בָּרַק

From the study of Psalm 144:6

Range of meaning

The noun bārāq means lightning, the flash of lightning, and by extension the gleam of a polished weapon ('the flashing sword,' Deut 32:41; Nah 3:3). The verb bāraq, 'to send lightning, to flash,' appears only here in the Hebrew Bible. Related words in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian birqu and Ugaritic brq, carry the same meaning.

Against the English

BSB and ESV 'flash forth (Your) lightning,' KJV 'cast forth lightning,' and WEB 'throw out lightning' all have the sense right. Most drop the sound play of the Hebrew, where one word is said twice ('lightning a lightning'). NLT 'hurl your lightning bolts' brings out the weapon idea.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Ps 18:14 (Hebrew 18:15), the passage this verse is built on, 'lightnings' (bᵉrāqîm) are God's weapons. Lightning is also God's weapon in Ps 77:18, Ps 97:4, Zech 9:14 ('his arrow will go out like lightning') and Hab 3:11. At Ugarit, Baal is called the one who gives 'his voice' (thunder) and 'flashes of lightning' (brqm). The famous 'Baal au foudre' stele shows him holding a lightning spear.