Darkness
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Gen. 1:2)—the absence of visible light and, in Scripture, a powerful image of chaos, ignorance, sorrow, judgment, death, or the realm of evil. Darkness covered the deep before God commanded light. The ninth plague brought a darkness over Egypt that could be felt and halted ordinary movement for three days, while the Israelites had light where they lived (Exod. 10:21-23). The source’s atmospheric explanation is conjectural; Exodus presents the darkness as a divine sign.