mach.shakh marks a dark condition or setting, including concealed deeds, distressed dwelling, and dark places.

The occurrences present mach.shakh as a dark condition or setting: deeds are concealed there in Isaiah 29:15, it is changed into light in Isaiah 42:16, people are made to dwell there in Lamentations 3:6 and Psalm 143:3, and it describes places in Psalm 74:20.

1. Dark condition, setting, or concealment · dominant

   In Isaiah 29:15, the singular absolute form occurs where deeds are concealed and the speakers ask who can see or know them; in Isaiah 42:16, the same singular form is placed before those led and is made into light. The plural absolute forms describe being made to dwell in this condition in Lamentations 3:6 and Psalm 143:3; the plural construct form describes the land’s dark places in Psalm 74:20. Psalm 88:7 also has a plural absolute form, though the APB rendering of that verse does not visibly isolate its contribution.

   Isaiah 29:15Isaiah 42:16Lamentations 3:6Psalm 143:3Psalm 74:20Psalm 88:7

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB explicitly renders the surrounding clauses with “darkness” in Isaiah 29:15, Isaiah 42:16, Lamentations 3:6, and Psalm 143:3, and with “dark places” in Psalm 74:20. In Psalm 88:7, the supplied APB does not include a corresponding visible English expression, so its specific rendering remains unclear in this translation.