7688.“甚至地都黑暗了”表虚假被引入真理所在之处。这从“黑暗”的含义清楚可知。“黑暗”是指虚假（参看1839，1860，4418，4531节）；因此，“都黑暗了”是指陷入虚假。由于此处论述的主题是那些曾经属于教会，认识真理，却过着邪恶生活之人的荒凉，故“地都黑暗了”表示真理所在之处的虚假。真理在内义上由“光”表示，故虚假由“暗”来表示；因为真理和虚假就像光明和黑暗那样是对立面。那些处于真理的人实实在在拥有光明，而那些陷入虚假的人实实在在拥有黑暗。在来世，那些陷入虚假所住的光在天堂之光面前变成幽暗，甚至变成在那些曾属教会之人中间的幽暗，因为他们的虚假与信之真理对立，正如主在马太福音中所说的话：
你里头的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大呢！（马太福音6:23）
又：
惟有本国的子民，竟被赶到外边黑暗里去了。（马太福音8:12）
“本国子民”是指教会成员；“外边黑暗”是指更严重的虚假；经上之所以用“外边”这个词，是因为最外面部分中的虚假更严重。
虚假被称为“黑暗”，这一点从圣言中的许多经文明显看出来，如以下经文：
光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗。（约翰福音3:19）
又：
应当趁着有光行走，免得黑暗临到你们；我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。（约翰福音12:35，46）
以赛亚书：
祸哉！那些称恶为善、称善为恶，以暗为光、以光为暗的人！（以赛亚书5:20）
耶利米书：
耶和华你们的神未带来黑暗，你们的脚未在昏暗山上绊跌之先，当将荣耀归给祂，免得你们盼望光明，祂使光明变为死荫，成为幽暗。（耶利米书13:16）
以西结书：
我将你扑灭的时候，要把天遮蔽，使众星昏暗，以密云遮掩太阳，月亮也不放光。我必使所有的光体都在你以上变为昏暗，使你的地上黑暗。（以西结书32:7，8）
约珥书：
耶和华的日子将到，已经临近。那日是黑暗、幽冥冥的日子，是密云、乌黑的日子。（约珥书2:1，2；阿摩司书5:18-20）
西番雅书：
那日是忿怒的日子，是急难困苦的日子，是荒废凄凉的日子，是黑暗、幽冥的日子。（西番雅书1:15）
在这些经文中，“黑暗”表示虚假。在圣言中，“黑暗”还表示对真理的无知，诸如存在于没有圣言，对主一无所知的外邦人当中的那种。
Potts(1905-1910) 7688
7688. And the land was darkened. That this signifies that falsity was brought in where truth was, is evident from the signification of "darkness," as being falsities (see n. 1839, 1860, 4418, 4531); thus "to be darkened" is to be in falsity; and as the devastation of those who have been of the church and have known truths, but have lived a life of evil, is here treated of, therefore by "the land was darkened" is signified falsity where truth was. Truth in the internal sense is signified by "light," and therefore falsity is signified by "darkness;" for truth and falsity are opposites, like light and darkness; and they who are in truth actually have light, and they who are in falsity actually have darkness. The light in which they are who are in falsity in the other life, becomes thick darkness at the presence of the light of heaven, and thicker darkness with those who have been of the church, because they had been in falsity against the truth of faith, according to the Lord's words:
If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matt. 6:23). The sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness (Matt. 8:12);
"the sons of the kingdom" denote those who are of the church; "the outer darkness" denotes more grievous falsities; it is called "outer" because falsities in the outermosts or extremes are more grievous. [2] That falsities are called "darkness," is evident from many passages in the Word, as in the following:
The light is come into the world, but men have loved the darkness more than the light; for their works were evil (John 3:19). Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness take hold of you; I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in the darkness (John 12:35, 46);
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isa. 5:20). Give glory to Jehovah your God before He bring darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the mountains of twilight, then ye shall await light, but He will put it into the shadow of death, He will put it into thick darkness (Jer. 13:16). When I shall extinguish thee I will cover the heavens, and I will blacken the stars thereof; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not make her light to shine; all the luminaries of light of heaven will I make black over thee, and will set darkness upon thy land (Ezek. 32:7, 8). The day of Jehovah cometh, it is near, a day of darkness, and of thick darkness, a day of cloud and of obscurity (Joel 2:1, 2; Amos 5:18-20). This day is a day of wrath, a day of wasting and devastation, a day of darkness and thick darkness (Zeph. 1:15). In these passages "darkness" signifies falsities. In the Word "darkness" also signifies ignorance of truth, such as the Gentiles are in who have not the Word and know nothing of the Lord.
