בָּרַק
to lighten (lightning)
Definition
The Hebrew verb בָּרַק (bâraq) means 'to flash forth lightning' or 'to send out lightning bolts.' It describes the sudden, brilliant, and powerful appearance of lightning in a storm. In its single biblical occurrence, it is used poetically in Psalm 144:6, where David petitions God to 'flash forth lightning' and scatter his enemies. The word captures the imagery of divine power and intervention, portraying lightning as a direct instrument of God's judgment or deliverance.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 144:6. It appears in a poetic, petitionary context where the psalmist calls upon God to act with the speed and destructive force of a thunderstorm against adversaries. The usage is metaphorical, employing a natural phenomenon (lightning) to depict divine military action.
Etymology
בָּרַק is a primitive root verb. It is directly related to the noun בָּרָק (bārāq, H1300), meaning 'lightning' or 'flash.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Arabic 'barq' (lightning), indicating a shared root concept for the flash of lightning. The verb form emphasizes the action of lightning flashing or being cast forth.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it connects the raw power of nature directly to God's sovereign action. In Psalm 144:6, lightning is not a random natural event but a weapon in God's arsenal, illustrating His role as a divine warrior who intervenes for His people. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of the psalm by highlighting the immediacy and awe-inspiring nature of the deliverance being requested.
In the ancient Near Eastern world, lightning was universally associated with the power and voice of deities (e.g., the Canaanite god Baal). For Israel, however, lightning was understood not as the domain of a storm god, but as a tool completely under the command of Yahweh, the one true God. This distinction reinforced monotheism and God's supremacy over all natural forces.
לָהַט (lāhaṭ, H3857) — to blaze up, flame; often for a flaming sword or supernatural fire. חָזַק (ḥāzaq, H2388) — to be strong; a broader term for strength, not specific to lightning.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →