נְהָרָה
𐤍𐤄𐤓𐤄
nᵉhârâh
H5105 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Daylight, natural light, especially as distinguished from darkness or nighttime. Refers specifically to the light of day, whether as a general concept or as an observable phenomenon during the day. The term emphasizes the brightness and clarity of daylight as opposed to artificial illumination or the obscurity of night.
Semantic Range
daylight, natural brightness, shining light, radiance, outpouring or streaming of light
Root / Etymology
From the root נהר (n-h-r), meaning 'to flow' or 'to shine, to stream forth.' In this derivative form, the noun נְהָרָה (nehârâh) focuses on the radiant, flowing quality of light, especially that which is abundant during the day. The nominal form shifts the concrete root image to an abstract sense of illumination, in alignment with related Semitic cognates denoting brightness or streams of light.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נְהָרָה occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is poetic or literary in register. Its primary attested use is in Daniel 6:20 Aramaic (see note: Hebrew usage is extremely rare; the corresponding Aramaic form, נְהוֹרָה, is more common and refers to brightness or brilliance, especially in Daniel and other post-exilic literature). In biblical Hebrew itself, more common terms for daylight or light are אוֹר (ʾôr, 'light'), whereas נְהָרָה conveys the concept of the flowing or streaming out of daylight, possibly with a more vivid, active nuance. In later Jewish Aramaic and post-biblical usage, derivatives of this root came to denote any kind of radiant light, including that of the sun or celestial bodies. Some traditional English translations render the term simply as 'light', but without conveying this luminous, outpouring aspect. The root is distinct from יָמָם (yāmam, 'day'), which indicates the period of daylight rather than the quality of the light itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָהַר in its original sense; daylight; light.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נהר (n-h-r) — to flow, to stream forth, to shine
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4492 | מִנְהָרָה | the rock-crevices |
| H5094 | נְהִיר | brightness |
| H5102 | נָהַר | and you radiated |
| H5103 | נְהַר | the river |
| H5104 | נָהָר | in the flowing river |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5105-01 |
נְהָרָֽה | neharah | HNcfsa |
light | streaming daylight | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5105-01 |
Job 3:4 | נְהָרָֽה | neharah | HNcfsa |
light | streaming daylight |