5051. nogah
Lexical Summary
nogah: Brightness, radiance, light, splendor

Original Word: נֹגַהּ
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: nogahh
Pronunciation: NO-gah
Phonetic Spelling: (no'-gah)
KJV: bright(-ness), light, (clear) shining
NASB: brightness, radiance, bright, bright light, dawn, light, sunshine
Word Origin: [from H5050 (נָגַהּ - illumines)]

1. brilliancy (literally or figuratively)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
brightness, light, clear shining

From nagahh; brilliancy (literally or figuratively) -- bright(-ness), light, (clear) shining.

see HEBREW nagahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from nagah
Definition
brightness
NASB Translation
bright (1), bright light (1), brightness (10), dawn (1), light (1), radiance (4), sunshine (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. נֹ֫גַהּ noun feminineHabakkuk 3:4 brightness; — ׳נ absolute Amos 5:10 +; construct Isaiah 4:5 +; suffix נָגְהָם Joel 2:10; Joel 4:15; — brightness of a (clear, sunshiny) day Amos 5:10 ("" אוֺר; opposed to אָפֵל, חשֶׁךְ), 2 Samuel 23:4 (מִמָּטָר after rain); so figurative of Zion's dawning, זַרְחֵךְ ׳נ Isaiah 60:3 ("" אוֺר); of her righteousness כַּנֹּגַהּ Isaiah 62:1 (with article only here and Ezekiel 1:28), "" כְּלַמִּיד יִבְעָ֑ר; of moon Isaiah 60:19, of stars Joel 2:10; Joel 4:15; of theophany 2 Samuel 22:13 = Psalm 18:13 (in storm); compare Ezekiel 1:4,27,28, ׳כְּבוֺד י ׳נ Ezekiel 10:4; כאור ׳נ Habakkuk 3:4; לָאֵשׁ ׳נ Ezekiel 1:13, אֵשׁ לֶהָבָה ׳נ Isaiah 4:5; בְּרַק ׳נ חֲנִיתֶ֑ךָ Habakkuk 3:11 (of glitter of ׳יs spear; "" אוֺר חִצֶּיךָ); of individual, לוֺ ׳וְאֵין נ Isaiah 50:10 (figurative of distress "" חֲשֵׁכִים); so ׳וְאֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֺר נ Proverbs 4:18 the path of righteous men is like a light of brightness.

Topical Lexicon
Brightness as a Signature of Yahweh’s Presence

Across the Old Testament, נֹגַהּ marks the effulgence that surrounds the Lord when He manifests Himself. David sings, “Out of the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth” (2 Samuel 22:13; Psalm 18:12), identifying the blinding radiance that envelops the Divine Warrior. Ezekiel’s inaugural vision multiplies the image: the storm-cloud, the wheels, and the cherubim are all “like the appearance of glowing metal, as the appearance of fire, and there was brightness all around” (Ezekiel 1:4, 13, 27-28; 10:4). In these verses נֹגַהּ accents transcendence—an otherworldly splendor that both reveals and conceals, assuring the seer that the One encountered is the holy, covenant-keeping God of Israel.

The Dawn of Righteous Rule

Where kingship or righteous leadership is in view, נֹגַהּ describes the gentle yet irresistible light of morning. David’s last words compare the ideal ruler to “the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth” (2 Samuel 23:4). Proverbs 4:18 extends the metaphor to the life of the wise: “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.” Here נֹגַהּ traces spiritual growth—steady, progressive, unstoppable—encouraging believers that sanctification culminates in noon-day clarity.

Prophetic Visions and Theophanies

The prophets employ נֹגַהּ to frame cosmic portents that attend the Day of the Lord. Joel warns that “the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their brightness” (Joel 2:10; 3:15), signaling that, when God arises for judgment, even the normal lights of heaven fade before His superior brilliance—or extinguish in ominous absence when judgment falls. Habakkuk’s hymn situates this luminosity at Sinai‐like theophany: “His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4). A few verses later the prophet describes celestial obedience: “The sun and moon stood still in their courses at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the radiance of Your glittering spear” (Habakkuk 3:11). נֹגַהּ thus underscores both the majesty and the martial might of Israel’s God.

