Lexical Summary or: shine, give light, light Original Word: אוֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break give, show light en set on fire, shine A primitive root; to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically) -- X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be or become light NASB Translation bright (1), brightened (2), dawned (1), enlighten (2), enlightened (1), enlightening (1), gave light (1), give (1), give light (5), given us light (1), gives light (2), illumine (1), illumines (1), kindle (1), light (5), lit (2), make a fire (1), make shine (1), resplendent (1), shed light (1), shine (9), shines (1), shone (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אוֺר]43 verb be or become light (compare Arabic  enkindle, Aramaic (Nasar.)  Aph`el illumine, & derivatives in Assyrian) — Qal Perfect אוֺר Genesis 44:3 + אֹ֫רוּ 1 Samuel 14:29; Imperfect3feminine plural וַתָּאֹרְנָה 1 Samuel 14:27 Qr; Participle אוֺר Proverbs 4:18 (Ges§ 72 R. 1) Imperative feminine singular א֫וֺרִי Isaiah 60:1; Proverbs 4:18; — become light, shine of sun (especially in early morning) Genesis 44:3 (J) 1 Samuel 29:10; Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 60:1; of eyes (owing to refreshment) 1 Samuel 14:27 (Qr) 29. Niph`al Imperfect וַיֵּאֹר 2 Samuel 2:32; Infinitive לֵאוֺר Job 33:30; Participle נָאוֺר Psalm 76:5 — become lighted up of day-break 2 Samuel 2:32; by light of life, revival Job 33:30; by light of glory, enveloped in light Psalm 76:5. Hiph`il Perfect וְהֵאִיר Exodus 25:37, etc.; Imperfect יָאִיר Job 41:24 +; יָאֵר Numbers 6:25 +; וַיָּ֫אֶר Psalm 118:27 +, etc.; Imperative הָאֵר Psalm 80:20 +, הָאִ֫ירָהPsalm 31:17 +; Infinitive הָאִיר Genesis 1:15 +; Participle מֵאִיר Proverbs 29:13; מְאִירַתPsalm 19:9; מְאִירוֺת Isaiah 27:11 — 1 give light, of sun, moon & stars Genesis 1:15,17 (P), of moon Isaiah 60:19; of pillar of fire (followed by ל) Exodus 13:21; Exodus 14:20 (both J E) Psalm 105:39; Nehemiah 9:12,19; of scared lamp Exodus 25:37; Numbers 8:2 (both P); figurative of the words of God Psalm 119:130. 2 light up, cause to shine, shine, followed by accusative הֵאִירוּ בְרָקִים תֵּבֵל lightnings lighted up the world Psalm 77:19; Psalm 97:4; absolute הָֹאָרֶץ הֵאִירָה מִכְּבֹדוֺ Ezekiel 43:2; the earth shined with his glory (of theophany); of leviathan, which makes path shine behind him Job 42:24; לַיְלָה כַּיּוֺם יָאִיר night shineth as day Psalm 139:12. 3 light a lamp Psalm 18:29; wood Isaiah 27:11; alter (-fire) Malachi 1:10. 4 lighten, of the eyes, הָאִיר עֵינַיִם, subject ׳י, his law, etc. Proverbs 29:13; Psalm 13:4; Psalm 19:9; Ezra 9:8. 5 make shine, of face of God מָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ ׳יָאֵר י Yahweh make his face shine upon thee Numbers 6:25 (priest's blessing), reappearing Psalm 31:17 (followed by עַלֿ), Psalm 67:2 (followed by אֶתֿ), Psalm 80:4; Psalm 80:8; Psalm 80:20; Psalm 119:135 (followed by ב), Daniel 9:17 compare Psalm 4:7; without מָּנִים (followed by ל) Psalm 118:27; once, of face of man, Ecclesiastes 8:1 מָּנָיו חָכְמַת אָדָם תָּאִיר the wisdom of a man lighteth up his face. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope Strong’s Hebrew 215 אוֹר is a verb denoting the action of giving, becoming, or causing light. Whether used literally for physical illumination or figuratively for favor, joy, and revelation, it always presents light as life-affirming, order-restoring, and God-revealing. Foundational Use in Creation The verb first appears in the account of Day Four: “let them be lights … to give light upon the earth” (Genesis 1:15; cf. 1:17). From the outset light is God’s gift to a darkened world, establishing the rhythm of days, seasons, and years and preparing the earth for human habitation. The purposeful shining of the heavenly bodies reflects the ordered goodness of the Creator. Cultic Use: Lampstand and Daily Worship In Exodus and Leviticus the verb frames priestly responsibility. Oil of pure olive was to be supplied “to keep the lamps burning continually” (Exodus 27:20; Leviticus 24:2). The perpetual light in the Holy Place attested that Israel’s God was always present and that fellowship with Him was never closed. The command also illustrates responsive obedience: God creates light; His people maintain it before Him. Covenantal Benediction and the Shining Face of God