valley of the shadow of death

English

Etymology

From Psalm 23 of the Book of Psalms. "Shadow of death" is a calque of Hebrew צלמות‎.

Pronunciation

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Noun

valley of the shadow of death

1. The world, a place where darkness and death are figurative valleys one must walk through as part of the human experience.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Psalms 23:4:

     Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

   • 1995, “Gangsta's Paradise”, performed by Coolio:

     As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death / I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left

2. A very dangerous place.

Derived terms

• valley of death

Translations

biblical phrase

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 死蔭的幽谷 (sǐ yīn dí yōugǔ)

• Finnish: kuoleman varjon laakso
• German: das finstere Tal n
• Greek:

  Ancient: ἐν μέσῳ σκιᾶς θανάτου f (en mésōi skiâs thanátou) (in the valley of the shadow of death)

• Hebrew: גיא צלמות‎ m (ge' tsalmawet)
• Japanese: 死の陰の谷 (shi no kage no tani)
• Latin: in mediō umbrae mortis (in the valley of the shadow of death)
• Spanish: valle de sombra de muerte m

See also

• vale of tears