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אוֹר

𐤀𐤅𐤓

ʼôwr

H215 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To shine or emit light, whether literal (as in the shining of the sun, moon, or fire) or metaphorical (as in bringing clarity, guidance, or well-being). The verb encompasses both the act of emitting light and causing something or someone to be illuminated or enlightened. In causative (Hiphil) stems, it indicates making something light or bright, causing to shine, or enlightening (intellectually or morally).

Semantic Range

to shine, to emit light, to be illuminated, to give light or brightness, to enlighten (mentally or spiritually), to make something or someone shine, to bring to light, to clarify or reveal

Root / Etymology

From the root אוֹר (ʼ-w-r), carrying the fundamental sense of light or brightness. This verbal root primarily expresses the notion of shining or causing to shine, which forms the basis for forms meaning 'light' (noun) and 'to be/act light, to illuminate' (verb).

Historical & Contextual Notes

אוֹר is attested in both literal and figurative senses throughout the Hebrew Bible. In the physical sense, it refers to sunlight (Gen 1:15), moonlight, or firelight. Metaphorically, its use extends to themes such as salvation, favor, vitality, and divine revelation (e.g., Ps 18:29; Isa 60:1). The Hiphil (causative) form can mean to enlighten, teach, or make evident, appearing in contexts of instruction or wisdom literature (Ps 119:130). The root is also related to the noun אוֹר ('light'), further emphasizing the conceptual link between shining and illumination. While later translations sometimes render metaphoric uses as 'glory,' 'joy,' or 'prosperity,' the original range is broader, covering a variety of positive states associated with illumination. There are related Hebrew roots (e.g., נָהַר), but אוֹר especially emphasizes the act or process of emitting or communicating light. Over time, the metaphorical extension of 'enlightenment' became more prominent in post-biblical Hebrew and Jewish interpretive tradition.

Translation Consistency

primary "illuminate" 13 occurrences

“Illuminate” naturally covers both literal shining/emitting light (the sun, moon, lamp illuminates) and the causative/figurative sense of making something clear or enlightened (intellectually or morally). It reads naturally as both intransitive and transitive, avoids the ignition-sense ambiguity of “light,” and is a clearer, more consistent fit across the verb’s full SILEX range than alternatives like “shine” or the generic “cause.”

Alternatives (30 occurrences):
"shine" (10x) "shone" (3x) "make shine" (3x) "give light" (2x) "gives light" (2x) "became light" (1x) "enlightened" (1x) "when it is light" (1x) "those who set afire" (1x) "caused to shine" (1x) "kindle" (1x) "enlightening" (1x) "shining" (1x) "light" (1x) "causes to shine" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically); [idiom] break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אור (ʾ-w-r) — to shine, to become bright, to illuminate, to give light

Root אור to shine, to become bright, to illuminate, to give light
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1160 בְּעוֹר light of
H216 אוֹר in your light
H217 אוּר in the fire
H218 אוּר in Ur
H219 אוֹרָה radiance

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H215-05 לְ/הָאִ֖יר lehair HR/Vhc to give light to cause to shine to illuminate 7
H215-24 יָאִ֣יר yair HVhi3ms shines He shines will shine 5
H215-20 וְ/הָאֵ֥ר vehaer HC/Vhv2ms and cause to shine and cause to shine and cause to shine 3
H215-14 תָּאִ֣יר tair HVhi2ms makes shine you will cause to shine causes to shine 2
H215-01 הָאֵ֥ר haer HVhv2ms cause to shine Cause to shine cause to shine 2
H215-23 יָאֵ֨ר yaer HVhj3ms cause to shine may he make shine may he make shine 2
H215-18 וַ/יָּ֖אֶר vayaer HC/Vhw3ms and-he-has-shined and he made shine and he illuminated 2
H215-02 הָאִ֥ירָ/ה hairah HVhv2ms/Sh make shine the fortified settlement cause to shine 2
H215-04 הֵאִ֣ירוּ heiru HVhp3cp lighted up they caused to shine they caused to illuminate 2
H215-19 וַ/יֵּאֹ֥ר vayeor HC/Vqw3ms and dawned and he shone and it shone 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H215-05 Genesis 1:15 לְ/הָאִ֖יר lehair HR/Vhc to give light to cause to shine to illuminate
H215-05 Genesis 1:17 לְ/הָאִ֖יר lehair HR/Vhc to light to cause to shine to illuminate
H215-11 Genesis 44:3 א֑וֹר or HVqp3ms was light light became light
H215-05 Exodus 13:21 לְ/הָאִ֣יר lehair HR/Vhc to-give-light to cause to shine to illuminate
H215-18 Exodus 14:20 וַ/יָּ֖אֶר vayaer HC/Vhw3ms and it illuminated and he made shine and it shone
H215-21 Exodus 25:37 וְ/הֵאִ֖יר veheir HC/Vhq3ms and it shall give light and he caused to shine and it shall shine
H215-23 Numbers 6:25 יָאֵ֨ר yaer HVhj3ms make shine may he make shine may he make shine
H215-25 Numbers 8:2 יָאִ֖ירוּ yairu HVhi3mp shall-give-light they will cause to shine they shall give light
H215-17 1 Samuel 14:27 וַ/תָּאֹ֖רְנָה vataorenah HC/Vqw3fp and brightened and they shone and they shone
H215-13 1 Samuel 14:29 אֹ֣רוּ oru HVqp3cp have been enlightened Shine! they have been enlightened
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