SHADOW (shad'o), (Heb. tsale, or tsal-maw'veth; Gr. crtaci, skee'ah; droaKtacrtta, ai5-os-kee'as-mak, shading off; KaraaKt drco, kat-as-kee-ad'zo, obscuration).
As the shadow of a man, etc., when it falls on the ground, is of different lengths at different times of the day, and as the time of the day was originally estimated by this, the first sun-dial, so it is very natural that the hireling, who wished his day of labor ended, should desire the shadow (Job vii :2), meaning the long shadow falling on the ground, and issuing in the shadow of night itself. Indeed, it seems to have been customary in later ages to estimate the time of day by the length of the shadow ; so we have in Aristophanes, Con don: "When the letter of the alphabet denoted the shadow to be ten feet long, it was time to think of dressing and going to supper," that is, the sun began to grow low ; for twelve feet was the full length of the shadow (comp. Ps. cii :1 ; Jer. vi :4).
Figurative. (1) Shadow is figuratively used for unsubstantial ; so Job says, "My members are a shadow" (xvii :7) ; that is, they are diminished to a total, or comparative, privation of substance. Hence, the Mosaic economy is called a shadow, a very obscure representation of things, which in the gospel are clearly revealed. But it is thought that this word (Heb. alludes to the sketch of an artist or painter, who first forms (with chalk) on his canvas, the rude outlines of his sub ject, a just visible, rough, merely indicative repre sentation of what is to be afterwards finished correctly and carefully. To this is strongly op posed the complete image, the beautiful statue ex hibited in the gospel ; yet this statue, be it remem bered, is not living, not animated ; the full perfec tion of life, motion, sensibility and happiness is reserved for the world of bliss and glory, the celestial state. (2) As a shadow follows the sun
or interposing body, and is perpetually varying, till at last, perhaps suddenly, it vanishes, we, and our days, are likened to a shadow, to intimate how unsubstantial our mortal appearances are, how transient our life, and sudden our death (t Chron. xxix ; Job xiv :2, and xvii :7). (3) As dark ness and gloominess attend shadows, so terrible darkness, trouble, or death, are called a shadow of death (Job iii :5; xvi :16, and xxiv 27; Ps. xxiii : 4). (4) As in warm countries it is very agreeable to be screened from the scorching heat of the sun, so government protection, and refreshing influence, are called a shadow (Lam. iv :20; Ezek. xxxi :6 Sol. Song, ii :3 ; Ps. xci :1, and lxiii :7). (5) Christ and his Father are a shadow, because they govern, protect, and refresh persons and churches (Is. iv :6 ; xxv :4, and xxxii :2). (6) Make your shadow as the night, in the midst of noon; in the Jews' troubles protect and conceal them, ye Moab ites, to the utmost of your power (Is. xvi :3). (7) The evening, or time when shadows abound, is called the shadow ( Job vii :2). (8) The signs of approaching desolation and ruin are called shadows of the evening (Jer. vi :4). (9) Shadow also is put for any small appearance of a thing (James i :t7).