ba.raq denotes lightning, especially in storm and divine-display scenes, and in imagery of flashing weapons.

The term chiefly appears for lightning in scenes of storm, brightness, and divine action; a smaller set of occurrences uses the same brightness or flash imagery in clauses involving weapons or an arrow.

1. Lightning in storm and display scenes · dominant

   Plural forms occur amid visible and audible phenomena: in Exodus 19:16 the APB renders thunders, lightnings, cloud, and trumpet blast on the mountain, while in Jeremiah 10:13 it renders lightning made with rain and wind. In Job 38:35 the plural is sent forth, and in Psalm 97:4 the construct plural is presented as lighting the world so that the earth trembles.

   Exodus 19:16Jeremiah 10:13Job 38:35Psalm 97:4Psalm 135:7Psalm 144:6
2. Flash imagery with weapons and arrows · common

   Construct singular forms occur in weapon-focused clauses: in Deuteronomy 32:41 the APB renders a lightning sword, and in Habakkuk 3:11 it renders the brightness of a lightning spear. In Nahum 3:3 the APB places a flash of a sword and lightning of a spear amid the horseman and slain, while Zechariah 9:14 compares an arrow's going forth to lightning.

   Deuteronomy 32:41Habakkuk 3:11Nahum 3:3Ezekiel 21:15Zechariah 9:14

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term as “lightning” or “lightnings,” and in weapon clauses also uses wording such as “flash” and “flashing lightning.” These renderings indicate the clauses' presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent for each form.