Reference: Light
American
One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9; 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19; 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of light, Re 21:23-25. The opposite of all these is "darkness."
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With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and concealed himself from them.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is the light of it. And the nations of them who are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. read more. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there.
Easton
the offspring of the divine command (Ge 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1Ki 11:36; Isa 58:8; Es 8:16; Ps 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps 119:105; Isa 8:20; Mt 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Col 1:12; Re 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1Ti 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Mt 5:16; Joh 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Mal 4:2; Lu 2:32; Joh 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (Jas 1:17). It is used of angels (2Co 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (Joh 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Mt 5:14).
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And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And to his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for me to put my name there.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rear-ward.
But to you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The people who sat in darkness, saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shades of death, light hath arisen.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
The same came for a witness, to bear testimony of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear testimony of that Light. read more. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is the light of it. And the nations of them who are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. read more. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there.
Hastings
To the ancient mind light was a holy thing, and the Scriptures associate it with God. He dwells in light (Ex 24:10; 1Ti 6:16); He is clothed with light (Ps 104:2); He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jo 1:5); His glory is the effulgence of His light (Re 21:23). Cf. the ancient Greek Evening Hymn rendered by Keble: 'Hail, gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured,' etc. Hence Jesus, God Incarnate, is called 'the Light of the world' (Joh 1:4-5,9; 18:12), 'an effulgence of the glory of God' (Heb 1:3); and salvation is defined as walking in His light and being enlightened by it (Joh 8:12; 12:36,38; 1Jo 1:7; 2Co 4:6; Eph 5:8,14; 1Th 5:5; 1Pe 2:3). And Christians as His representatives and witnesses are the light of the world (Mt 5:14,16; Php 2:15). On the contrary, a godless life is darkness (Joh 3:10; 8:12; 12:46; 1Jo 2:11).
David Smith.
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And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire-stone, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and concealed himself from them.
That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
I am come a light into the world, that whoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;
Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is the light of it.
Morish
Besides the references to physical light as existing distinct from the sun, and then emanating from the sun as the great light-bearer, the term is mainly used in scripture in a moral sense. Light from God is His word revealing Himself, and not only making manifest the dangers here, but acting as a lamp in showing the true path. Ps 119:105. The Psalmist asked Jehovah to lift upon him the light of His countenance ( Ps 4:6 ), and declared that Jehovah Himself was his light, Ps 27:1. As natural light brings vigour and health to the body, so the light of God gives cheerfulness and strength to the soul.
God is light, and the Lord Jesus came to the earth as the true light which lighteth every man. He not only exposed all the evil in the world and all the false pretensions of the leaders of Israel; but "the life was the light of men." Joh 1:4; 8:12. Christians are "light in the Lord," and are exhorted to walk as "children of light." Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:5. In the midst of darkness they are set to shine as lights in the world. Php 2:15. A grave responsibility rests upon them lest they should not have the heavenly lustre that would characterise them as having in their hearts the light of the glory of the Lord. If the light in the Christian become darkness by his not walking in the reality of it, how great is that darkness! Mt 6:23.
It has been very properly said that light is appropriately descriptive of God; for light, invisible in itself, manifests everything. Christians, as we have seen, are 'light in the Lord,' and thus convict the unfruitful works of darkness; but here we may notice that it is not said of them, as of God, that they are 'love,' for love is the sovereign spring of activity in God.
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There are many that say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance.
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
But if thy eye be evil, thy whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Watsons
LIGHT, ???, is used in a physical sense, Mt 17:2; Ac 9:3; 12:7; 2Co 4:6; for a fire giving light, Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56; for a torch, candle, or lamp, Ac 16:29; and for the material light of heaven, as the sun, moon, or stars, Ps 136:7; Jas 1:17. Figuratively taken, it signifies a manifest or open state of things, Mt 10:27; Lu 12:3; also prosperity, truth, and joy.
God is said to dwell in light inaccessible, 1Ti 6:16. This seems to contain a reference to the glory and splendour which shone in the holy of holies, where Jehovah appeared in the luminous cloud above the mercy seat, and which none but the high priest, and he only once a year, was permitted to approach unto, Le 16:2; Eze 1:22,26,28; but this was typical of the glory of the celestial world. It signifies, also, instruction, both by doctrine and example, Mt 5:16; Joh 5:35; or persons considered as giving such light, Mt 5:14; Ro 2:19. It is applied figuratively to Christ, the true Light, the Sun of Righteousness, who is that in the spiritual, which the material light is in the natural, world; who is the great Author, not only of illumination and knowledge, but of spiritual life, health, and joy to the souls of men.
The images of light and darkness, says Bishop Lowth, are commonly made use of in all languages to imply or denote prosperity and adversity, agreeably to the common sense and perception which all men have of the objects themselves. But the Hebrews employ those metaphors more frequently and with less variation than other people: indeed, they seldom refrain from them whenever the subject requires or will even admit of their introduction. These expressions, therefore, may be accounted among those forms of speech, which in the parabolic style are established and defined; since they exhibit the most noted and familiar images, and the application of them on this occasion is justified by an acknowledged analogy, and approved by constant and unvarying custom. In the use of images, so conspicuous and so familiar among the Hebrews, a degree of boldness is excusable. The Latins introduce them more sparingly, and therefore are more cautious in the application of them. But the Hebrews, upon a subject more sublime indeed, in itself, and illustrating it by an idea which was more habitual to them, more daringly exalt their strains, and give a loose rein to the spirit of poetry. They display, for instance, not the image of the spring, of Aurora, of the dreary night, but the sun and stars as rising with increased splendour in a new creation, or again involved in chaos and primeval darkness. Does the sacred bard promise to his people a renewal of the divine favour, and a recommencement of universal prosperity? In what magnificent colours does he depict it! Such, indeed, as no translation can illustrate, but such as none can obscure:
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And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail, before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark; that he may not die: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign on mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to thee: but the LORD will be to thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD will be thy everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one speaking.
Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyre, that were in thee, were thy pilots.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that publish ye upon the house-tops.
And he was transfigured before them: and his face shone as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And Peter followed him at a distance, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Therefore, whatever ye have spoken in darkness, shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined around him a light from heaven:
And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas;
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them who are in darkness,
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.