אָהַל (a.hal)
a.hal
to shine
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ahal appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Job 37:21. In this specific context, it describes the sky becoming clear and shining after a storm has passed. The word captures the visual transition from darkness to light, emphasizing the clarity of the atmosphere as clouds disperse.
Linguistically, this occurrence is in the Hiphil stem, which typically indicates a causative or declarative action. Here, it conveys the idea of becoming clear or shining forth. While rare in general usage, its presence in Job highlights the natural phenomena that Job’s friends and the narrator use to illustrate God’s power and majesty. The image serves as a backdrop for understanding divine revelation through the physical world.
Because this verb is so scarce, it does not carry a broad theological weight across Scripture like more common words. Instead, its significance lies in its precise descriptive power within Job’s discourse. It reminds readers that even in moments of confusion or darkness, clarity can emerge, much like the sun breaking through heavy skies.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ahal appears only once in Scripture, in Job 37:21. It describes the sky clearing and shining after a storm. This rare verb captures a moment of visual transition, where darkness gives way to light as clouds disperse. The image is not just about weather; it points to how God’s power reveals itself through nature.
When life feels cloudy or confusing, this word offers a quiet hope. Just as the atmosphere clears to let the sun shine, clarity can emerge in our own struggles. We do not need to understand every storm to trust that light will return. The text reminds us that God’s majesty is visible even in the breaking of clouds.
This single occurrence invites us to look up. It suggests that after periods of turmoil, there is a promise of clarity. We can rest in the knowledge that God’s presence is not hidden by our current difficulties. Like the sky clearing, peace often follows the storm when we wait with patience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it is clear1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יַאֲהִ֑יל1×