αἴνιγμα

From the study of 1 Corinthians 13:12

Range of meaning

A riddle, an obscure or allusive saying, something said or shown indirectly so that its meaning must be worked out. It comes from ainissomai, 'to speak in hints'. It is used of the Sphinx's riddle, of oracles, of dark sayings and parables. It describes a way of communicating (indirect, coded), not a level of light.

Against the English

The KJV's 'darkly' (from the Latin and Tyndale tradition) is now heard as 'gloomily' or 'in shadow'. BSB, ESV, NASB and WEB use 'dimly' / 'dim reflection', which makes the problem poor visibility. NLT's 'puzzling reflections' comes closest to the riddle idea. YLT's 'obscurely' is also close.

How it drifted

Early modern 'darkly' meant 'obscurely, not plainly' (compare 'dark sayings'). Over time English 'dark' shifted toward mood and menace, so the line now sounds melancholy or ominous.

Used elsewhere in the period

Numbers 12:8 in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX): God speaks to Moses 'mouth to mouth, in form and not through riddles (ou di' ainigmatōn), and he saw the glory of the Lord.' The LXX also uses ainigma for Hebrew ḥîdâ, 'riddle, dark saying' (Proverbs 1:6; Sirach 39:3; the Queen of Sheba's 'hard questions', 3 Kingdoms 10:1). In classical Greek it is used for oracles and riddles (e.g. Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus). Philo uses the Moses passage to contrast clear vision of God with knowledge through riddles.