אוֹר43 H0215
To be or become light, shine; to give light, illuminate; to make the face shine (show favor); to kindle a lamp.
Or is the Hebrew Bible's foundational verb of light — behind God's first creative command and the priestly blessing alike. In its Qal stem, it describes dawn breaking or eyes brightening after honey (1 Sam 14:27). The Hifil causative covers both the cosmic — luminaries 'giving light' upon the earth (Gen 1:15) — and the deeply personal, as when the psalmist pleads 'make your face shine upon your servant' (Ps 31:16). This priestly-blessing idiom, rooted in Num 6:25, became one of Israel's most enduring prayers. Arabic awwara ('to kindle') and Syriac Aphel 'to illumine' confirm the Semitic roots, while multilingual translations reveal that nearly every language must choose between 'shine' and 'illuminate' — a distinction Hebrew encodes through its stems.
Senses
1. give light, illuminate (Hifil) — Hifil causative: to give light, illuminate, cause to shine — the dominant sense at 23 occurrences, spanning creation, tabernacle, and theophany. In Gen 1:15 and 1:17 the luminaries are set in the firmament 'to give light upon the earth'; in Exod 25:37 the lamps are arranged 'to give light in front of' the lampstand; in Exod 13:21 the pillar of fire gives light by night. Spanish alumbrar and French éclairer both select causative-illumination vocabulary. German erleuchten ('to enlighten/illuminate') similarly marks the transitive force. The epi-prefix equivalent in Arabic IV form anara ('to illuminate') parallels the Hebrew Hifil precisely. 23×
AR["أَضَاءَتْ", "تُضِيءُ", "فَ-تُضيءُ", "لِ-تُضِيءَ", "لِ-يُضِيءَ", "لِ-يُنِيرَ", "لِتُضيءَ", "لِتُضِيءَ", "مُنِيرَةُ", "مُنِيرُ-", "وَ-أَضاءَ", "وَ-أَضَاءَ", "يُضِيءُ"]·ben["আলো-দিতে", "আলো-দেবে", "আলোক-দিতে", "আলোকিত-করতে", "আলোকিত-করে", "আলোকিত-করেন-", "উজ্জ্বল-করে", "উজ্জ্বল-হল", "উজ্জ্বল;", "এবং-আলো-দেবে", "এবং-আলোকিত-করলেন", "ও-তিনি-আলো-দিয়েছেন", "তা-আলো-দেয়", "প্রকাশিত-করুন", "যা-আলোকিত-করে"]·DE["[האירה]", "[יאיר]", "[להאיר]", "[מאיר]", "[תאיר]", "enlightening", "gibt-Licht", "moege-leuchten", "shines", "und-er-hat-gegeben-Licht", "und-es-lit-hinauf", "und-es-soll-geben-Licht", "zu-geben-Licht", "zu-leuchten"]·EN["and-He-has-given-light", "and-it-lit-up", "and-it-shall-give-light", "enlightening", "gives-light", "makes-shine", "may-shine", "one-who-gives-light-to", "shines", "shone", "to-enlighten", "to-give-light", "will-give-light", "will-shine"]·FR["[יאיר]", "[להאיר]", "briller", "de-briller", "et-briller", "et-cela---donner-lumière", "et-cela-alluma-en-haut", "illuminer", "pourra-briller", "à-briller", "à-donner-lumière", "יאיר", "מאיר", "תאיר"]·heb["האירה", "ו-האיר", "ו-יאר", "יאיר", "יאר", "ל-האיר", "מאיר-", "מאירת", "תאיר"]·HI["और-प्रकाशित-करें", "और-प्रकाशित-किया", "कि-रोशन-करे", "चमकता-है", "चमकती-है", "चमकाए", "चमकाती-है", "चमकानेवाली", "चमकी", "चमकेगा", "ज्योति-देने-के-लिए", "देगा-प्रकाश", "प्रकाश-देने-को", "प्रकाशित-करने-के-लिए", "प्रकाशित-करने-वाला-"]·ID["akan-menerangi", "bersinar", "dan-Ia-menerangi", "dan-menerangi", "memberi-terang", "menerangi", "semoga-menyinari", "untuk-menerangi", "yang-menerangi"]·IT["[יאיר]", "[להאיר]", "a-dare-luce", "brillare", "e-esso-lit-su", "e-esso-shall-dare-luce", "e-illumino'", "illuminare", "illumino'", "possa-shine"]·jav["Piyambakipun-madhangi", "badhe-madhangi", "kang-madhangi", "kangge-madhangi", "lan-Panjenenganipun-sampun-madhangi", "lan-madhangi", "madhangi", "ndamel-padhang-", "padhang", "sarta-nyorot", "supados-madhangi"]·KO["그리고-비추리라", "그리고-비추셨도다", "그리고-비취었다", "로-밝히다", "밝히는-", "밝히다", "비추는-자는", "비추려고", "비추시기를", "비추시려고", "비추이도다", "비추지", "비추지-않을-것이다", "빛나게-한다", "빛났다", "에-비추기", "에-비추기-위해"]·PT["Fará-brilhar", "alumiará", "brilha", "brilhará", "e-iluminará", "e-iluminou", "e-resplandeceu", "ilumina", "iluminando", "iluminando-", "iluminou", "para-iluminar"]·RU["будет-светить", "для-освещения", "и-возсиял", "и-осветит", "и-освещал", "осветилась", "осветит", "освещает", "освещать", "оставляет-светящимся", "просветить", "просвещает", "просвещающая", "просвещающий-", "светить", "светла", "чтобы-освещать"]·ES["alumbra", "el-que-alumbra-", "haga-resplandecer", "hará-brillar", "ilumina", "para-alumbrar", "para-alumbrarles", "para-iluminar", "que-ilumina", "resplandecía", "te-alumbrará", "y-alumbrará", "y-alumbró", "y-nos-alumbró"]·SW["Iar", "anayeangaza-", "angaza", "hautaangaza", "huuangaza", "iliangaza", "inang'aa", "inayoangaza", "kuangaza", "kuwaangazia", "na-ametupa-nuru", "na-iliangaza", "na-itaangaza", "unaangaza", "unatoa-nuru"]·TR["aydinlatacak", "aydinlatir", "aydinlatmak-icin", "aydınlandı", "aydınlanır", "aydınlatan", "aydınlatan-", "aydınlatmak-için", "aydınlatsın", "aydınlatır", "parlar", "parlatır", "ve-aydınlatacak", "ve-aydınlattı"]·urd["اور-روشن-کیا", "اور-روشنی-دی-اُس-نے", "اور-روشنی-دے", "روشن-کرتی-ہے", "روشن-کرنے-والا", "روشن-کرنے-کو", "روشن-کرے-گا", "روشن-ہوئی", "روشنی-دیتا-ہے", "روشنی-دینے-کو", "روشنی-کرنے", "روشنی-کرنے-کو", "روشنی-کرنے-کو-اُنہیں", "چمکائے", "چمکتا-ہے", "چمکتی-ہے", "چمکے-گا"]
Gen 1:15, Gen 1:17, Exod 13:21, Exod 14:20, Exod 25:37, Num 6:25, Num 8:2, Ezra 9:8, Neh 9:12, Neh 9:19, Job 41:32, Ps 19:8 (+11 more)
2. make face shine, show favor (Hifil) — Hifil in the priestly-blessing idiom: to make one's face shine upon another, expressing divine favor and gracious regard. Eight occurrences, clustered tightly in the Psalms (13:3; 31:16; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 119:135) and anchored in the Aaronic blessing of Num 6:25 (ya'er YHWH panaw elekha, 'may the LORD make his face shine upon you'). Spanish haz resplandecer tu rostro and French fais briller ta face both preserve the face-shining metaphor. This is arguably the most theologically concentrated use of the root — light as the visible expression of divine favor, the opposite of God 'hiding his face.' Korean 얼굴을 비추다 ('to shine the face upon') maintains the exact metaphorical structure. 8×
