3974. maor
Lexical Summary
maor: Light, luminary

Original Word: מָאוֹר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma'owr
Pronunciation: mah-OR
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-ore')
KJV: bright, light
NASB: light, lights, lighting, bright, shining
Word Origin: [from H215 (אוֹר - shine)]

1. (properly) a luminous body or luminary
2. (abstractly) light (as an element)
3. (figuratively) brightness, i.e.cheerfulness
4. (specifically) a chandelier

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bright, light

Or maor {maw-ore'}; also (in plural) feminine mpowrah {meh-o-raw'}; or morah {meh-o-raw'}; from 'owr; properly, a luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element): figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness; specifically, a chandelier -- bright, light.

see HEBREW 'owr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from or
Definition
a luminary
NASB Translation
bright (1), light (12), lighting (2), lights (3), shining (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מָאוֺר noun masculine luminary — absolute Genesis 1:16 +; construct מְאוֺר Proverbs 15:30 +; plural מְאוֺרֹת Genesis 1:15; מְאֹרֹת Genesis 1:14; Genesis 1:16; construct מְאוֺרֵי Ezekiel 32:8light, light-bearer, luminary, lamp, of sun & moon Genesis 1:14,15,16 (3 t. in verse) (P) Ezekiel 32:8; moon Psalm 74:16; מְנֹרַת הַמָּאוֺר the lamp-stand of the luminary or light (where ׳הַמּ is sum of seven sacred lamps on golden lamp-stand) Exodus 35:14 (twice in verse); Exodus 35:28; Exodus 39:37; Numbers 4:9,16, compare Exodus 25:6; Exodus 27:20; Exodus 35:8; Leviticus 24:2 (all P); מְאוֺרעֵֿינַיִם יְשַׂמַּחלֵֿב֑ Proverbs 15:30 the luminary of the eyes (= the eyes as a lamp) gives the light of joy to the heart; מְאוֺר מָּנֶיךָ Psalm 90:8 the luminary of thy face (thy face as a lamp) in the light of which the secrets are exposed.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope

מָאוֹר (ma’or) designates a light-bearing object or the light it emits. The word embraces the heavenly luminaries, the artificial lamps of Israel’s worship, and metaphorically the inner and outward brightness that proceeds from God.

Occurrences in Scripture

Genesis 1:14–16 introduces the term three times for the sun and moon, “the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night”. From that initial creative act the word reappears chiefly in two clusters: the tabernacle materials lists (Exodus 25–40; Leviticus 24; Numbers 4) and the poetic or prophetic books (Psalms, Proverbs, Ezekiel). These contexts trace a movement from cosmic order, to covenant worship, to moral and eschatological light.

Cosmic Foundation

In Genesis 1 the ma’or establishes the rhythm of “signs, seasons, days, and years.” The lights are servants of the Creator, not objects of worship, anchoring Israel’s resistance to the astral religions of the surrounding nations. Their ordered governance bears witness to the reliability of God’s covenant dealings (cf. Jeremiah 31:35 where the fixed patterns of sun and moon underwrite God’s oath to Israel).

Covenant Worship and the Lampstand

Exodus 25:6; 27:20; 35:8, 14, 28; 39:37; and Leviticus 24:2 link ma’or with the pure beaten olive oil that feeds the golden lampstand. The perpetual flame mirrored the heavenly lights inside the sanctuary, declaring that the God who set the sun in the sky also dwelt among His people. Numbers 4:9, 16 assigns the care of this “light” to the Kohathites, highlighting priestly stewardship over divine illumination.

Moral and Personal Illumination

Proverbs 15:30 applies the word to human countenance: “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart”. Psalm 90:8 moves from face to conscience: “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” Here ma’or discloses the holiness that exposes sin and the grace that invites repentance.

National and Cosmic Judgment

Psalm 74:16 affirms God’s ownership of day and night, while Ezekiel 32:8 threatens Egypt, “All the shining lights of heaven I will darken over you”. The same word that signals blessing may portend judgment when nations resist the Creator.

Christological Foreshadowing

The Genesis lights presage the coming of “the true Light which gives light to every man” (John 1:9). The tabernacle lampstand, fashioned of one beaten piece, anticipates the unity of Christ and His Church (Revelation 1:12–13, 20). As the menorah reflected and intensified oil-fed fire, so the incarnate Son radiates the glory of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Worship: Faithful proclamation and sacramental life must keep the “lamp of God” burning (compare 1 Samuel 3:3) by the continual supply of the Spirit.
2. Discipleship: Believers are called “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8); living ma’or-lives dispels cultural darkness.
3. Mission: Just as the Genesis lights govern time, the Church orders its calendar—Lord’s Day, feasts, and fasts—around the redemptive light of Christ.
4. Pastoral Care: Proverbs 15:30 encourages cultivating a radiant countenance grounded in gospel hope, strengthening the hearts of the flock.

Eschatological Consummation

Revelation culminates the theme when “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light” (Revelation 21:23). The created ma’or of Genesis yields to the uncreated Light, securing the promise that “night will be no more” (Revelation 22:5).

Summary

מָאוֹר traverses Scripture from the first dawn to the everlasting day. Whether marking time, illuminating worship, exposing sin, or heralding judgment and salvation, it consistently points back to the character of the God who is light and in whom is no darkness at all.

Forms and Transliterations
הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַמָּא֛וֹר הַמָּא֤וֹר הַמָּאֽוֹר׃ הַמָּאוֹר֙ המאור המאור׃ המארת לְמָא֕וֹר לִמְא֥וֹר לִמְאוֹרֹת֙ לַמָּא֑וֹר לַמָּאֹ֑ר למאור למאורת למאר מְֽאוֹר־ מְא֤וֹרֵי מְאֹרֹת֙ מָא֥וֹר מאור מאור־ מאורי מארת ham·mā·’ō·wr ham·mə·’ō·rōṯ hammā’ōwr hammaor hammə’ōrōṯ hammeoRot lam·mā·’ō·wr lam·mā·’ōr lammā’ōr lammā’ōwr lammaOr lə·mā·’ō·wr ləmā’ōwr lemaor lim’ōwr lim’ōwrōṯ lim·’ō·w·rōṯ lim·’ō·wr limor limoRot mā’ōwr mā·’ō·wr maor mə’ōrōṯ mə’ōwr- mə’ōwrê mə·’ō·rōṯ mə·’ō·w·rê mə·’ō·wr- meor meorei meoRot
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 1:14
HEB: אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
NAS: said, Let there be lights in the expanse
KJV: said, Let there be lights in the firmament
INT: God become Let there be lights the expanse of the heavens

Genesis 1:15
HEB: וְהָי֤וּ לִמְאוֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
NAS: and let them be for lights in the expanse
KJV: And let them be for lights in the firmament
INT: them be for lights the expanse of the heavens

Genesis 1:16
HEB: אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת־
NAS: great lights, the greater
KJV: two great lights; the greater light
INT: God the two lights great light

Genesis 1:16
HEB: הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת־ הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת
NAS: the greater light to govern
KJV: the greater light to rule
INT: lights great light the greater to govern

Genesis 1:16
HEB: הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־ הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת
NAS: and the lesser light to govern
KJV: and the lesser light to rule
INT: to govern the day light and the lesser to govern

Exodus 25:6
HEB: שֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּאֹ֑ר בְּשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן
NAS: oil for lighting, spices
KJV: Oil for the light, spices
INT: oil lighting spices oil

Exodus 27:20
HEB: זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר
NAS: olives for the light, to make a lamp
KJV: beaten for the light, to cause the lamp
INT: clear of beaten the light burn A lamp

Exodus 35:8
HEB: וְשֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּא֑וֹר וּבְשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן
NAS: and oil for lighting, and spices
KJV: And oil for the light, and spices
INT: and oil lighting and spices oil

Exodus 35:14
HEB: וְאֶת־ מְנֹרַ֧ת הַמָּא֛וֹר וְאֶת־ כֵּלֶ֖יהָ
NAS: the lampstand also for the light and its utensils
KJV: The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture,
INT: the lampstand the light utensils lamps

Exodus 35:14
HEB: וְאֵ֖ת שֶׁ֥מֶן הַמָּאֽוֹר׃
NAS: and the oil for the light;
KJV: with the oil for the light,
INT: lamps and the oil the light

Exodus 35:28
HEB: וְאֶת־ הַשָּׁ֑מֶן לְמָא֕וֹר וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה
NAS: and the oil for the light and for the anointing
KJV: and oil for the light, and for the anointing
INT: and the spice and the oil the light oil the anointing

Exodus 39:37
HEB: וְאֵ֖ת שֶׁ֥מֶן הַמָּאֽוֹר׃
NAS: and the oil for the light;
KJV: thereof, and the oil for light,
INT: utensils and the oil the light

Leviticus 24:2
HEB: זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר
NAS: olives for the light, to make a lamp
KJV: beaten for the light, to cause the lamps
INT: clear beaten the light burn A lamp

Numbers 4:9
HEB: אֶת־ מְנֹרַ֤ת הַמָּאוֹר֙ וְאֶת־ נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ
NAS: the lampstand for the light, along with its lamps
KJV: the candlestick of the light, and his lamps,
INT: and cover the lampstand the light lamps snuffers

Numbers 4:16
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֗ן שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמָּאוֹר֙ וּקְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֔ים
NAS: is the oil for the light and the fragrant
KJV: [pertaineth] the oil for the light, and the sweet
INT: the priest is the oil the light incense and the fragrant

Psalm 74:16
HEB: אַתָּ֥ה הֲ֝כִינ֗וֹתָ מָא֥וֹר וָשָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
NAS: You have prepared the light and the sun.
KJV: also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
INT: You have prepared the light and the sun

Psalm 90:8
HEB: לְנֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ עֲ֝לֻמֵ֗נוּ לִמְא֥וֹר פָּנֶֽיךָ׃
NAS: You, Our secret [sins] in the light of Your presence.
KJV: before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.
INT: before our secret the light of your presence

Proverbs 15:30
HEB: מְֽאוֹר־ עֵ֭ינַיִם יְשַׂמַּֽח־
NAS: Bright eyes gladden
KJV: The light of the eyes rejoiceth
INT: Bright eyes gladden

Ezekiel 32:8
HEB: כָּל־ מְא֤וֹרֵי אוֹר֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם
NAS: All the shining lights in the heavens
KJV: All the bright lights of heaven
INT: All the shining lights the heavens

19 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3974
19 Occurrences


ham·mā·’ō·wr — 7 Occ.
ham·mə·’ō·rōṯ — 1 Occ.
lam·mā·’ōr — 4 Occ.
lə·mā·’ō·wr — 1 Occ.
lim·’ō·wr — 1 Occ.
lim·’ō·w·rōṯ — 1 Occ.
mā·’ō·wr — 1 Occ.
mə·’ō·wr- — 1 Occ.
mə·’ō·w·rê — 1 Occ.
mə·’ō·rōṯ — 1 Occ.

3973
Top of Page
Top of Page