English · KJV
H5050

נָגַהּ

nâgahh /naw-gah'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto glitter; causatively, to illuminate
KJV usage(en-) lighten, (cause to) shine.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâgahh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâgahh, represented by H5050, is a primitive root meaning to glitter; causatively, to illuminate; (en-) lighten, (cause to) shine. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses, consistently depicting the action of light breaking into darkness or being withheld as a sign of judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5050 illustrates both divine deliverance and condemnation. On one hand, it describes God's direct intervention, where a great H1419 light H216 has shined upon a people H5971 who walked H1980 in darkness H2822 Isaiah 9:2. This same action applies personally, as the LORD H3068 promises to lighten one's darkness (2 Samuel 22:29, Psalms 18:28). Conversely, it is used to signify judgment, as when the moon H3394 is prophesied to not cause her light to shine Isaiah 13:10, or when the light of the wicked H7563 is put out and his spark H7632 will not shine Job 18:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the theme of light and its absence:

  • H216 'ôwr (light): This noun for illumination is the object that H5050 acts upon in most of its occurrences. For instance, a great H1419 light is what shined on those in the shadow of death H6757 Isaiah 9:2.
  • H2822 chôshek (darkness): As the direct opposite of light, this word defines the state that H5050 overcomes. God is called upon to enlighten personal darkness Psalms 18:28, and it is those who walk in darkness that see the light shine.
  • H1846 dâʻak (to be extinguished): This verb presents a contrast to H5050. While H5050 describes light actively shining, H1846 describes it being put out, as with the light H216 of the wicked H7563 Job 18:5.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H5050 is tied to the concepts of divine power and moral consequence.

  • Divine Illumination: The word is used to show God's power to bring hope and clarity. He will enlighten the personal darkness H2822 of the psalmist Psalms 18:28 and cause light to shine upon the ways H1870 of the righteous Job 22:28.
  • Prophetic Hope: In Isaiah, the shining of light upon those dwelling in the land H776 of the shadow of death H6757 is a messianic prophecy of deliverance and grace Isaiah 9:2.
  • Judgment and Consequence: The absence of the action of shining is a form of divine judgment. The light of the wicked H7563 is not only put out H1846, but its spark H7632 is actively described as not shining Job 18:5, signifying a complete end to their influence and prosperity.

Summary

In summary, nâgahh H5050 is more than just a word for shining; it is a verb of action and power. It captures the dynamic moment of illumination, whether it is the LORD H3068 bringing light to a darkened soul, a prophetic promise breaking into a hopeless situation, or the finality of judgment as the light of the wicked ceases to shine.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יַגִּיהַּ
  • נָגַהּ
  • יִגַּהּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1419 גָּדוֹל or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phr H216 אוֹר from אוֹר; illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.); bright, clear, [p H5971 עַם from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or H1980 הָלַךְ akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, H2822 חֹשֶׁךְ from חָשַׁךְ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedn H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Isaiah (2 verses each); never once in the other 35.

1
2 Samuel
2
Job
1
Psalms
2
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.