Original Word: נְהִיר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nhiyr
Pronunciation: neh-HEER
Phonetic Spelling: (neh-heere')
KJV: light
Word Origin: [from the same as H5105 (נְהָרָה - light)]

1. illumination, i.e. (figuratively) wisdom

light

(Aramaic) or nehiyruw (Aramaic) {neh-hee-roo'}; from the same as nharah; illumination, i.e. (figuratively) wisdom -- light.

see HEBREW nharah

[נְהִיר, נְהוֺר] noun masculine light (ᵑ7 נְהוֺרָא, Syriac ; see Biblical Hebrew II. נהר); — emphatic נהירא Kt, < נְהוֺרָא Qr (compare ᵑ7 Syriac; Nö^{LCB 1896, 703}) Daniel 2:22.

נַהִירוּ (K^{§§ 16. 5; 61, 4}) noun feminine illumination, insight (Syriac id.); — absolute Daniel 5:11,14 (both + שָׂכְלְתָנוּ, חָכְמָה).

Biblical Setting and Occurrences

The noun appears only in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Daniel 2:22; 5:11; 5:14). In each context it is closely associated with the divine gift of wisdom and revelation granted to Daniel. The word is never used of ordinary daylight; it always functions theologically, pointing to the supernatural “light” that pierces human ignorance.

Daniel 2:22 – Light as the Property of God

“He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him”. Here the term emphasizes that true illumination belongs inherently to God. Daniel’s praise frames divine light as both an epistemological and moral category: God not only discloses facts but also exposes the darkness of human and demonic realms.

Daniel 5:11, 14 – Light Transferred to God’s Servant

In the downfall narrative of Belshazzar, the queen and the king alike testify that “in Daniel there is a spirit of the holy gods, and in him was found illumination, insight, and wisdom” (paraphrasing 5:11; cf. 5:14). The royal court recognizes that the same light resident in God has been deposited in Daniel, validating his prophetic authority. This transfer vindicates Daniel’s earlier prayer in chapter 2 and models the principle that God equips faithful servants to confront corrupt power structures.

Theological Significance

1. Revelation: The term underscores that knowledge of divine mysteries is granted, not achieved. Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams and inscriptions flows from the light bestowed by God, prefiguring the apostolic conviction that “those who were once darkness are now light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8).
2. Holiness and Separation: In Daniel 5 the light distinguishes Daniel from the pagan magicians. The book’s Aramaic audience—exiles living among idolatrous nations—would have found both comfort and challenge in this portrayal.
3. Eschatological Hope: Daniel anticipates a climactic victory of light over darkness (Daniel 12:3). The limited occurrences of the term subtly point forward to the fuller revelation of the Light in the person of Jesus Christ (John 8:12).

Historical Context

Nebuchadnezzar’s and Belshazzar’s courts were saturated with Babylonian astrology and divination. By attributing true light to the God of Israel, the author confronts imperial ideology. Within the broader Ancient Near Eastern milieu, kings claimed divine illumination; Daniel overturns that claim by demonstrating that such light is mediated exclusively through the covenant God.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

• Prayer for Illumination: Daniel 2 models intercessory dependence before God imparts light. Christian teachers and students of Scripture continue this pattern, seeking the Spirit’s enlightenment (1 Corinthians 2:12).
• Integrity in Public Witness: Like Daniel, believers in secular vocations can display God-given light through wisdom, excellence, and courage (Matthew 5:14–16).
• Encouragement in Exile: The diaspora church can draw hope from God’s ability to shine in hostile environments, assuring that political darkness cannot extinguish divine light (John 1:5).

Intertextual Connections

Though distinct from the Hebrew אֹור, the Aramaic noun sits comfortably within the broader biblical motif of light: creation light (Genesis 1:3), covenant light (Psalm 27:1), prophetic light (Isaiah 60:1–3), and messianic light (Luke 2:32). Daniel’s limited yet potent usage weaves the exile narrative into this redemptive thread, reinforcing the unity of Scripture.

Summary

The term encapsulates God’s self-disclosing brilliance, granted selectively to His servants for the blessing of the nations and the exposure of darkness. Its placement in Daniel both grounds the exilic community in divine sovereignty and foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God’s light in the gospel.

וְנַהִיר֧וּ וּנְהֹורָ֖א ונהורא ונהירו נַהִיר֧וּ נהירו na·hî·rū nahiRu nahîrū ū·nə·hō·w·rā unehoRa ūnəhōwrā venahiRu wə·na·hî·rū wənahîrūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts