Lexical Summary nogah: Brightness, radiance, light, splendor Original Word: נֹגַהּ 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 Originfrom 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.” 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 wənōḡahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Psalm 18:12 Proverbs 4:18 Isaiah 4:5 Isaiah 50:10 Isaiah 60:3 Isaiah 60:19 Isaiah 62:1 Ezekiel 1:4 Ezekiel 1:13 Ezekiel 1:27 Ezekiel 1:28 Ezekiel 10:4 Joel 2:10 Joel 3:15 Amos 5:20 Habakkuk 3:4 Habakkuk 3:11 19 Occurrences |