7711. And there shall be thick darkness over the land of Egypt. That this signifies a complete privation of truth and good, is evident from the signification of “thick darkness,” as being a complete privation of truth and good. In various places in the Word mention is made of “darkness” and also at the same time of “thick darkness,” and then “darkness” is predicated of falsity, and “thick darkness” of evil together with it. But the word by which “thick darkness” is expressed in this verse means the densest darkness, by which in the internal sense are signified such falsities as spring from evil. Such falsities arise with those who have been of the church, and have lived a life of evil contrary to the precepts of faith which they have known. The evil from which these falsities spring, is against the church, against heaven, and against the Lord, thus is diametrically against good and truth. This state is now described by “thick darkness.”

[2] That in the Word both “darkness” and “thick darkness” are mentioned together, and that “darkness” then denotes the privation of truth, and thick darkness the privation of both truth and good, can he seen from the following passages.

In Isaiah:

Judgment is far from us, and righteousness overtaketh us not; we await the light, but behold darkness; and brightnesses, but we walk in thick darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, yea, we grope as they that have no eyes; we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among the living we are as the dead (Isaiah 59:9-10);

“judgment is far from us,” and “righteousness overtaketh us not,” denotes that there is neither truth nor good; (that “judgment” is predicated of truth, and “righteousness” of good, see n. 2235, 3997); “to await the light” denotes to await truth; and “to await brightnesses” denotes to await the good of truth, for the brightness of light is from good. That “darkness” is here opposed to “light” and “judgment,” thus to truth; and that “thick darkness” is opposed to “brightness” and “righteousness,” thus to good, is evident; and therefore “darkness” denotes the privation of truth, and “thick darkness,” the privation of both truth and good.

In Amos:

Is not the day of Jehovah darkness, and not light? and thick darkness and no brightness in it? (Amos 5:20); where the meaning is similar.

The day of Jehovah cometh, a day of darkness and thick darkness, a day of cloud and obscurity (Joel 2:1-2).

The day of Jehovah is a day of wasting and devastation, a day of darkness and of thick darkness (Zeph. 1:15); where “darkness” denotes the privation of truth; and “thick darkness,” the privation of truth and good; if “thick darkness” signified nothing more than “darkness,” it would be an empty repetition, which would be far from the Holy Word.

[3] It is common in the Word to find two expressions of one thing, one of which relates to truth, or to falsity; and the other to good, or to evil. So in Isaiah:

He shall look unto the earth, and behold distress and darkness, dimmed with distress, and driven in thick darkness (Isaiah 8:22).

[4] “Darkness” also signifies ignorance of truth, such as there is with the Gentiles; and “thick darkness,” ignorance of good; in Isaiah:

In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of thick darkness and out of darkness (Isaiah 29:18).

If thou satisfy the afflicted soul, thy light shall rise up in the darkness, and thy thick darkness shall be as the noon day (Isaiah 58:10);

(that “darkness” denotes falsities, see n. 7688).