Original Word: עֹנֶג
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `oneg
Pronunciation: OH-neg
Phonetic Spelling: (o'-neg)
KJV: delight, pleasant
NASB: delight, luxurious
Word Origin: [from H6026 (עָנַג - delight)]

1. luxury

delight, pleasant

From anag; luxury -- delight, pleasant.

see HEBREW anag

Word Origin
from anog
Definition
daintiness, exquisite delight
NASB Translation
delight (1), luxurious (1).

עֹ֫נֶג noun [masculine] daintiness, exquisite delight; — ׳הֵיכְלֵי ע Isaiah 13:22; ׳וְקָרָאתָ לַשַּׁבָּת ע Isaiah 58:13.

Biblical Range of Meaning

The term denotes refined enjoyment, exquisite pleasure, or sumptuous luxury. In Scripture it captures both the legitimate delight found in honoring God and the self-indulgent opulence that invites divine judgment.

Occurrences and Contexts

1. Isaiah 13:22 portrays the once-lavish royal dwellings of Babylon: “Hyenas will howl in their fortresses, and jackals in their luxurious palaces”. Here the word depicts earthly splendor rendered desolate by God’s wrath.
2. Isaiah 58:13 exhorts Judah to prize true worship above self-interest: “If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight…”. In this setting the same term describes the spiritual joy that flows from consecrated rest.

Prophetic Contrast

Isaiah intentionally places the word in two antithetical scenes—Babylon’s decadent palaces and Zion’s holy Sabbath—to contrast fleeting human luxury with lasting covenant blessing. Earthly magnificence collapses under judgment (Isaiah 13:19–22), whereas humble obedience yields abiding satisfaction (Isaiah 58:14).

Theological Significance

• Pleasure is not inherently sinful; its moral value depends on its object and manner. The prophets condemn self-centered luxury divorced from justice (Amos 6:4–6) yet commend delight rooted in God’s will (Psalm 37:4).
• Sabbath “delight” models redeemed pleasure. Resting in God’s provision anticipates the eschatological rest promised in Hebrews 4:9–10 and foreshadows the joy of the new creation (Revelation 21:3–4).
• The downfall of Babylon warns that civilizations grounded in sensual excess are ephemeral (Proverbs 14:34). Divine sovereignty overthrows prideful opulence and vindicates holy delight.

Historical Background

Babylon’s palatial estates, celebrated for ornate gardens and sumptuous banquets, epitomized Near Eastern luxury. Isaiah (circa 740–680 BC) prophesied their ruin more than a century before the Medo-Persian conquest in 539 BC. Conversely, the post-exilic community addressed in Isaiah 56–66 needed renewed reverence for the Sabbath as they rebuilt Jerusalem. Their survival depended not on imperial splendor but on covenant fidelity.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Worship Leaders: Encourage congregations to approach weekly corporate worship as a “delight,” resisting the drift toward mere routine or consumerism.
• Discipleship: Teach believers to evaluate pleasures—media, possessions, ambitions—by whether they magnify Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• Stewardship: Promote generosity and simplicity, recalling that luxurious ease without gratitude deteriorates into spiritual barrenness (1 Timothy 6:17–19).
• Counseling: Remind those battling burnout that Sabbath principles remain a gracious gift, inviting rest in God’s completed work through Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28–30).

Connection to New Testament Themes

The ultimate fulfillment of holy delight is found in the person of Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). His kingdom offers “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11) that eclipse Babylon’s faded glory. Until that consummation, believers are summoned to taste this delight through obedient rest, faithful stewardship, and joyful worship.

עֹ֑נֶג עֹ֗נֶג ענג ‘ō·neḡ ‘ōneḡ OnegInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts