"darkness, Mt. 27:45; Acts 2:20; gloom of punishment and misery, Mt. 8:12; 2 Pet. 2:17; met. moral or spiritual darkness, Mt. 4:16; Jn. 3:19; Eph. 5:11; a realm of moral darkness, Eph. 5:8; 6:12"
Definition and meaning
darkness, Mt. 27:45; Acts 2:20; gloom of punishment and misery, Mt. 8:12; 2 Pet. 2:17; met. moral or spiritual darkness, Mt. 4:16; Jn. 3:19; Eph. 5:11; a realm of moral darkness, Eph. 5:8; 6:12
In the original Greek the word is written: σκότος
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 skotos (G4655) 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 if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
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Common questions
Strong's G4655 (skotos) is a Greek word that means: darkness, Mt. 27:45; Acts 2:20; gloom of punishment and misery, Mt. 8:12; 2 Pet. 2:17; met. moral or spiritual darkness, Mt. 4:16; Jn. 3:19; Eph. 5:11; a realm of moral darkness, Eph. 5:8; 6:12 It appears 31 times in the King James Bible.
The word skotos (G4655) appears 31 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4655 is skotos, a Greek word defined as: darkness, Mt. 27:45; Acts 2:20; gloom of punishment and misery, Mt. 8:12; 2 Pet. 2:17; met. moral or spiritual darkness, Mt. 4:16; Jn. 3:19; Eph. 5:11. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
skotos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.