נָגַהּ
𐤍𐤂𐤄
nâgahh
H5050 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shine, emit light, or radiate brightness; often used of celestial bodies or phenomena of illumination. In causative stems, to cause to shine, illumine, or brighten. Carries a range of senses including literal shining or glowing, figurative or symbolic illumination, and revelation by light.
Semantic Range
to shine, to glow, to emit rays, to illuminate, to cause to brighten, to reveal by shining, to radiate
Root / Etymology
Root נגה. The root נגה carries a core meaning of emitting light or shining. The verbal form נָגַהּ derives directly from this root, denoting the action or quality of shining or illuminating, either intransitively (to shine) or transitively (to give light, illuminate).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָגַהּ appears primarily in poetic and prophetic literature, often describing supernatural or celestial radiance, such as the shine of lightning, sunrise, or the radiance surrounding Israel's deity or angelic figures (cf. Ezekiel 10:4, Isaiah 60:3). The term can indicate not only physical brightness but also metaphorical illumination—such as clarity, hope, or deliverance. In pre-exilic and exilic texts, its use is largely metaphorical, reflecting experiences of divine revelation or victory. Post-exilic texts may employ it with increased symbolic associations with hope or restoration. Distinct from related terms such as אוֹר (ʾôr, 'light'), which frequently designates light as a substance or state, נָגַהּ emphasizes the process or effect of shining or illuminating. English translations like 'shine' or 'give light' often capture the basic sense but may obscure the distinction between the act of illumination and the condition or substance of light itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to glitter; causatively, to illuminate; (en-) lighten, (cause to) shine.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נגה (n-g-h) — to shine, emit light, radiate brightness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5051 | נֹגַהּ | the radiant brightness |
| H5052 | נֹגַהּ | and radiant brightness of |
| H5053 | נֹגַהּ | in the dawn-radiance |
| H5054 | נְגֹהָה | to radiances |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5050-02 |
יַגִּ֥יהַּ | yagiha | HVhi3ms |
will enlighten | he will cause to shine | 3 |
H5050-01 |
נָגַ֥הּ | nagah | HVqp3ms |
has shone | he shone | 2 |
H5050-03 |
יִ֝גַּ֗הּ | yigah | HVqi3ms |
shines | he shines | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5050-02 |
2 Samuel 22:29 | יַגִּ֥יהַּ | yagiha | HVhi3ms |
will enlighten | he will cause to shine |
H5050-01 |
Isaiah 9:1 | נָגַ֥הּ | nagah | HVqp3ms |
has shone | he shone |
H5050-02 |
Isaiah 13:10 | יַגִּ֥יהַ | yagiha | HVhi3ms |
will shed | he will cause to shine |
H5050-02 |
Psalms 18:29 | יַגִּ֥יהַּ | yagiha | HVhi3ms |
will enlighten | he will cause to shine |
H5050-03 |
Job 18:5 | יִ֝גַּ֗הּ | yigah | HVqi3ms |
shines | he shines |
H5050-01 |
Job 22:28 | נָ֣גַֽהּ | nagah | HVqp3ms |
will shine | he shone |