King James Bible
"He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."
God conceals himself in darkness, emphasizing divine hiddenness and transcendence. In ancient Near Eastern thought, darkness represented the mysterious, unapproachable realm of deity, underscoring that God's essence remains beyond human comprehension. The pavilion imagery depicts a royal tent or canopy, suggesting God's sovereign dwelling place. This military and royal metaphor positions God as a king enthroned in majesty, surrounded by his chosen atmospheric court. These elements form God's protective barrier and throne room, evoking the storm theophany common in Hebrew poetry. Dark waters and clouds signal both God's power over creation and his appearance in judgment, connecting to ancient traditions of divine warriors arriving in tempests.