UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: darkness

Semantic entry: 14.53

Semantic domains: Physical Events and States

Subdomains: Darkness

Definition: a condition resulting from the partial or complete absence of light (see 14.36: φέγγος / 14.36: φῶς)

Notes: In a number of languages it is impossible to speak of ‘darkness’ as being an agent in the sense of RV LUK 23:44 · LV LUK 23:44 · Read together LUK 23:44 ‘darkness covered the whole country.’ Accordingly, one must say ‘throughout the whole country it was dark’ or ‘it darkened over the whole country.’ In some languages darkness may be characterized as being a quality of the night, for example, ‘it was like night.’