נְגֹהָה (ne.go.hah)
ne.go.hah
brightness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun negohah denotes a clear, shining light or brightness. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Isaiah 59:9. In this specific context, the word is used metaphorically to describe the absence of spiritual clarity and moral order.
Here, the prophet describes a time when justice is far away and righteousness stands at a distance. The people’s faces are covered with darkness because their deeds are evil. The sources indicate that negohah can figuratively represent prosperity or well-being, but in Isaiah 59:9, its lack highlights the severity of their condition. They do not see the light of God’s favor or truth.
This single usage underscores how vital divine illumination is for ethical living. When negohah is absent, confusion and injustice take hold. The word reminds readers that true clarity comes from alignment with God’s ways, not from human effort alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word negohah captures that clear, shining light which guides our steps through life. In Isaiah 59:9, the prophet describes a heavy reality where people search for this brightness but find only obscurity. This absence of light is not just a visual metaphor; it represents a deep spiritual confusion where justice feels distant and moral clarity is lost.
For your daily walk, this reminds us that true understanding does not come from our own efforts alone. When we feel lost in the shadows of sin or uncertainty, we are reminded that divine illumination is necessary for ethical living and peace. It invites us to look beyond our immediate circumstances toward the source of all truth.
Even when the world around us seems dark, the hope remains that alignment with God’s ways brings clarity. This single word underscores how vital it is to seek His light rather than relying on human insight. May you find comfort in knowing that true brightness is found in His presence, guiding you through every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ gleams of light1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/נְגֹה֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 59:9
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t overtake us. We look for light, but see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
This verse uses the word to highlight the severe spiritual darkness and lack of moral clarity experienced by the people when they are separated from God's justice.