the Berasit Hebrew Dictionary

השל

Typically, heshel has been translated into two very different words.

Sometimes it is rendered “rule” or “dominion”, and other times “light”.

Furthermore, Strong's concordance assigns three separate numbers to the word: 4474, 4475, and 4910 (Gen 1:18). audit and compare these. See strong_errors

7287 is also translated “rule”, but is based on a completely different root, 'rod' meaning descend. See rodim

It is possible that heshel may support a metaphorical meaning of rule/dominion/influence under a literal meaning of shining/light.

The shining meaning yields possibilities for a more literal interpretation which appears to fit contextually in some cases, particularly that of Genesis 1.