Eschatological Glory and Mission

Isaiah frames Jerusalem’s future in terms of נֹגַהּ. The pillar of cloud and fire will return as a canopy “by day” and as “a glowing flame of fire by night; for over all the glory will be a covering” (Isaiah 4:5). Later, the prophet announces that “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3), and pledges that the Lord Himself “will be your everlasting light” so that “your God will be your glory” (Isaiah 60:19). Zion’s salvation is therefore pictured as an irresistible luminescence drawing the Gentiles. Isaiah 62:1 grounds the perseverance of intercession in the same hope: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent… until her righteousness shines out like dawn, her salvation like a burning torch.” The church’s missionary mandate derives confidence from this prophetic certainty: God’s redemptive brightness cannot be thwarted; it will reach the ends of the earth.

Contrast with Darkness and Judgment

While נֹגַהּ typically conveys positive radiance, its absence or eclipse sharpens warnings. Isaiah 50:10 asks, “Who among you fears the Lord…? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord.” Amos 5:20 reverses expectations: “Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness, not light—even gloom without brightness?” Judgment removes the glow, leaving only oppressive night. This dichotomy between light and darkness reinforces the moral divide: fidelity to Yahweh is life-giving brightness; rebellion yields impenetrable gloom.

Ministry and Pastoral Application

1. Worship: נֹגַהּ calls congregations to approach God with reverence and awe, mindful that His dwelling is “unapproachable light.”
2. Discipleship: Like the dawning path in Proverbs 4:18, spiritual growth is gradual yet certain; pastors may encourage believers to persevere, confident that the Spirit’s illumination increases to full day.
3. Missions: Isaiah’s vision assures the church that Christ’s glory is magnetic; evangelism participates in the divine strategy of drawing nations to the brightness of His appearing.
4. Suffering: For saints who “walk in darkness and have no light” (Isaiah 50:10), the term invites trust that the hidden God will yet shine forth; His apparent silence is not abandonment but preparation for a brighter revelation.
5. Eschatology: Joel, Habakkuk, and Amos situate נֹגַהּ within apocalyptic upheaval, encouraging believers to interpret world events through the lens of Scripture’s prophetic timetable.

Theological Summary

נֹגַהּ embodies the self-disclosing luminosity of God—creative, sanctifying, guiding, and judging. Whether bursting forth in theophany, dawning over righteous rule, or beckoning nations to Zion, its nineteen occurrences weave a consistent biblical theology of light: God is the source; His revelation is radiant; His salvation shines; His judgment darkens. For the church, these texts sustain worship, witness, and hope until “the Morning Star rises” and night is no more.

Forms and Transliterations
הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ הנגה וְנֹ֙גַהּ֙ וְנֹ֛גַהּ וְנֹ֣גַהּ וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ וּלְנֹ֕גַהּ ולנגה ונגה כַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ כנגה לְנֹ֖גַהּ לְנֹ֥גַהּ לנגה מִנֹּ֖גַהּ מִנֹּ֗גַהּ מִנֹּ֥גַהּ מנגה נָגְהָֽם׃ נֹ֑גַהּ נֹ֖גַהּ נֹ֙גַהּ֙ נֹ֥גַֽהּ נגה נגהם׃ chanNogah han·nō·ḡah hanNogah hannōḡah ḵan·nō·ḡah ḵannōḡah lə·nō·ḡah leNogah lənōḡah min·nō·ḡah minNogah minnōḡah nā·ḡə·hām nageHam nāḡəhām nō·ḡah Nogah nōḡah ū·lə·nō·ḡah uleNogah ūlənōḡah veNogah wə·nō·ḡah wənōḡah
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 22:13
HEB: מִנֹּ֖גַהּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ בָּעֲר֖וּ
NAS: From the brightness before Him Coals
KJV: Through the brightness before him were coals
INT: the brightness before were kindled

2 Samuel 23:4
HEB: לֹ֣א עָב֔וֹת מִנֹּ֥גַהּ מִמָּטָ֖ר דֶּ֥שֶׁא
NAS: Through sunshine after
KJV: [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
INT: without clouds sunshine rain the tender

Psalm 18:12
HEB: מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ עָבָ֥יו
NAS: From the brightness before Him passed
KJV: At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds
INT: the brightness before his thick

Proverbs 4:18
HEB: צַ֭דִּיקִים כְּא֣וֹר נֹ֑גַהּ הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָ֝א֗וֹר
NAS: is like the light of dawn, That shines
KJV: of the just [is] as the shining light,
INT: of the righteous the light of dawn brighter shines

