מַאְפֵּלְיָה

The Hebrew word מַאְפֵּלְיָה (ma.phe.le.yah) appears only once in the entire biblical text and means "darkness." This singular occurrence suggests a unique or specific reference to darkness in its context. Its placement within the semantic domain of light and darkness implies a contrast or opposition between these concepts, hinting that the meaning of darkness in this instance might be understood in relation to its counterpart, light. The significance of this word lies in its potential to highlight the presence or absence of illumination, which could have various consequences in the narrative or description it accompanies.