AR["أَشْرِقْ", "أَضِئْ", "أَنِرْ", "وَ-أَضِئْ", "وَأَنِرْ", "يُضيءُ"]·ben["আলোকিত-কর", "আলোকিত-করো", "উজ্জ্বল-কর", "এবং-আলোকিত-কর", "এবং-উজ্জ্বল-করো", "প্রকাশিত-করুন"]·DE["Sache-zu-leuchten", "[והאר]", "geben-Licht-zu", "machen-leuchten", "und-machen-leuchten"]·EN["and-cause-to-shine", "and-make-shine", "cause-to-shine", "give-light-to", "make-shine"]·FR["briller", "et-illuminer", "et-le-briller", "le-briller"]·heb["האירה", "האר", "ו-האר", "יאר"]·HI["और-चमका", "चमका", "चमकाए"]·ID["dan-bersinar-kiranya", "dan-sinarilah", "kiranya-menyinari", "sinarilah", "terangilah"]·IT["e-illuminare", "e-illumino'", "fa'-risplendere", "illumino'"]·jav["Mugi-nyunaraken", "lan-sunaraken", "madhangi", "mugi-madhangi", "mugi-sumorot", "padhanganana", "saha-madhangi"]·KO["그리고-비추소서", "밝히소서", "비추소서"]·PT["Faze-resplandecer", "e-faze-resplandecer", "faze-resplandecer", "faça-resplandecer", "ilumina"]·RU["да-осияет", "и-просвети", "и-яви", "освети", "просвети", "яви"]·ES["Haz-resplandecer", "alumbra", "haga-brillar", "haz-resplandecer", "y-haz-brillar", "y-haz-resplandecer"]·SW["Angaza", "angaza", "atuangazie", "na-uangaze", "na-uangazishe", "uangaze", "uangazie"]·TR["Parlat", "aydınlat", "parlat", "parlatsın", "ve-aydınlat", "ve-parlat"]·urd["اور-روشن-کر", "اور-چمکا", "روشن-کر", "روشنی-دے", "چمکا", "چمکائے"]
3. shine, be bright (Qal) — Qal intransitive: to shine, become light, be bright — the basic stative/inchoative sense with 6 occurrences. In Gen 44:3 'the morning was light' (ha'boqer or); in 1 Sam 14:27 Jonathan's eyes 'became bright' after tasting honey; in Prov 4:18 the path of the righteous 'shines brighter and brighter.' Spanish resplandecer and French briller both select intransitive luminosity vocabulary. The Isa 60:1 imperative ori ('shine!') addressed to Zion is a pivotal theological text, commanding the city to radiate the glory that has risen upon her. The distinction from sense 1 is grammatical (Qal vs. Hifil) and semantic — here the subject itself shines rather than causing something else to be lit. 6×
AR["(وَ-أَنَارَتْ)", "أَضَاءَ", "أَضِيئِي", "أَنَارَتْ", "وَ-يُنِيرُ", "وَنورٌ"]·ben["(আর-উজ্জ্বল-হল)", "আলো", "উজ্জ্বল-হও", "উজ্জ্বল-হয়েছে", "এবং-আলো", "ও-আলো"]·DE["[אורי]", "brightened", "und-Licht", "wurde-hell"]·EN["and-light", "and-shining", "and-they-brightened", "brightened", "light", "shine"]·FR["[אורי]", "brightened", "et-ils-brightened", "et-lumière", "et-ואור", "lumière"]·heb["אורו", "האיר", "האירי", "ו-אור", "ו-ארו"]·HI["उजाला-हुई", "और-उजल-हो", "और-चमकीं", "और-प्रकाशमान", "चमक", "चमकीं"]·ID["bersinar", "bersinar-sinarlah", "dan-bersinarlah", "dan-terang", "terang"]·IT["[אורי]", "brightened", "e-brillare", "e-essi-brightened", "e-luce", "luce"]·jav["(lan-padhang)", "lan-padhang", "padhang", "sumunar"]·KO["그리고-밝아졌다", "그리고-빛남-에", "그리고-빛이", "밝아졌다", "밝았다", "빛나라"]·PT["(e-iluminaram-se)", "e-iluminando", "e-luz", "ilumina", "iluminaram-se", "luz"]·RU["(и-просветлели)", "и-свет", "и-светлеющий", "просветлели", "рассвело", "свети"]·ES["(y-se-iluminaron)", "luz", "resplandece", "se-iluminaron", "y-en-aumento", "y-luz"]·SW["angaza", "na-ku-ng’aa", "na-nuru", "na-yakaona", "nyepesi", "ona"]·TR["(ve-parladı)", "aydınlık", "parla", "parladı", "ve-parlayan", "ve-ışık"]·urd["(اور-روشن-ہوئیں)", "اور-روشن", "اور-روشنی", "روشن-ہوئی", "روشن-ہوئیں", "چمک"]
