valley of the shadow of death

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

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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, Psalms 23:4:

     Yea though I walke through the valley of the shadowe of death, I will feare no euill: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staffe, they comfort me.

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

     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.

• valley of death

• vale of tears