a primitive root; to lighten (lightning); cast forth.
Transliteration:bâraq
Pronunciation:baw-rak'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The root H1299 (בָּרַק, *bâraq*) is a primitive root, fundamentally conveying the idea of emitting light, specifically the sudden, intense flash of lightning. Its primary semantic range revolves around this phenomenon: "to lighten" in the sense of producing lightning. By extension, it can imply a rapid, forceful emission or "casting forth," much like lightning is cast forth from the clouds. This extended meaning, while less common for the verb itself, is present in its derived noun forms and contextual usage. The action is characterized by suddenness, brilliance, and often, an association with divine power or judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H1299 (בָּרַק, *bâraq*) appears relatively few times in the Hebrew Bible, but its occurrences are highly significant, always denoting a sudden, intense emission of light or a rapid, brilliant movement.
* **[[2 Samuel 22:15]] / [[Psalm 18:14]] (MT 18:15):** In these parallel poetic accounts of God's powerful intervention on behalf of the psalmist (David), the verb is used in the Hiphil stem, "He caused to lighten" or "He shot forth lightning." The context is divine warfare: "He sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning bolts, and routed them." Here, lightning is a divine weapon, a manifestation of God's wrath and irresistible power, used to overcome His enemies. It signifies swift, decisive, and destructive action.
* **[[Ezekiel 1:14]]:** Within Ezekiel's profound vision of the divine chariot and the living creatures (cherubim), the verb appears in the Hithpael stem, "to flash forth" or "to gleam like lightning." The text states, "And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning." This usage emphasizes the supernatural speed, agility, and brilliant, awe-inspiring nature of these celestial beings, reflecting their immediate responsiveness to divine will and their inherent holiness.
* **[[Nahum 3:3]]:** This passage vividly describes the fury and chaos of battle: "horsemen charging, flashing swords, glittering spears." Here, bâraq is used in the Piel stem, "to flash" or "to gleam." It refers to the sudden, sharp glint of weapons (swords and spears) as they are wielded in combat. While not divine lightning, it carries the same sense of sudden, intense, and potentially lethal illumination, underscoring the intensity, danger, and rapid movement within the scene.
Across these contexts, bâraq consistently conveys a sense of sudden, brilliant, and often powerful or destructive action, whether it originates from divine power, celestial beings, or human conflict.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **H1300 (בָּרָק, *bârāq*):** This is the direct noun form derived from H1299, meaning "lightning" or "a flash of light." Its frequent appearances (e.g., [[Exodus 9:23]], [[Job 38:35]], [[Psalm 77:18]], [[Zechariah 9:14]]) confirm the core semantic field and often place lightning in contexts of divine power, natural phenomena, or judgment.
* **H7481 (רַעַם, *ra'am*):** "Thunder." Lightning and thunder are inextricably linked in biblical descriptions of storms and divine manifestations, often appearing together to emphasize God's awesome power.
* **H24 (אֵשׁ, *'ēsh*):** "Fire." Lightning is often associated with fire as an element of divine presence, judgment, and destruction.
* **H7850 (שַׁחַק, *shaḥaq*):** "Cloud, sky." Lightning emanates from the clouds, linking it to atmospheric phenomena controlled by God.
* **Divine Theophany:** Lightning is a powerful recurring motif in descriptions of God's appearance (theophanies), signifying His majesty, power, and often His judgment (e.g., [[Exodus 19:16]]).
* **Divine Weaponry:** As seen in the Davidic psalm, lightning functions as an instrument of God's wrath, a tool in His cosmic arsenal against His adversaries.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H1299 (בָּרַק, *bâraq*) is profound, though its direct verbal occurrences are limited. It primarily points to:
1. **Divine Power and Sovereignty:** When God "flashes forth lightning," it is a dramatic and undeniable display of His irresistible might. It underscores His absolute control over creation and His ability to intervene decisively and instantaneously in human affairs. The suddenness, brilliance, and destructive potential of lightning serve as a potent metaphor for divine power that cannot be resisted or fully comprehended by human will.
2. **Divine Judgment and Warfare:** Lightning is frequently depicted as an instrument of divine wrath against the wicked or enemies of God's people. It is a visible and terrifying sign of God's active participation in cosmic and earthly battles, executing His righteous judgment. This imagery instills both awe and fear, reminding humanity of God's justice and His capacity for overwhelming intervention.
3. **Divine Presence and Revelation:** In visions like Ezekiel's, the flashing of the living creatures "like a flash of lightning" points to the supernatural, awe-inspiring, and dynamic nature of God's immediate presence. It suggests a transcendent reality that is both glorious and overwhelming to human perception, where divine will is executed with unparalleled speed and brilliance.
4. **Speed, Intensity, and Unpredictability:** Beyond its direct divine associations, the word captures the essence of extreme speed, intense, momentary illumination, and unpredictable force. This inherent quality, whether applied to divine action or human conflict, always carries an echo of the raw, untamed power seen in natural lightning, serving as a reminder of forces beyond human control.
In essence, bâraq serves as a powerful descriptor for sudden, brilliant, and often destructive manifestations of power, whether divine or human, with its strongest theological resonance tied to God's majestic, terrifying, and sovereign presence.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H1299 (בָּרַק, *bâraq*) fundamentally means "to lighten," primarily referring to the sudden, intense flash of lightning. Its semantic range extends to "casting forth" or "flashing forth" rapidly and brilliantly. In biblical contexts, bâraq vividly portrays divine power and judgment, as seen in God's use of lightning as a weapon against His adversaries ([[2 Samuel 22:15]], [[Psalm 18:14]]). It also describes the swift, awe-inspiring movements of celestial beings in divine visions ([[Ezekiel 1:14]]) and the glint of weapons in battle, signifying intensity and danger ([[Nahum 3:3]]). Closely related to the noun H1300 (בָּרָק, "lightning"), this root underscores themes of divine sovereignty, the execution of divine judgment, and the overwhelming, sudden nature of God's presence and action. It consistently conveys a sense of suddenness, brilliance, and often, destructive force, serving as a potent symbol of divine might and swift intervention.
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