נֹגַהּ
𐤍𐤂𐤄
nôgahh
H5051 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Nōgahh primarily denotes radiant brightness or luminous splendor, often used to describe impressive or dazzling natural phenomena such as sunlight, morning light, or gleaming celestial bodies. Its semantic range includes literal brightness (especially light that is intense or awe-inspiring), the shining of dawn, the gleam of precious metals, and, when used figuratively, a radiant or splendid quality—typically visual brilliance rather than metaphorical enlightenment.
Semantic Range
intense brightness, shining radiance, gleaming (of dawn, sun, or precious metals), dazzling light, figurative splendid brilliance, (rare) visible manifestation of radiant quality
Root / Etymology
The word derives from the verb נָגַהּ (nāgah), meaning 'to shine' or 'emit a bright light.' Nōgahh is a noun formation from this root, characteristically denoting the quality or condition of brilliance or bright shining.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, nōgahh is used to describe visually overwhelming light or brilliance, as in the descriptions of dawn or celestial radiance (Isaiah 4:5, Ezekiel 10:4, Habakkuk 3:4). The term is typically a poetic or elevated word choice, distinguished from more common terms for light such as אוֹר (ʾôr, 'light' as illumination) or זוֹהַר (zohar, 'splendor, brightness'). Nōgahh tends to emphasize the dazzling, piercing quality of light and is most often found in poetic or prophetic contexts, associated with divine or awe-inspiring phenomena. Unlike later English translations that sometimes render the term as generic 'brightness,' the original use was more specific, frequently connected to visually intense, almost numinous radiance. In later biblical Hebrew and Second Temple literature, the word retains this elevated sense, often in descriptions of heavenly or theophanic light. The term's use is distinct from later Jewish or Christian theological terms for spiritual enlightenment. There is no evidence for significant semantic shift through the biblical periods, but the sphere of reference may expand in poetic literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָגַהּ; brilliancy (literally or figuratively); bright(-ness), light, (clear) shining.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נגה (n-g-h) — to shine, emit light, radiate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5050 | נָגַהּ | he shone |
| H5052 | נֹגַהּ | and radiant brightness of |
| H5053 | נֹגַהּ | in the dawn-radiance |
| H5054 | נְגֹהָה | to radiances |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5051-08 |
וְ/נֹ֛גַהּ | venogah | HC/Ncfsc |
and brightness | and radiant brightness of | and radiant brightness | 5 |
H5051-06 |
נֹ֨גַהּ֙ | nogah | HNcfsa |
brightness | radiant brightness | radiant brightness | 4 |
H5051-04 |
מִ/נֹּ֖גַהּ | minogah | HR/Ncfsa |
from the brightness | from radiant brightness | from radiant brightness | 3 |
H5051-05 |
נָגְהָֽ/ם | nageham | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their shining | their radiant brightness | their radiance | 2 |
H5051-03 |
לְ/נֹ֥גַהּ | lenogah | HR/Ncfsc |
to the brightness | to radiant brightness of | to the brightness | 2 |
H5051-07 |
וּ/לְ/נֹ֕גַהּ | ulenogah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and for brightness | and to radiant brightness | and for brightness | 1 |
H5051-02 |
כַ/נֹּ֨גַהּ֙ | khanogah | HRd/Ncfsa |
as brightness | as radiant brilliance | as radiant brilliance | 1 |
H5051-01 |
הַ/נֹּ֨גַהּ֙ | hanogah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-the-brightness | the radiant brightness | of the brightness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
19 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5051-04 |
2 Samuel 22:13 | מִ/נֹּ֖גַהּ | minogah | HR/Ncfsa |
from the brightness | from radiant brightness | from radiant brightness |
H5051-04 |
2 Samuel 23:4 | מִ/נֹּ֥גַהּ | minogah | HR/Ncfsa |
from brightness | from radiant brightness | from radiant brightness |
H5051-08 |
Isaiah 4:5 | וְ/נֹ֛גַהּ | venogah | HC/Ncfsc |
and the shining | and radiant brightness of | and the shining of |
H5051-06 |
Isaiah 50:10 | נֹ֨גַהּ֙ | nogah | HNcfsa |
light | radiant brightness | brightness |
H5051-03 |
Isaiah 60:3 | לְ/נֹ֥גַהּ | lenogah | HR/Ncfsc |
to the brightness | to radiant brightness of | to the brightness |
H5051-07 |
Isaiah 60:19 | וּ/לְ/נֹ֕גַהּ | ulenogah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and for brightness | and to radiant brightness | and for brightness |
H5051-02 |
Isaiah 62:1 | כַ/נֹּ֨גַהּ֙ | khanogah | HRd/Ncfsa |
as brightness | as radiant brilliance | as radiant brilliance |
H5051-08 |
Ezekiel 1:4 | וְ/נֹ֥גַֽהּ | venogah | HC/Ncfsa |
and brightness | and radiant brightness of | and radiant brightness |
H5051-08 |
Ezekiel 1:13 | וְ/נֹ֣גַהּ | venogah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-brightness | and radiant brightness of | and radiant brightness |
H5051-08 |
Ezekiel 1:27 | וְ/נֹ֥גַֽהּ | venogah | HC/Ncfsa |
and brightness | and radiant brightness of | and radiant brightness |