ἀστρᾰπ-ή G0796
Lightning; by extension, a brilliant radiance or dazzling brightness like a flash of light.
Primarily denotes the dramatic flash of lightning that splits the sky — a natural phenomenon loaded with theophanic significance in Scripture. Jesus compares his coming to lightning flashing from east to west (Matt 24:27), and the throne-room visions of Revelation crackle with lightnings, rumblings, and thunders (Rev 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). The angel at the empty tomb has an appearance 'like lightning' (Matt 28:3), bridging the literal and the luminous. In one passage, Luke 11:36, the word describes not atmospheric lightning but the brilliant shining of a lamp — a metaphorical radiance. Spanish relámpago, French éclair, and German Blitz all center on the lightning flash.
Senses
1. lightning — Lightning — the visible electrical discharge in the atmosphere, used both literally and in vivid apocalyptic imagery. Jesus describes the Son of Man's coming as lightning that flashes across the whole sky (Matt 24:27; Luke 17:24), and he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18). Revelation's throne-room scenes repeatedly feature lightnings as markers of divine power (Rev 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). Spanish relámpago, French éclair, and German Blitz all converge on this core meteorological-theophanic meaning. The angel at the tomb had an appearance 'like lightning' (Matt 28:3), pushing toward supernatural brilliance. 8×
AR["البَرقَ", "البَرقِ", "بَرقُ", "بَرْقٍ", "بُروقٌ", "بُرُوقٌ"]·ben["বিদ্যুৎ", "বিদ্যুৎ,"]·DE["Blitz", "ἀστραπὴ", "ἀστραπὴν"]·EN["lightning", "lightnings"]·FR["éclair"]·heb["בְּרָקִים", "בְרָקִים", "בָּרָק"]·HI["बिजलियाँ", "बिजलियाँ,", "बिजलियां", "बिजली"]·ID["kilat", "kilat,", "kilat-kilat,"]·IT["astrapai", "fulmine"]·jav["kilat", "kilat,", "kilat-kilat"]·KO["번개", "번개가", "번개들-이", "번개들과", "번개처럼"]·PT["relâmpago", "relâmpagos"]·RU["молнии,", "молнию", "молния"]·ES["relámpago", "relámpagos"]·SW["umeme", "umeme,", "unatoka"]·TR["şimşek", "şimşekler"]·urd["بجلی", "بجلی-کی", "بجلیاں"]
2. bright shining, radiance — Bright shining or radiance — a metaphorical extension describing dazzling brilliance without reference to an actual lightning bolt. In Luke 11:36, when the whole body is full of light, it will be wholly bright 'as when the lamp with its brightness (ἀστραπή) gives you light.' Swahili uses nuru ('light, radiance') here rather than umeme ('lightning'), and Spanish shifts from relámpago to luz ('light'), both recognizing that the referent is luminous radiance rather than an atmospheric discharge. 1×
AR["الْبَرْقِ"]·ben["আলোকরশ্মিতে"]·DE["ἀστραπῇ"]·EN["brightness"]·FR["éclair"]·heb["הַבָּרָק"]·HI["चमक-से"]·ID["kilat"]·IT["fulmine"]·jav["sorot"]·KO["번개로"]·RU["сиянием"]·ES["luz"]·SW["mwanga-wake"]·TR["parıltısıyla"]·urd["چمک"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀστρᾰπ-ή, ἡ, ={ἀστεροπή},{στεροπή},fiash of lightning, lightning, βροντὴ καὶ ἀ.Refs 5th c.BC+; personified, as subject of painting, Refs 1st c.AD+: frequently in plural, lightnings, τὰς ἀ. τε καὶ κεραυνίους βολάςRefs 5th c.BC+ __2 light of a lamp, NT+4th c.BC+ __3 metaphorically, ἀστραπήν τιν᾽ ὀμμάτων flashing of the eyes, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐκτυφλοῦν τιν᾽ ἀστραπὴ [εἰμί] Refs 4th c.BC+