What does מָאוֹר (māʾwōr) mean in the Bible?
מָאוֹר (māʾwōr): Light as active illuminator—from physical luminary to emotional brightness, capturing radiance as both phenomenon and mood.
Hebrew · H3974
מָאוֹר
Properly, a luminous body or luminary , i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element); figuratively, brightness , i.e. cheerfulness ; specifically, a chandelier
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מָאוֹרH3974
Pronunciationmāʾwōr
What does מָאוֹר (māʾwōr) mean in the Bible?
מָאוֹר (māʾwōr): Light as active illuminator—from physical luminary to emotional brightness, capturing radiance as both phenomenon and mood.
Full entry for מָאוֹר (H3974) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3974?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include for the light (8), light (2), lights (2), as lights (1), for light (1).
Where does מָאוֹר (māʾwōr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:14. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (7), Genesis (5), Numbers (2), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itfor the light8×Exodus 25:6, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 35:8, Exodus 35:14
light2×Genesis 1:16
lights2×Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:16
as lights1×Genesis 1:15
for light1×Exodus 35:14
in the light1×Psalms 90:8
The light1×Proverbs 15:30
the moon1×Psalms 74:16
the shining1×Ezekiel 32:8
used for light1×Numbers 4:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:14מְאֹרֹת֙tolightsNoun - masculine pluralGenesis 1:15לִמְאוֹרֹת֙toas lightsPreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralGenesis 1:16הַמְּאֹרֹ֖תtolightsArticle | Noun - masculine pluralGenesis 1:16הַמָּא֤וֹרtolightArticle | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 1:16הַמָּא֤וֹרtolightArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 25:6לַמָּאֹ֑רtofor the lightPreposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 27:20לַמָּא֑וֹרtofor the lightPreposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 35:8לַמָּא֑וֹרtofor the lightPreposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 35:14הַמָּא֛וֹרtofor lightArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 35:14הַמָּאֽוֹר׃tofor the lightArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 1:14
Aligned rows19
Books represented7
Genesis5Exodus7Leviticus1Numbers2Psalms2Proverbs1Ezekiel1
Source forms
לַמָּא֑וֹר3xlam·mā·’ō·wrExodus 27:20, Exodus 35:8, Leviticus 24:2
הַמָּא֤וֹר2xham·mā·’ō·wrGenesis 1:16
הַמָּאוֹר֙2xham·mā·’ō·wrNumbers 4:9, Numbers 4:16
הַמָּאֽוֹר׃2xham·mā·’ō·wrExodus 35:14, Exodus 39:37
הַמָּא֛וֹר1xham·mā·’ō·wrExodus 35:14
הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת1xham·mə·’ō·rōṯGenesis 1:16
לְמָא֕וֹר1xlə·mā·’ō·wrExodus 35:28
לִמְא֥וֹר1xlim·’ō·wrPsalms 90:8
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular7xGenesis 1:16, Exodus 35:14, Exodus 39:37, Numbers 4:9
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular4xExodus 25:6, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 35:8, Leviticus 24:2
Article | Noun - masculine plural1xGenesis 1:16
Noun - masculine plural1xGenesis 1:14
Noun - masculine plural construct1xEzekiel 32:8
Noun - masculine singular1xPsalms 74:16
Noun - masculine singular construct1xProverbs 15:30
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural1xGenesis 1:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Light as active illuminator—from physical luminary to emotional brightness, capturing radiance as both phenomenon and mood.
Source Gloss
properly, a luminous body or luminary , i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element); figuratively, brightness , i.e. cheerfulness ; specifically, a chandelier
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Light as active illuminator—from physical luminary to emotional brightness, capturing radiance as both phenomenon and mood.
properly, a luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an element); figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness; specifically, a chandelier BDB: luminary Usage: bright, light.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Celestial luminaries, sun and moon, created to give light to earth
Figurative brightness or cheerfulness that brings health and refreshment
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָאוֹר is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.