Original Word: בָּרַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: baraq
Pronunciation: bah-RAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-rak')
KJV: cast forth
NASB: flash forth
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to lighten (lightning)

cast forth

A primitive root; to lighten (lightning) -- cast forth.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to flash (of lightning)
NASB Translation
flash forth (1).

בָּרַק verb flash, of lightning (Arabic gleam, flash, lighten, Assyrian barâ‡y Zim^{BP 76}, Aramaic בְּרַק , Ethiopic Sabean ברק Hal²⁵² compare DHM^{ZMG 1875, 597}) —

Qal Perfect בָּרַק so read after ᵐ5^L 2 Samuel 22:15 & also in "" Psalm 18:15 (compare Klo Che critical note); Imperative בְּרֹק Psalm 144:6; — all with accusative of congnate meaning with verb בָּרָק, בְּרָקִים; — flash, transitive flash lightning, subject ׳י.

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 1299 בָּרַק is a rare verb that pictures a sudden, dazzling discharge of light—lightning flung from the heavenly arsenal. Its lone appearance in the Old Testament (Psalm 144:6) is enough to anchor a rich cluster of theological themes: divine warfare, God’s sovereignty over nature, the terror of judgment, and the comfort of covenant protection.

Biblical Occurrence

Psalm 144:6 “Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.”

Here David pleads for a theophany comparable to Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16) or the conquest narratives (Joshua 10:10-11). The psalmist depicts enemies as powerless before the Lord’s split-second intervention. Though the verb appears only here, the imagery is echoed throughout Scripture (Psalm 18:14; Psalm 97:4; Job 36:32; Ezekiel 1:14), showing that the single usage stands within a unified biblical motif.

Divine Warrior Imagery

Lightning in the Ancient Near East was commonly associated with storm-gods, yet Scripture consistently redirects that awe to Yahweh alone. In Psalm 144 David petitions the Lord to hurl lightning like javelins. This frames the covenant God as Israel’s Champion, transcending pagan mythology and asserting exclusive dominion (Deuteronomy 32:39-43).

Revelation of Holiness and Majesty

Lightning manifests a holiness that is both attractive and terrifying. At Sinai the “lightning, thunder, and a thick cloud” (Exodus 19:16) underscored the moral purity of the Lawgiver. Psalm 97:4 later links lightning to the revelation of God’s righteousness—flashes that “light up the world” expose evil and illuminate truth simultaneously.

Judgment and Deliverance

When lightning issues from the divine hand it simultaneously judges foes and rescues the faithful. Psalm 144:6 compresses those twin purposes into a single petition: scatter the oppressors, secure the covenant people. The same dynamic appears in Joshua 10:10-11, where bolts from heaven decimate the Amorites, guaranteeing Israel’s victory. Such scenes foreshadow eschatological judgment when “lightning flashes in the east and is seen even to the west” (Matthew 24:27), heralding the Son of Man.

Christological Dimension

The Gospels often employ lightning metaphors for Christ’s return (Matthew 24:27; Luke 17:24). Psalm 144, therefore, functions as a prophetic whisper: the Messiah will vindicate His own with irresistible power. Revelation 4:5 portrays “flashes of lightning” proceeding from God’s throne, affirming that the risen Christ shares in the Father’s majestic prerogatives.

Worship and Prayer

David’s plea models bold intercession. Worshipers today, facing spiritual opposition, may echo Psalm 144:6, confident that God still “makes darkness His hiding place” and hurls lightning in response to prayer (Psalm 18:11-14). This shapes congregational worship that is both reverent and expectant.

Pastoral and Practical Application

1. Spiritual Warfare: Remind believers that ultimate victory rests in God’s dramatic interventions, not human strategy (2 Corinthians 10:4).
2. Assurance: Encourage the discouraged by portraying God’s readiness to act suddenly on behalf of His people (Isaiah 64:1).
3. Evangelism: Use lightning imagery to warn of swift judgment while offering refuge in Christ (John 3:18-21).
4. Holiness: The brilliance of divine lightning exposes sin; pastors can call for repentance in light of God’s penetrating gaze (Hebrews 4:13).

Conclusion

Though בָּרַק appears only once as a verb, its theological reverberations are unmistakable. It draws together threads of covenant loyalty, divine supremacy, eschatological hope, and practical confidence. In the blink of a lightning flash, Psalm 144:6 unveils a God who is both warrior and refuge, whose sudden interventions secure the destiny of all who trust Him.

בְּר֣וֹק ברוק bə·rō·wq beRok bərōwqInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts