Lexical Summary rega: Moment, instant, short time Original Word: רֶגַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance instant, moment, space, suddenly From raga'. A wink (of the eyes), i.e. A very short space of time -- instant, moment, space, suddenly. see HEBREW raga' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom raga Definition a moment NASB Translation instant (1), instantly (2), moment (14), momentary* (1), suddenly (3), while (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רֶ֫גַע noun masculine a moment (Late Hebrew id.;ᵑ7 ריגעא Ecclesiastes 9:12: probably properly a movement, i.e. twinkling, of the eye; compare momentum, i.e. movimentum); — absolute ׳ר, רָ֑נַע Numbers 16:21 +, plural רְגָעִים; — a. Psalm 30:6 בְּאַמּוֺ ׳ר a moment (passes) in his anger (opposed to חיים ברצונו); Isaiah 54:7 קָטֹן ׳בְּר during a little moment b. usually in adverb phrases: — (a) as adverb accusative, (a) Exodus 33:5 אֶהָד ׳ר for one moment, so ׳ר alone Isaiah 54:8; repeated Jeremiah 18:7,9 רֶגַע ֗֗֗ רֶגַע at another moment; . . . at another moment; (β) in a moment, suddenly, Psalm 6:11 יָשׁוּבוּ יֵבשׁוּ רָ֑גַע, Jeremiah 4:20; Isaiah 47:9; Job 34:20. (b) בְּרֶגַע in a moment Job 21:13 שְׁאוֺל יַחַ֫תּוּ ׳ובר (of a quick and painless death; but see Job 34:20; Psalm 73:19: Hoffm Buhl Baer Bu Du [compare ᵐ5 ἐν ἀναπαύσει, ᵑ7 בְּמַרְגּוֺעָא] take רֶגַע (or read רְגֹעַ) as substantive [√ II. רָגַע] in tranquility, of a peaceful death). So (c) ׳כְּר Numbers 16:21 = Numbers 17:10 וַאֲכַלֶּה אֶתֵכֶם כְּרָ֑גַע, Psalm 73:19. (d) ׳כְּמוֺ ר Lamentations 4:6. (e) עֲדֵי רָ֑גַע while a moment lasts Job 20:5. (f) ׳כִּמְעַט ר like the littleness of a moment = for a little moment Isaiah 26:20; Ezra 9:8. (g) plural לִרְגָעִים by moments, at every moment, Isaiah 27:8; Ezekiel 26:16 ׳וְחָֽרְדוּ ל (so Ezekiel 32:10), Job 7:18 ("" לִבְקָרִים). Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Hebrew רֶגַע (regaʿ) gathers the twenty-three Old-Testament occurrences that speak of a brief, decisive instant. Whether describing sudden judgment, passing wrath, or swift grace, the word highlights the Lord’s sovereign ability to act without warning and the corresponding human need for continual readiness. Literary Distribution • Pentateuch – Exodus 33:5; Numbers 16:21, 45 Moments of Divine Judgment In the wilderness the Lord warns Israel, “If I were to go up with you for a single moment, I would destroy you” (Exodus 33:5). The Korah rebellion receives the same threat (Numbers 16:21, 45). Prophets apply the motif to nations: Babylon will suffer widowhood and childlessness “in a moment” (Isaiah 47:9); Judah’s tents are “torn down in an instant” (Jeremiah 4:20); Sodom was “overthrown in an instant” (Lamentations 4:6). The word underscores that judgment may arrive without prior notice, demanding immediate repentance. Moments of Divine Mercy Regaʿ also celebrates how quickly God can reverse disaster. Ezra rejoices that “for a brief moment, grace has been shown” (Ezra 9:8). Twice Isaiah pairs temporary wrath with lasting compassion: “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back… In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:7-8). Psalm 30:5 balances suffering and hope: “His anger is but for a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.” Human Transience Wisdom texts deploy רֶגַע to expose the fleeting nature of earthly success. “The triumph of the wicked has been brief” (Job 20:5). A lying tongue lasts “only a moment” (Proverbs 12:19). “They die in an instant” (Job 34:20). Even the boast of enemies collapses “in sudden disgrace” (Psalm 6:10). The term thus contrasts human frailty with God’s enduring truth. Continuous Divine Care In a striking reversal, Isaiah 27:3 pictures the Lord watering His vineyard “continuously” (literally, “every moment”), revealing that the same God who judges in an instant also guards His people without pause. Theological Synthesis 1. Suddenness of Judgment – No one can presume upon tomorrow (Numbers 16:21; Isaiah 47:9). Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Preach urgency: salvation can be embraced “in a moment” (cf. Romans 10:9–10). Eschatological and Christological Insight The Old-Testament regaʿ anticipates the New-Testament promise that resurrection and final transformation will occur “in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). The swift but measured wrath borne by the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 54:7-8) finds its fulfillment at the cross, where judgment fell in hours yet secured everlasting compassion. Thus רֶגַע becomes a lens through which the suddenness of both judgment and salvation is finally and fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations אַ֝רְגִּ֗יעָה ארגיעה בְּרֶ֥גַע ברגע וְרֶ֣גַע וּ֝בְרֶ֗גַע וברגע ורגע כְּרָ֑גַע כְּרָֽגַע׃ כְרָ֑גַע כרגע כרגע׃ לִ֝רְגָעִ֗ים לִרְגָעִ֔ים לִרְגָעִ֖ים לִרְגָעִים֙ לרגעים רֶ֖גַע רֶ֙גַע֙ רֶ֛גַע רֶ֣גַע רֶ֤גַע ׀ רֶ֧גַע רֶ֨גַע ׀ רֶגַע֩ רָ֔גַע רָֽגַע׃ רגע רגע׃ ’ar·gî·‘āh ’argî‘āh arGiah bə·re·ḡa‘ beRega bəreḡa‘ cheRaga kə·rā·ḡa‘ ḵə·rā·ḡa‘ keRaga kərāḡa‘ ḵərāḡa‘ lir·ḡā·‘îm lirḡā‘îm lirgaIm rā·ḡa‘ Raga rāḡa‘ re·ḡa‘ Rega reḡa‘ ū·ḇə·re·ḡa‘ ūḇəreḡa‘ uveRega veRega wə·re·ḡa‘ wəreḡa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 33:5 HEB: קְשֵׁה־ עֹ֔רֶף רֶ֧גַע אֶחָ֛ד אֶֽעֱלֶ֥ה NAS: for one moment, I would destroy KJV: of thee in a moment, and consume INT: churlish stiff-necked moment one go Numbers 16:21 Numbers 16:45 Ezra 9:8 Job 7:18 Job 20:5 Job 21:13 Job 34:20 Psalm 6:10 Psalm 30:5 Psalm 73:19 Proverbs 12:19 Isaiah 26:20 Isaiah 27:3 Isaiah 47:9 Isaiah 54:7 Isaiah 54:8 Jeremiah 4:20 Jeremiah 18:7 Jeremiah 18:9 Lamentations 4:6 Ezekiel 26:16 Ezekiel 32:10 23 Occurrences |
    |