"a shade, shadow, Mk. 4:32; Acts 5:15; met. a shadow, a foreshadowing, a vague outline, in distinction from ἡ εἰκών, the perfect image or delineation, and τὸ σῶμα, the reality, Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 10:1; gloom; σκιὰ θανάτου, death shade, the thickest darkness, Mt. 4:16; Lk. 1:79*"
Definition and meaning
a shade, shadow, Mk. 4:32; Acts 5:15; met. a shadow, a foreshadowing, a vague outline, in distinction from ἡ εἰκών, the perfect image or delineation, and τὸ σῶμα, the reality, Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 10:1; gloom; σκιὰ θανάτου, death shade, the thickest darkness, Mt. 4:16; Lk. 1:79*
In the original Greek the word is written: σκιά
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of skia (G4639) across the King James Bible.
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
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Common questions
Strong's G4639 (skia) is a Greek word that means: a shade, shadow, Mk. 4:32; Acts 5:15; met. a shadow, a foreshadowing, a vague outline, in distinction from ἡ εἰκών, the perfect image or delineation, and τὸ σῶμα, the reality, Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 10:... It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word skia (G4639) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4639 is skia, a Greek word defined as: a shade, shadow, Mk. 4:32; Acts 5:15; met. a shadow, a foreshadowing, a vague outline, in distinction from ἡ εἰκών, the perfect image or delineation, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
skia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.