Dark (850) (auchmeros from auchmós = drought produced by excessive heat, dust as in a place where water is evaporated by drought) means dry, without rain parched. The idea is obscure or murky (murky = characterized by a heavy dimness or obscurity caused by or like that caused by overhanging fog or smoke), dismal, dark, squalid (squalid = marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty and implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness). Auchmeros pertains to being not only dark, but also dirty and miserable Auchmeros is used only here in the NT and is not found in the Septuagint (LXX). Auchmeros does not imply absolute darkness, but that which is dingy, dirty, dusty and filthy as a result of neglect. Dirty things are things devoid of brightness. The light of the (prophetic) lamp exposes the squalid state of the spiritually dark world. The New Testament writers records that... the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (or overcome) it. (John 1:5) "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19, 20, 21) (Jesus instructed Paul to take the Word of the Gospel to the Gentiles) "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." (Acts 26:18) (Paul explained to the Colossians that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Living Word) "delivered us from the domain (authority and power) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son," (Colossians 1:13-note) Peter does not specifically identify the "dark place" and commentators have advanced several interpretations. It seems most natural however to view this dark place as the world as it presently exists. The NT frequently refers to the present darkness of this world as shown in these passages... (Paul explains that) our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12-note) (Paul explains to the saints at Thessalonica that) "you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness" (1Th 5:4ff-note) (John explains that) On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. (1Jn 2:8) To summarize, Peter is almost certainly using "dark place" as a metaphor to describe this corrupt world system. However "advanced" our secular civilization becomes, this world in its willful rebellion to God (Whose essence is Light), lies in the darkness of sin, ignorance, despair and death which keeps people from seeing God's truth until His light shines into their hearts. Vincent on a dark place... A peculiar expression. Lit., a dry place. Only here in New Testament. Rev. gives squalid, in margin. Aristotle opposes it to bright or glistering. It is a subtle association of the idea of darkness with squalor, dryness, and general neglect. Wiersbe adds that the Greek word auchmeros... "is the picture of a dank cellar or a dismal swamp. Human history began in a lovely Garden, but that Garden today is a murky swamp. What you see when you look at this world system is an indication of the spiritual condition of your heart. We still see beauty in God’s creation, but we see no beauty in what mankind is doing with God’s creation. Peter did not see this world as a Garden of Eden, nor should we."