בָּרַק (ba.raq)
ba.raq
to use lightning; lightning
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The noun baraq describes the sudden, blinding flash of lightning. In the Hebrew Bible it appears thirteen times, primarily in poetic books like Psalms and Job, where it captures the raw power of a storm. The word is almost always plural, referring to multiple flashes or bolts that illuminate the dark sky with intense, fleeting light.
Its most striking usage occurs as a metaphor for weaponry. In Judges 5:20, the stars fight from heaven against Sisera, and in Psalm 18:14, God thunders with baraqim while shooting arrows of lightning. Here the flashing bolt is not just weather; it is a divine weapon, swift and deadly, emphasizing how God’s judgment can strike with the speed and brightness of a storm.
This imagery connects the natural phenomenon to divine action. The sources note that the word can refer to the arrow-head itself when it flashes during flight. By using baraq for both light and projectile, the text highlights the terrifying beauty of God’s power—visible, immediate, and overwhelming to those on the ground.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word baraq describes the sudden, blinding flash of lightning. In the Bible, this is not just weather; it is a symbol of God’s immediate and overwhelming power. When Scripture speaks of lightnings, it often highlights how divine action can cut through darkness with startling clarity.
For your faith, this imagery offers comfort in times of uncertainty. Just as lightning reveals the landscape in an instant, God’s presence brings truth to situations that seem hidden or confusing. You do not need to understand every detail of your circumstances to trust the One who holds them. His power is real, visible, and ultimately on behalf of those who seek Him.
This word reminds us that God is active in the world. Whether through natural events or spiritual guidance, He brings light where there is shadow. This assurance helps you rest in the knowledge that no darkness is too deep for His presence to reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lightning<s>4×
- lightning2×
- like <the>/ lightning1×
- lightning flashes/ his1×
- and/ lightning<s>1×
- and/ lightning1×
- [with] lightning1×
- [the] lightning of1×
- [the] lightning flash of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּרָקִ֤ים2×
- בְּרָקִ֣ים2×
- כַ/בָּרָ֖ק1×
- וּ֭/בָרָק1×
- וּ/בְרָקִ֜ים1×
- בָּרָ֖ק1×
- בָּ֭רָק1×
- בְּרַ֥ק1×
- בְּרַ֣ק1×
- בָרָק֙1×
- בְרָקָ֣י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 97:4
His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
This verse uses the plural form of baraq to show how God's power illuminates the entire earth, causing it to tremble in recognition of His sovereignty.
-
II Samuel 22:15
He sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and confused them.
Here, lightning is depicted as a divine weapon used by God to scatter enemies, emphasizing His role as a protector who acts with swift and decisive force.
-
Daniel 10:6
His body also was like beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.
The face of the heavenly figure is described as having the appearance of lightning, linking this intense brightness to divine glory and authority beyond human experience.