בָּזָק
𐤁𐤆𐤒
bâzâq
H965 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flash or bolt of lightning; denotes the sudden, brilliant appearance of lightning during a storm. The term evokes vivid imagery of a rapid and intense burst of light, typically associated with meteorological phenomena in ancient Israelite texts.
Semantic Range
flash of lightning, sudden burst of light, rapid visual brilliance
Root / Etymology
Root consonants ב-ז-ק (בזק). Possible root meaning is 'to shine' or 'to flash,' but no clearly attested verbal form exists in Biblical Hebrew. The noun appears as a primary term referring to the visual event of a lightning flash.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בָּזָק appears only in Nahum 2:5 (Eng. 2:4), describing the brilliant, fleeting light accompanying the movement of chariots in battle, likened to flashes of lightning. The imagery is distinctly poetic and may allude to the awe and terror inspired by storms. This term was likely not a technical or common meteorological term but rather part of the poetic lexical repertoire. In later Hebrew, related roots or forms (e.g., בזק in post-Biblical Hebrew) acquire senses related to rapid movement or shining. Distinguished from other Hebrew lightning terms such as בָּרָק (H1300, baraq), which is far more common and may also refer to literal lightning or metaphorical brightness. Standard English translations render the term as 'flash of lightning,' which accurately captures the context, though the word's literary rarity should be noted. No evidence for ethnic, geographic, or religious meanings is present for this word.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to lighten; a flash of lightning; flash of lightning.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בזק (b-z-q) — to flash, to shine, to make bright
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H965-01 |
הַ/בָּזָֽק | habazaq | HTd/Ncmsa |
of lightning | the lightning-flash | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H965-01 |
Ezekiel 1:14 | הַ/בָּזָֽק | habazaq | HTd/Ncmsa |
of lightning | the lightning-flash |