רֶ֫גַע (re.ga)
re.ga
moment
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rega denotes a very brief period of time, often translated as "moment" or "instant." It captures the fleeting nature of a single breath or a short interval, emphasizing how quickly time passes. This word appears seventeen times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Isaiah, Job, and Jeremiah.
Its meaning extends beyond mere duration to highlight the transience of human experience. In Job 7:6, for instance, it describes days passing swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, illustrating the rapid passage of life. Similarly, Isaiah uses it to convey suddenness, such as when God’s anger or favor arrives in a moment. The term often appears with prepositions to indicate duration, such as "for a moment," contrasting temporary states with eternal realities.
Rega serves as a linguistic reminder of life’s brevity and the unpredictability of divine action. By focusing on these short intervals, biblical writers underscore the importance of present faithfulness and the certainty of God’s timely intervention. The word invites reflection on how moments shape destiny, urging readers to recognize the significance of each passing instant in light of eternal purposes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word rega points to a breath, a fleeting instant that slips away before we can grasp it. In Job and Jeremiah, this brief span highlights how quickly human plans dissolve or how sudden divine judgment can arrive. It reminds us that our time on earth is short, urging us to hold loosely to temporary things and firmly to God’s presence.
Yet rega also carries a gentle promise in Isaiah 54. The Lord declares that though He may hide His face for a moment, His mercy is everlasting. This contrast between our brief struggles and God’s eternal faithfulness offers deep comfort. When life feels unstable or painful, remember that these difficult intervals are temporary, while God’s love remains constant.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a moment10×
- to/ moments2×
- like/ a moment2×
- for/ a moment1×
- and/ in/ a moment1×
- and/ a moment1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רֶ֖גַע2×
- רָֽגַע\׃1×
- רָ֔גַע1×
- רֶגַע֩1×
- רֶ֧גַע1×
- רֶ֤גַע\׀1×
- רֶ֣גַע1×
- רֶ֛גַע1×
- רֶ֙גַע֙1×
- לִ֝/רְגָעִ֗ים1×
- לִ/רְגָעִ֖ים1×
- כְּ/רָֽגַע\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 54:7
“For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies.
This verse contrasts the brevity of God's hidden face with His enduring mercy, showing that even divine discipline is temporary.
-
Job 7:18
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
Here Job questions why God tests him every moment, highlighting the intense pressure of feeling constantly scrutinized in a short span.
-
Exodus 33:5
Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’”
God warns that His presence among a rebellious people would consume them in a single moment, emphasizing the seriousness of holiness.
-
Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
Believers are told to hide for a little moment until God's anger passes, using rega to mark a specific period of waiting and protection.