וְעַתָּ֡ה כִּמְעַט רֶגַע֩ הָיְתָ֨הplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigהָיָה

hebrew

The word הָיָה means “to exist” or “to be” or “to become” or “to come into being” and occurs 3561 times in the Old Testament.

This is the foundational verb of existence, identity, becoming and occurrence.

* It is used in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, represented by the English words Genesis 1:3Exodus 3:12Ruth 1:1Isaiah 2:2 תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֣הplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigיְהוָֹה

hebrew

Meaning

* Yahweh - God's personal name

It is not a generic term for “god”, but rather the word יְהוָֹה (YHWH) is the name by which God uniquely identifies himself in the Old Testament.

First appearing in Genesis 2:4, it occurs over 6,000 times in the Old Testament.Exodus 3:14Deuteronomy 6:4Psalm 23:1Romans 10:13Joel 2:32Exodus 20:7Psalm 18:1Exodus 15:3Psalm 8:1Genesis 2:41 Samuel 1:3Judges 6:24Genesis 22:14Jeremiah 23:6 אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאֱלֹהִים

hebrew

Meanings:

* God * god * goddess * divine ones * angels

Noun, masculine לְהַשְׁאִ֥יר לָ֨נוּ֙ פְּלֵיטָ֔ה וְלָתֶת לָ֥נוּ יָתֵ֖ד בִּמְק֣וֹם קָדְשׁ֑וֹ לְהָאִ֤ירplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאוֹר

hebrew

Meaning:

* To be light * To shine * To give light * To illuminate

Verb occurring around 20 times in the Old Testament. It is sometimes used literally, and, at other times, figuratively.

Biblical Examples

Intransitive sense

Used when light itself shines or dawns.Isaiah 60:1Exodus 13:21 עֵינֵ֨ינוּ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאֱלֹהִים

hebrew

Meanings:

* God * god * goddess * divine ones * angels

Noun, masculine וּלְתִתֵּ֛נוּ מִֽחְיָ֥ה מְעַ֖ט בְּעַבְדֻתֵֽנוּ