Elliott(1983-1999) 7688
7688. 'And the land was darkened' means that falsity was introduced where there had been truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'darkness' as falsities, dealt with in 1839, 1860, 4418, 4531, so that 'being darkened' is being subject to falsity. And since the vastation of those who belonged to the Church, had a knowledge of truths, but led an evil life, are the subject 'the land was darkened' means falsity where there has been truth. Truth is meant in the internal sense by 'light', and therefore falsity is meant by 'darkness'; for truth and falsity are opposites like light and darkness. And those guided by truth dwell in actual light, whereas those under the influence of falsity dwell in actual darkness. The inferior light which those under the influence of falsity in the next life dwell in turns into thick darkness at the presence of the superior light of heaven, and into even thicker darkness with those who have belonged to the Church, because their falsity has stood in opposition to the truth of faith, as accords with the Lord's words in Matthew,
If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matt 6:23.
And in the same gospel,
The sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness. Matt 8:12.
'The sons of the kingdom' are members of the Church, and 'outer darkness' is more serious falsities, the term 'outer' being used because falsities in the outermost parts are more serious ones.
[2] The fact that falsities are called 'darkness' is clear from a number of places in the Word, for example in John,
Light has come into the world, but men preferred darkness rather than light, for their works were evil. John 3:19.
In the same gospel,
Walk, as long as you have the light, lest darkness overtakes you. I have come as light into the world in order that all who believe in Me may not remain in darkness. John 12:35, 46.
In Isaiah,
Woe to those who speak of evil as good, and of good as evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness! Isa 5:20.
In Jeremiah,
Give glory to Jehovah your God before He brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains; then you will look for light but He will turn it into the shadow of death, He will place it in thick darkness. Jer 13:16.
In Ezekiel,
When I have blotted you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the bright lights in the heavens I will make dark over you, and I will put darkness over your land. Ezek 32:7, 8.
In Joel,
The day of Jehovah is coming, it is near, a day of darkness and thick darkness, a day of cloud and gloom. Joel 2:1, 2; Amos 5:18, 20.
In Zephaniah,
A day of wrath is that day, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and thick darkness. Zeph 1:15.
In these places 'darkness' means falsities. In addition 'darkness' in the Word means lack of knowledge of the truth, such as exists with gentiles who do not have the Word and know nothing about the Lord.
Latin(1748-1756) 7688
7688. `Et obtenebrata terra': quod significet quod induceretur falsum ubi verum, constat ex significatione `tenebrarum' quod sint falsa, de qua n. 1839, 1860, 4418, 4531, ita `obtenebrari' est in falso esse; et quia agitur de devastatione illorum qui fuerunt ab Ecclesia et noverunt vera, sed vixerunt vitam mali, per `obtenebrata terra' significatur falsum ubi verum; verum in sensu interno {2}significatur per `lucem,' inde falsum per `tenebras'; sunt enim verum et falsum opposita, sicut lux et tenebrae; et {3} actualiter est lux illis qui in vero, et sunt tenebrae illis qui in falso; lumen {4} in quo sunt qui in falso in altera vita fit caligo ad praesentiam lucis caeli, et major caligo apud illos qui ab Ecclesia fuerunt, quia illis falsum fuit contra verum fidei, secundum Domini verba apud Matthaeum, Si lumen quod in te est tenebrae est, tenebrae quantae, vi 23:et apud eundem, Filii regni ejicientur in tenebras exteriores, viii 12;
`filii regni' sunt qui ab Ecclesia; `tenebrae exteriores' sunt falsa graviora; `{5} exteriores' dicuntur quia falsa in extremis sunt graviora. 2 Quod falsa vocentur `tenebrae,' constat a pluribus locis in Verbo, ut apud Johannem, Lux venit in mundum, sed dilexerunt homines magis tenebras quam lucem, erant enim opera illorum mala, iii 19:
apud eundem, Ambulate quousque lucem habetis, ne tenebrae vos apprehendant: Ego lux in mundum veni, ut omnis qui credit in Me in tenebris non maneat, xii 35, 46:
apud Esaiam, Vae dicentibus de malo bonum et de bono malum, ponentibus tenebras in lucem et lucem in tenebras! v 20:
apud Jeremiam, Date Jehovae Deo vestro gloriam, antequam tenebras inducat, et antequam offendant pedes ad montes crepusculi, tunc exspectabitis lucem, sed ponet illam in umbram mortis, ponet in caliginem, xiii 16:
apud Ezechielem, Obtegam cum exstinxero te caelos, et atrabo stellas eorum, solem nube obtegam, et luna non lucere faciet lumen suum; omnia luminaria lucis in caelis atrabo super te, et dabo tenebras super terra tua, xxxii 7, 8:
apud Joelem, Venit dies Jehovae, propinquus est, dies tenebrarum et caliginis, dies nubis et obscuritatis, ii [1,] 2; Amos v 18, 20:
apud Zephaniam, Dies excandescentiae dies hic, dies vastitatis et devastationis, dies tenebrarum et caliginis, i 15;
in his locis `tenebrae' significant falsa: etiam in Verbo `tenebrae' significant ignorantiam veri, in quali sunt gentes quae Verbum non habent et de Domino nihil sciunt. @1 i quia est$ @2 intelligitur$ @3 i quoque$ @4 i enim$ @5 i tenebrae$