Isaiah 4:5
HEB: יוֹמָם֙ וְעָשָׁ֔ן וְנֹ֛גַהּ אֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָ֖ה
NAS: even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming
KJV: by day, and the shining of a flaming
INT: day smoke and the brightness fire of a flaming

Isaiah 50:10
HEB: חֲשֵׁכִ֗ים וְאֵ֥ין נֹ֙גַהּ֙ ל֔וֹ יִבְטַח֙
NAS: and has no light? Let him trust
KJV: [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust
INT: darkness and has bright be bold confident the name

Isaiah 60:3
HEB: לְאוֹרֵ֑ךְ וּמְלָכִ֖ים לְנֹ֥גַהּ זַרְחֵֽךְ׃
NAS: And kings to the brightness of your rising.
KJV: and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
INT: to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising

Isaiah 60:19
HEB: לְא֣וֹר יוֹמָ֔ם וּלְנֹ֕גַהּ הַיָּרֵ֖חַ לֹא־
NAS: Nor for brightness will the moon
KJV: by day; neither for brightness shall the moon
INT: light day brightness will the moon No

Isaiah 62:1
HEB: עַד־ יֵצֵ֤א כַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ צִדְקָ֔הּ וִישׁוּעָתָ֖הּ
NAS: goes forth like brightness, And her salvation
KJV: thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation
INT: Until goes brightness her righteousness salvation

Ezekiel 1:4
HEB: וְאֵ֣שׁ מִתְלַקַּ֔חַת וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ סָבִ֑יב
NAS: flashing forth continually and a bright light around
KJV: infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about
INT: fire flashing bright around midst

Ezekiel 1:13
HEB: בֵּ֣ין הַחַיּ֑וֹת וְנֹ֣גַהּ לָאֵ֔שׁ וּמִן־
NAS: The fire was bright, and lightning
KJV: and the fire was bright, and out of the fire
INT: among creatures was bright the fire from

Ezekiel 1:27
HEB: כְּמַרְאֵה־ אֵ֔שׁ וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃
NAS: like fire; and [there was] a radiance around
KJV: of fire, and it had brightness round about.
INT: the appearance fire and a radiance around

Ezekiel 1:28
HEB: כֵּ֣ן מַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב ה֕וּא
NAS: of the surrounding radiance. Such
KJV: so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about.
INT: so the appearance radiance of the surrounding Such

Ezekiel 10:4
HEB: מָֽלְאָ֔ה אֶת־ נֹ֖גַהּ כְּב֥וֹד יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: was filled with the brightness of the glory
KJV: was full of the brightness of the LORD'S
INT: was filled with the brightness of the glory God

Joel 2:10
HEB: וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים אָסְפ֥וּ נָגְהָֽם׃
NAS: And the stars lose their brightness.
KJV: shall withdraw their shining:
INT: and the stars lose their brightness

Joel 3:15
HEB: וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים אָסְפ֥וּ נָגְהָֽם׃
NAS: And the stars lose their brightness.
KJV: shall withdraw their shining.
INT: and the stars lose their brightness

Amos 5:20
HEB: וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא־ נֹ֥גַֽהּ לֽוֹ׃
NAS: Even gloom with no brightness in it?
KJV: even very dark, and no brightness in it?
INT: gloom no brightness

Habakkuk 3:4
HEB: וְנֹ֙גַהּ֙ כָּא֣וֹר תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה
NAS: [His] radiance is like the sunlight;
KJV: And [his] brightness was as the light;
INT: radiance the sunlight become

Habakkuk 3:11
HEB: חִצֶּ֙יךָ֙ יְהַלֵּ֔כוּ לְנֹ֖גַהּ בְּרַ֥ק חֲנִיתֶֽךָ׃
NAS: of Your arrows, At the radiance of Your gleaming
KJV: they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering
INT: of your arrows went the radiance of your gleaming spear

19 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5051
19 Occurrences


ḵan·nō·ḡah — 1 Occ.
han·nō·ḡah — 1 Occ.
lə·nō·ḡah — 2 Occ.
min·nō·ḡah — 3 Occ.
nā·ḡə·hām — 2 Occ.
nō·ḡah — 4 Occ.
ū·lə·nō·ḡah — 1 Occ.
wə·nō·ḡah — 5 Occ.

5050
Top of Page
Top of Page