OHR - LIGHT, LIGHTNING, ILLUMINATION

And God said, “Let there be light (ohr),” and there was light (ohr). ⁴ God saw that the light (ohr) was good, and he separated the light (ohr) from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light (ohr) “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Genesis 1: 3 (NIV)

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INTRODUCTION

The Hebrew word for light is ohr. In ancient times, light and darkness did not usually depict physical photons, but rather the state of being of a person. Yeshua Himself pointed to this in Matthew 6: 23. Our state of being is heavily connected to our state of mind, or the thoughts of our mind - heart.

THE HEBREW WORD OHR

"Let there be light", was how God began His creation on day one. The Hebrew word used was ohr. It means light, lightning, illumination, lights, daylight, dawn, and so forth. (2)

The word originates from the primitive verb or, meaning shine, give light, light, or "to be luminous". (3)

MODERN CONCEPT OF LIGHT

When we hear the word light today, we instantly think of the sun, stars, moon, sunrise, sunrays, or electrical lamps of all sorts of different varieties. Some think of the physics behind light photons and how they operate. And some associate it with the day. That is the modern concept of light.

ANCIENT CONCEPT OF LIGHT IN GENESIS 1

In ancient times, especially regarding Genesis 1, the word light did not depict the physical photons behind how light operates. In many circumstances, light and darkness spoke of the state of being. (4)

That is why the Aaronic blessing speaks of the Lord's countenance being lifted upon us. When people are angry, bitter, or jealous, their countenance turns dark, alongside their mood. Have you noticed that yourself?

Yes, it is from the heart that come thoughts that defile us, says the Lord. Our state of being is heavily connected to our state of mind. And in Matthew 6: 23 (KJV) Yeshua adds, "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

YESHUA, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Yeshua has come to shed light on the Truth. The one who sinned not has come to show us the face of the Father that is in Heaven. He has come to turn our hearts toward our Father in Heaven. He has come, as the light of the World, to help us renew our minds.

After He was resurrected and ascended back to Heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell within the believers as was prophesied and promised would happen in Ezekiel 36: 25-27 (KJV):

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Ezekiel 36: 25-27 (KJV)

CONCLUSION

The creation of the world began with the famous words, "Let there be light." The Hebrew word used was ohr. It means light, lightning, lights, illumination, and so forth. It originates in the verb or, meaning shine, give light, light, or "to be luminous". In the ancient concept of thinking light and darkness in many cases described not the physical photons but rather the state of being, which is closely related to our state of minds - our thoughts.

Application

Abba, reveal to me any darkness still lingering in my heart, preventing me from walking in the light and the fullness you have in store for me.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com

2. Bible Hub. Or. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/216.htm

3. Bible Hub. Or. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/215.htm

4. Dr. Nichlas Schaser. Israelite creation in context. Israel Bible Center. Available at https://israelbiblecenter.com/courses/creation-and-torah-stories/israelite-creation-in-context