4. be illuminated, be glorious (Nifal) — Nifal passive/reflexive: to be illuminated, be resplendent, dawn upon — three occurrences in elevated poetic contexts. In 2 Sam 2:32 'it dawned' (vayyeor) as Joab's men reached Hebron; in Job 33:30 God acts 'to be lighted with the light of life' (a remarkable passive describing revival); in Ps 76:4 God is 'resplendent' (naor) from the mountains of prey. Spanish resplandeciente and German glorreich ('glorious') both reach for luminous-majesty vocabulary. The Nifal here implies being enveloped in or permeated by light from an external source — a theological image of creatures participating in divine radiance rather than generating their own. 3×
AR["فَأَضَاءَ", "لِ-يُضيءَ", "مُنِيرٌ"]·ben["আর-স্পষ্ট-হল", "আলোকিত-হতে", "দীপ্তিমান"]·DE["glorious", "und-dawned", "zum-Licht"]·EN["and-dawned", "glorious", "to-be-lighted"]·FR["briller", "et-dawned", "לאור"]·heb["ו-יאור", "ל-אור", "נאור"]·HI["और-उजाला-हुआ", "नाओर", "प्रकाशित-होने-के-लिए"]·ID["Bersinar", "dan-terang", "untuk-diterangi"]·IT["brillare", "e-dawned", "illumino'"]·jav["Madhangi", "kanggé-dipunpadhangaken", "lan-padhang"]·KO["그리고-밝아졌다", "비추기-위해", "빛나시도다"]·PT["Resplandecente", "e-clareou", "para-iluminar-se"]·RU["и-рассвело", "светел", "чтобы-осветить"]·ES["Resplandeciente", "para-iluminarse", "y-amaneció"]·SW["Mwenye-nuru", "kuangaziwa", "na-kulipambazukia"]·TR["aydınlanmak-için", "ve-ağardı", "ışıklı"]·urd["اور-روشنی-ہوئی", "جلال-والا", "روشن ہونے کے لیے"]
5. kindle, light a lamp (Hifil) — Hifil with the specific sense of kindling or lighting a fire or lamp — 3 occurrences where the emphasis falls on physical ignition rather than celestial or metaphorical illumination. In Ps 18:28 'you light my lamp' (ta'ir neri); in Isa 27:11 women come 'kindling' the branches (a debated verse but the fire-lighting sense is clear); and Mal 1:10 where God says 'you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain.' Spanish encender ('to ignite, kindle') and German anzunden both select combustion-specific vocabulary, sharply distinct from the 'illumination' words used in senses 1-2. This concrete, domestic sense likely preserves the oldest layer of the root, as the Arabic cognate awwara ('to kindle a fire') confirms. 3×
AR["تُضِيءُ", "تُوقِدُونَ", "يُشْعِلْنَ"]·ben["আলোকিত-করেন", "জ্বালিয়ে", "তোমরা-জ্বালবে"]·DE["Licht", "[מאירות]", "[תאירו]"]·EN["kindling", "light"]·FR["[מאירות]", "briller", "illuminer"]·heb["מאירות", "תאיר", "תאירו"]·HI["जलाएगा", "जलाती-हुई", "तुम-जलाओ"]·ID["kamu-menyalakan", "menerangi", "menyalakan"]·IT["[מאירות]", "illuminare", "illumino'"]·jav["Panjenengan-madhangi", "nyumed", "panjenengan-sumet"]·KO["밝히리라", "밝히시나이다", "불타우리니"]·PT["acendereis", "acenderás", "queimando"]·RU["зажгут", "зажжёте", "зажигаешь"]·ES["encenderás", "encenderéis", "encendiéndola"]·SW["mtawasha", "unawasha", "wakiwasha"]·TR["atess-yakanlar", "yakacaksınız", "yakarsın"]·urd["تم-روشن-کرو", "جلاتی-ہیں", "روشن-کرتا-ہے"]
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
[אוֹר43] vb. be or become light (cf. Arabic أَوَّرَ enkindle, Aramaic (Nasar.) ܐܘܪ Aph. illumine, & deriv. in Assyrian)— Qal Pf. אוֹר Gn 44:3 +; אֹ֫רוּ 1 S 14:29; Impf. 3 fpl. וַתָּאֹרְנָה 1 S 14:27 Qr; Pt. אוֹר Pr 4:18 (Ges§ 72 R. 1); Imv. fs. א֫וֹרִי Is 60:1;—become light, shine of sun (especially in early morn.) Gn 44:3 (J) 1 S 29:10 Pr 4:18 Is 60:1; of eyes (owing to refreshment) 1 S…