The High-Priestly Blessing pleads, “The LORD make His face shine upon you” (Numbers 6:25). Here אוֹר speaks of divine favor and relational warmth. Similar petitions appear in Psalm 31:16; 67:1; 80:3; 119:135 and Daniel 9:17, joining covenant mercy with the imagery of a radiant countenance. When God’s face shines, sin’s darkness recedes, and the covenant community flourishes. National and Prophetic Light Isaiah deploys the verb to herald restoration: “Arise, shine, for your light has come” (Isaiah 60:1). Zion, once desolate, becomes a beacon to the nations. Isaiah 58:8–10 links righteous conduct with dawning light, showing that social justice and compassionate living allow God’s glory to break forth “like the dawn.” Thus אוֹר undergirds prophetic hope, assuring Israel that divine illumination will overcome exile’s gloom. Personal Experience: Reviving the Eyes and Heart Jonathan’s taste of honey “brightened his eyes” (1 Samuel 14:27, 29). Ezra blesses God for granting “a little reviving … to give us a remnant and to enlighten our eyes” (Ezra 9:8). Job 33:30 celebrates rescue “to enlighten with the light of life.” Physical or spiritual fatigue is reversed when God causes the eyes, the body’s lamps, to shine again. Wisdom and Ethical Dimension Job 29:3 recalls days when God’s lamp “shone upon my head,” linking moral integrity with divine illumination. Proverbs 13:9 contrasts the rejoicing light of the righteous with the extinguished lamp of the wicked, while Psalm 97:11 declares, “Light is sown on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.” Ethical living and light are inseparable. Messianic and Eschatological Fulfillment Isaiah’s promise that Jerusalem will shine foreshadows the Messianic age when the Servant becomes “a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6; cf. 49:6). The eschaton culminates in a city that “has no need of the sun … for the glory of God gives it light” (Revelation 21:23), completing the trajectory begun in Genesis and sustained by every occurrence of אוֹר. Intertextual Trajectory into the New Covenant John applies the root to Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). Paul echoes Numbers and Psalms in “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). The Hebrew verb’s theology of divine shining finds its fullest expression in the incarnate Word. Ministry Implications 1. Worship: Maintain “lamps burning” through Scripture, prayer, and holiness, mirroring the Tabernacle charge. Select Canonical References Genesis 1:15, 17; Exodus 27:20; Leviticus 24:2; Numbers 6:25; Deuteronomy 33:2; 1 Samuel 14:27, 29; 2 Samuel 23:4; Ezra 9:8; Job 29:3; Job 33:30; Psalm 31:16; Psalm 67:1; Psalm 80:3; Psalm 97:11; Psalm 119:135; Proverbs 4:18; Proverbs 13:9; Isaiah 58:10; Isaiah 60:1; Daniel 9:17. Forms and Transliterations א֖וֹרִי אֹ֣רוּ אורי ארו הֵאִ֣ירוּ הֵאִ֥ירָה הָאִ֣ירָה הָאִ֥ירָה הָאֵ֣ר הָאֵ֥ר האירה האירו האר וְא֥וֹר וְהֵאִ֖יר וְהָאֵ֣ר וְהָאֵ֥ר וַיֵּאֹ֥ר וַיָּ֖אֶר וָ֝א֗וֹר ואור והאיר והאר ויאר יָ֤אֵ֥ר יָאִ֑יר יָאִ֖ירוּ יָאִ֗יר יָאִ֣יר יָאִ֥יר יָאֵ֨ר יאיר יאירו יאר לְהָאִ֖יר לְהָאִ֣יר לְהָאִ֤יר לְהָאִ֥יר לֵ֝א֗וֹר לאור להאיר מְאִיר֣וֹת מְאִירַ֥ת מֵ֤אִיר־ מאיר־ מאירות מאירת נָ֭אוֹר נאור תָּאִ֣יר תָאִ֥ירוּ תאיר תאירו ’ō·rū ’ō·w·rî ’ōrū ’ōwrî hā’êr hā’îrāh hā·’êr hā·’î·rāh haEr haIrah hê’îrāh hê’îrū hê·’î·rāh hê·’î·rū heIrah heIru lê’ōwr lê·’ō·wr lə·hā·’îr ləhā’îr lehaIr leor mê’îr- mə’îraṯ mə’îrōwṯ mə·’î·raṯ mə·’î·rō·wṯ mê·’îr- Meir meiRat meiRot nā’ōwr nā·’ō·wr Naor ori Oru tā’îr ṯā’îrū ṯā·’î·rū tā·’îr taIr taIru vaiYaer vaiyeOr vaor vehaEr veheIr veor wā’ōwr wā·’ō·wr way·yā·’er way·yê·’ōr wayyā’er wayyê’ōr wə’ōwr wə·’ō·wr wə·hā·’êr wə·hê·’îr wəhā’êr wəhê’îr yā’êr yā’îr yā’îrū yā·’êr yā·’î·rū yā·’îr yaEr yaIr yaIruLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:15 HEB: בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ NAS: of the heavens to give light on the earth; KJV: of the heaven to give light upon the earth: INT: the expanse of the heavens to give on the earth Genesis 1:17 Exodus 13:21 Exodus 14:20 Exodus 25:37 Numbers 6:25 Numbers 8:2 1 Samuel 14:29 1 Samuel 29:10 2 Samuel 2:32 Ezra 9:8 Nehemiah 9:12 Nehemiah 9:19 Job 33:30 Job 41:32 Psalm 13:3 Psalm 18:28 Psalm 19:8 Psalm 31:16 Psalm 67:1 Psalm 76:4 Psalm 77:18 Psalm 80:3 Psalm 80:7 Psalm 80:19 40 Occurrences |
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