Original Word: בָּזָק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: bazaq
Pronunciation: baw-zawk'
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-zawk')
KJV: flash of lightning
NASB: bolts of lightning
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to lighten]

1. a flash of lightning

flash of lightning

From an unused root meaning to lighten; a flash of lightning -- flash of lightning.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a lightning flash
NASB Translation
bolts of lightning (1).

בָּזָק noun [masculine] lightning flash ? Ezekiel 1:14 Hi Co strike out; verse omitted in old MSS. of ᵐ5; sense uncertain, possibly error for ברק.

Scriptural Occurrence

Ezekiel 1:14 presents the single canonical use of בָּזָק: “The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning” (Berean Standard Bible). The term describes the dazzling, instantaneous brilliance that accompanies the movement of the living creatures (cherubim) in Ezekiel’s inaugural vision.

Visionary Context in Ezekiel

The prophet, exiled beside the Kebar Canal, is granted an opening revelation of the glory of God (Ezekiel 1:1–28). Thundercloud, fire, and radiant metal frame the scene. Within that fiery vortex stand four living creatures who move “straight forward” without turning (1:12). בָּזָק captures their sudden, pulsating motion, underscoring that the throne–chariot of the LORD is not earth–bound but unfettered, transcendent, and irresistibly swift. The flash signals:
• Divine mobility—Yahweh is not confined to Jerusalem’s ruined temple; His glory can reach the exiles.
• Divine sovereignty—He moves with a velocity no earthly power can hinder.
• Divine mystery—Lightning is seen but not grasped; likewise, God reveals yet still conceals His full majesty (compare Exodus 19:16; Job 37:3–5).

Semantic and Literary Nuances

1. Rare brilliance: Unlike the more common בָּרָק (baraq, “lightning”), בָּזָק appears only once, heightening its literary force in Ezekiel’s opening chapter.
2. Onomatopoetic echo: The consonants convey a crackling burst, mirroring the quick, shimmering dart of light.
3. Intensifier: The word functions adverbially (“like flashes of lightning”), magnifying speed and luminosity simultaneously.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern texts often associate lightning with warrior–deities (e.g., Baal). Ezekiel’s use redirects the imagery to Israel’s covenant God. Rather than chaotic storm–gods vying for supremacy, the prophet beholds the one true King whose radiant court traverses heaven and earth at will.

Theological Significance

• Holiness and Judgment: Lightning frequently accompanies divine judgment (Psalm 97:4; Zechariah 9:14). That same motif appears in Ezekiel, whose oracles will soon pronounce doom on unrepentant Jerusalem (Ezekiel 5–7).
• Revelation and Illumination: Just as lightning momentarily lights the sky, God grants Ezekiel vivid yet fleeting insight into heavenly realities.
• Continuity with New Testament Eschatology: The sudden visibility of lightning becomes a Christological image—“For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). בָּזָק thus prefigures the swiftness and universality of the Son’s return.

Ministry and Devotional Implications

1. Dependence on divine initiative: The prophet does not call forth the vision; it bursts upon him. Believers today likewise rely on God’s sovereign self–disclosure through Scripture.
2. Urgency in obedience: Lightning allows no delay. So the Church must heed and proclaim God’s word without hesitation, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
3. Comfort in exile: The exiles feared abandonment; the lightning–fast appearance of God’s glory declared His nearness. Modern believers, scattered in secular cultures, can trust that God moves swiftly and powerfully on their behalf.
4. Worship and awe: The breathtaking imagery of בָּזָק calls congregations to reverent worship—“Let all the earth tremble before Him” (Psalm 96:9).

Key Cross-References for Further Study

Exodus 19:16; 2 Samuel 22:15; Psalm 18:14; Psalm 77:18; Job 36:32; Daniel 10:6; Matthew 24:27; Luke 17:24; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 11:19.

הַבָּזָֽק׃ הבזק׃ hab·bā·zāq habbaZak habbāzāqInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts