הֵילֵל (he.lel)
he.lel
Day Star
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun helel means "shining one" or "day star," specifically referring to the morning star that appears before dawn. In Isaiah 14:12, it serves as a poetic epithet for the king of Babylon, evoking an image of celestial brilliance that suddenly falls from the sky. The word captures the sudden rise and dramatic collapse of earthly power.
Its root relates to shining or brightness, emphasizing visual splendor rather than moral character. While later Christian tradition often identified this figure with Satan due to the passage’s description of hubris and downfall, the original context addresses a human monarch. Translators vary in their rendering, choosing between "Lucifer" (the Latin for light-bearer) and "Morning Star" to preserve either the etymological sense or the astronomical image.
This single occurrence highlights how ancient poetry used celestial imagery to critique political arrogance. The contrast between the star’s initial glory and its descent into Sheol underscores the biblical theme that human pride inevitably leads to ruin, regardless of one’s perceived height or light.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for Day Star appears only once in Scripture, yet it carries a heavy weight. In Isaiah 14:12, it describes the king of Babylon as a shining one who fell from heaven. This image reminds us that human power and brilliance are temporary. No matter how high we rise or how bright our achievements seem, they cannot withstand the judgment of God when pride takes hold.
For your faith, this word offers a sobering perspective on success. It invites you to examine where your confidence lies. If your identity rests in your own strength or status, it is built on shifting sand. But if your hope is anchored in God’s enduring grace, you find stability that no fall can destroy.
Let this truth encourage you today. You do not need to strive for a glory that fades. Instead, rest in the One who remains forever. Your worth is secure in Him, not in the fleeting praise of the world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- O shining one1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הֵילֵ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 14:12
How you have fallen from heaven, shining one, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!
This verse uses the word to describe the sudden and dramatic fall of a powerful ruler, contrasting his initial brilliance with his ultimate ruin.