (equivalent to ἐν κρύπτω, John 18:20), privily, in private, opposed to ἐν τῷ φωτί, Matthew 10:27; Luke 12:3; metaphorically, used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery: Matthew 4:16 L Tr WH; John 1:5; John 6:17; John 8:12; John 12:35, 46; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 2:8f, 11. (Ap. Rh. 4, 1698; Anth. 8, 187. 190; for חָשְׁכָה Micah 3:6; for אֹפֶל, Job 28:3.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

darkness.

From skotos; dimness, obscurity (literally or figuratively) -- dark(-ness).

see GREEK skotos

Forms and Transliterations

σκότει σκοτια σκοτία σκοτίᾳ σκοτιας σκοτίας skotei skótei skotia skotía skotíāi skotias skotías

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts