Light (5457) (phos from pháo = to shine) is defined by many lexicons as that which contrasts with darkness. Light is the medium of illumination that makes sight possible or makes things visible. In Scripture phos can refer to literal, physical light (Ge 1:3), but often is used metaphorically or symbolically, the greatest metaphorical use being used to symbolize Jesus as "the Light of the world." (Jn 8:12).
Zodhiates says figuratively phos means...
moral and spiritual light and knowledge which enlightens the mind, soul or conscience; including also the idea of moral goodness, purity and holiness, and of consequent reward and happiness. (Zodhiates, S. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. AMG or Logos or Wordsearch)
Friberg has a good summary of phos...
Literally light; (1) by metonymy (Ed: figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute), of sources or bearers of illumination, as (sun)light (Rev 22.5b); (star)light, as one of many heavenly lights (Jas 1.17); (fire)light (Mk 14.54); (lamp)light (Lk 8.16); (torch or lantern) light (Acts 16.29);
(2) as a religious metaphor, used especially of God as the ultimate source of light and of the sphere where he exists (1Ti 6.16; 1Jn 1.5);
(3) figuratively openness; idiomatically "en to photi" = literally in the light, i.e. openly, publicly (Mt 10.27);
(4) figuratively; (a) as divine illumination or understanding given to the spirit and soul of human beings (Mt 4.16); (b) as a person who bears or brings such illumination to others (Ro 2.19); (c) as a person who guides the way he lives by such understanding (Eph 5.8; 1Th 5.5)(Friberg, T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Baker Academic)
Vine summarizes phos...
akin to phaō, to give light (from roots pha— and phan—, expressing light as seen by the eye, and, metaphorically, as reaching the mind, whence phainō, to make to appear phaneros, evident, etc.); cp. English, phosphorus (lit., light–bearing). “Primarily light is a luminous emanation, probably of force, from certain bodies, which enables the eye to discern form and color. Light requires an organ adapted for its reception (Mt 6:22). Where the eye is absent, or where it has become impaired from any cause, light is useless. Man, naturally, is incapable of receiving spiritual light inasmuch as he lacks the capacity for spiritual things, 1Cor 2:14. Hence believers are called ‘sons of light,’ Lk 16:8, not merely because they have received a revelation from God, but because in the New Birth they have received the spiritual capacity for it. “
Apart from natural phenomena, light is used in Scripture of
(a) the glory of God’s dwelling–place, 1Ti 6:16;
(b) the nature of God, 1Jn 1:5;
(c) the impartiality of God, Jas 1:17;
(d) the favor of God, Ps. 4:6; of the King, Pr 16:15;
of an influential man, Job 29:24;
(e) God, as the illuminator of His people, Isa. 60:19, 20;
(f) the Lord Jesus as the illuminator of men, Jn 1:4, 5, 9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 36, 46; Acts 13:47;
(g) the illuminating power of the Scriptures, Ps 119:105;
and of the judgments and commandments of God, Isa. 51:4; Pr 6:23, cp. Ps. 43:3;
(h) the guidance of God, Job 29:3; Ps 112:4; Isa. 58:10;
and, ironically, of the guidance of man, Ro 2:19;
(i) salvation, 1Pe 2:9
(j) righteousness, Ro 13:12; 2Cor. 11:14, 15; 1Jn 2:9, 10;
(k) witness for God, Mt 5:14, 16; Jn 5:35;
(l) prosperity and general well–being, Esther 8:16; Job 18:18; Isa. 58:8-10.”
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words - Online)
Webster's 1828 says light is "That ethereal agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense of seeing, but the particles of which are separately invisible."
Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary says "The Bible also speaks of light as the symbol of God’s presence and righteous activity. Light has been associated with the presence, truth, and redemptive activity of God since creation....Misguided fascination with light caused some cultures of the ancient world to worship the sun and moon."
ISBE adds that light "is used throughout the Scriptures as the symbol and synonym of all that is luminous and radiant in the mental, moral and spiritual life of men and angels; while the eternal God, because of His holiness and moral perfection, is pictured as "dwelling in light unapproachable" (1Ti 6:16)."
CONTRAST OF LIGHT & DARKNESS
IN THE SCRIPTURE
There are some 60 passages (both OT and NT) which specifically present light and darkness in direct contrast. (The following passages would make an interesting study) - Ge 1:4f, 18" class="scriptRef">18; 20" class="scriptRef">Ex 14:20; Job 3:4, 9; 12:22, 25; 17:12; 18:6, 18; 24:16; 26:10; 29:3; 30.26" class="scriptRef">30:26; 38:19; Ps 18:28; 112:4; 139:11f; Eccl 2:13; 12:2; Isa 5:20, 30; 9:2; 13:10; 42:16; 45:7; 50:10; 58:10; 59:9; Jer 13:16; Lam 3:2; Ezek 32:7; Dan 2:22; Amos 5:18, 20; Mic 7:8; Matt 4:16; 6:23; 10:27; 24:29; Mk 13:24; Lk 11:34ff; 12:3; Jn 1:5; 3:19; 8:12; 12:35, 46; Acts 26:18; Ro 2:19; 13:12; 1Cor 4:5; 2Cor 4:6; 6:14; Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:5; 1Pet 2:9; 1 John 1:5; 2:8f
Related Resources:
Light in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
Light in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Octavius Winslow on THE GOD OF LIGHT
Phos - 70x in 59v in the NAS - Translated - fire(1), firelight(1), light(68), lights(2).
Matthew 4:16 "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
Comment: Here light has a spiritual meaning in context ultimately describing the Messiah (and His message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mk 1:1)
Matthew 5:14-note "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
Comment: Here light has a spiritual meaning and refers to Christ followers who let there light shine in the spiritually dark, spiritually blind world (see Mt 5:16 below)
Matthew 5:16-note "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Comment: This is an amazing verse in conjunction with 1Jn 1:5 - God is light and His children (Jn 1:12, 1Jn 3:1) are His privileged designated spiritual "light" bearers. Not only did He extract us from dark and give us spiritual eyes to see His light, He then gave us the job to go back to the darkness and live in such a way that our visible lives give a proper of the unseen Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:23-note "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Comment: "The darkness means that a person's eye is focused upon evil; therefore, his whole being is full of darkness or evil." (POSB)
Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
Matthew 17:2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
Mark 14:54 Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.
Luke 2:32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."
Luke 8:16 "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
Luke 11:35 "Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.
Luke 12:3 "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luke 16:8 "And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.
Luke 22:56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, "This man was with Him too."
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
Comment: Here we see Jesus is personified as the Light Who offends the sons of darkness and from Whom they flee, for His Light exposes their evil deeds. As Robert Candlish says "The clear, open sunshine of the presence and countenance of Him Who is Light is no longer tolerable. The covering of fig-leaves, and the hiding-place of the trees of the garden, are preferred. Light henceforth is offensive."
John 5:35 "He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
Comment: When Jesus stated He was the Light of the world, He was clearly (contrary to what so many claim) stating He was God, for God is Light! Darkness speaks of death, ignorance and sin while light speaks of life, truth, holiness (among other things). The Light of the world reproved the sin of the world (Jn 3:20) and the lost sinners of the world who live in spiritual darkness and death (Eph 2:1-3-note, Eph 4:17-19-note, Eph 5:8-note) and who tragically will spend eternity in darkness (Mt 25:30, 8:12, 22:13) if they die without accepting the Light's offer of life (John 8:24, Rev 21:8-note).
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk, till trav’lling days are done.
Horatius Bonar, 1846
John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."
John 11:9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
Acts 9:3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
Acts 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands.
Acts 13:47 "For so the Lord has commanded us, 'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'"
Acts 16:29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
Acts 22:6 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
Acts 22:9 "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
Acts 22:11 "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
Acts 26:13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.
Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from (spiritual) darkness to (spiritual) light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
Comment: This was Jesus' charge to Paul's ministry to the Gentiles - open spiritually blind eyes to see the spiritual truth about God and the Gospel. In this verse the darkness describes the influence and power of Satan. When one is in darkness that person is under the power (he has the "right" and the "might") of Satan.
Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Romans 2:19-note and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
Romans 13:12-note The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
2 Corinthians 4:6-note For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Comment: In this wonderful passage Paul uses the imagery of light to adroitly link creation and the new creation, the OT and NT, the physical reality and the spiritual symbol.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Ephesians 5:8-note for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
Comment: Don't miss what Paul is saying -- he is not saying we simply walked in darkness when we were unbelievers, but that in fact we were the very embodiment of darkness. Our very nature and character outside of Christ were that of darkness!
Ephesians 5:13-note But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
Colossians 1:12-note giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-note for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
1 Timothy 6:16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
James 1:17-note Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Hiebert comments: Lights in the original has the definite article, "the lights," and the primary reference is to the well-known celestial lights, the heavenly luminaries that are the sources of light for our earth. As "the Father" of these lights, God is their source of being, and they reflect the glory of their Creator (Ps 19:1; 136:7). As their Creator and Sustainer, He is not to be identified with them. These luminous celestial bodies must not be worshiped as God, but they testify to the Creator's luminous nature. Their glory and dignity declare the nature and essence of God, that "God is light" (1 John 1:5). He is also the Father of all our spiritual illumination (2Co 4:6).
1 Peter 2:9-note But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim (exaggello, cp to anaggello here in 1Jn 1:5 and apaggello in 1Jn 1:2,3) the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Comment: The motif of bringing a lost, unsaved individual out of darkness into light is a major Biblical image of redemption. This verse is the only NT use of exaggello, the apostle Peter exhorting us to declare abroad, to make widely known, to report widely, to proclaim throughout, to tell everywhere, the Gospel message that the Light has taken us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of God's dear Son (cp Col 1:13-note).
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:7-note but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Revelation 18:23-note and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
Revelation 21:24-note The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
Revelation 22:5-note And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
Phos - 122v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (Lxx) - 3-Gen.1.5" class="scriptRef">Gen 1:3,4,5, 18" class="scriptRef">18; 10.23" class="scriptRef">Ex 10:23; 20" class="scriptRef">20" class="scriptRef">27:20; 35:14; 39:37; 24.2" class="scriptRef">Lev 24:2; 16" class="scriptRef">Num 4:16; 25.34" class="scriptRef">1Sa 25:34, 36; 2 Sam 17:22; 23:4; 2Kgs 7:9; 2Chr 4:20; Esther 1:1; 8:16; 10:3; Job 3:16, 20; 12:22, 25; 17:12; 21" class="scriptRef">18:5f, 18; 11" class="scriptRef">11" class="scriptRef">22:11; 24:16; 26:10; 28:11; 29:3, 24; 33:28, 30; 36:32; 37:3, 11, 15, 21; 38:15, 19; Ps 4:6; 36:9; 37:6; 38:10; 43:3; 49:19; 56:13; 89:15; 97:11; 104:2; 112:4; 119:105; 136:7; 139:12; 148:3; Pr 4:18; 6:23; 13:9; 16:15; 20:27; Eccl 2:13; 11:7; 12:2; Isa 2:5; 4:5; 5:20; 9:2; 10:17; 13:10; 18:4; 26:9; 30:26; 42:6, 16; 45:7; 49:6; 50:10f; 51:4f; 53:11; 58:8, 10; 59:9; 60:1, 3, 19f; 62:1; Jer 4:23; 10:13; 13:16; 25:10; 31:35; 51:16; Lam 3:2; Ezek 32:7f; 41:11; 42:7, 10ff; Dan 2:22; 5:5; 6:19; 10:5; Hos 6:5; 10:12; Amos 5:18, 20; 8:9; Mic 7:9; Hab 3:4, 11; Zeph 3:5; Zech 14:6, 7;
Genesis 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
Comment: The very fact that creation of light is the first recorded event in the Bible emphasizes it vital role in life. How sad that throughout the millennia, men have chosen to worship the creation rather than the Creator Who is blessed forever. Amen. Indeed, even the creation was commanded to give praise to the Creator in Psalm 148:3 "Praise Him sun and moon. Praise Him, all stars of light!"
Psalm 4:6-note Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?" Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
Psalm 36:9-note For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Comment: Beloved, don't you love this declaration "In Your light we see light"! We were once in spiritual darkness, blind to the beauty of the light of God, but as Peter writes that now as believers we "may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1Peter 2:9) Paul affirms this great exchange from darkness to light writing "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2Cor 4:6) The Spirit of God was given "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." (Acts 26:18)
MacArthur comments: Here the psalmist employed a Hebrew parallelism, using two statements to say the same thing. He equates light and life—God is light in the sense that He is life, and He is the source and sustainer of both physical and spiritual life....God, the Source of true light, bestows it on believers in the form of eternal life through His Son, Who was the light incarnate.
Spurgeon: In Thy light shall we see light. Light is the glory of life. Life in the dark is misery, and rather death than life. The Lord alone can give natural, intellectual, and spiritual life; He alone can make life bright and lustrous. In spiritual things the knowledge of God sheds a light on all other subjects. We need no candle to see the sun, we see it by its own radiance, and then see everything else by the same luster. We never see Jesus by the light of self, but self in the light of Jesus. No inward intelligence of ours leads us to receive the Spirit's light, but the rather, it often helps to quench the sacred beam; purely and only by His own illumination, the Holy Ghost lights up the dark recesses of our heart's ungodliness. Vain are they who look to learning and human wit, one ray from the throne of God is better than the noonday splendor of created wisdom. Lord, give me the Sun (Son), and let those who will delight in the wax candles of superstition and the phosphorescence of corrupt philosophy. Faith derives both light and life from God, and hence she neither dies nor darkens.
Psalm 43:3-note O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.
Psalm 89:15-note How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.
Augustus Montague Toplady: The text...does not say, they shall sit down in the light of thy countenance; or, they shall lie down in the light of thy countenance; but "they shall WALK in the light of thy countenance." What is walking? It is a progressive motion from one point of space to another. And what is that holy walking which God's Spirit enables all his people to observe? It is a continued, progressive motion from sin to holiness; from all that is evil, to every good word and work. And the self same "light of God's countenance" in which you, O believer, are enabled to walk, and which at first gave you spiritual feet wherewith to walk, will keep you in a walking and in a working state, to the end of your warfare..
Psalm 104:2-note Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
Spurgeon: Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: wrapping the light about him as a monarch puts on his robe. The conception is sublime: but it makes us feel how altogether inconceivable the personal glory of the Lord must be; if light itself is but his garment and veil, what must be the blazing splendour of his own essential being! We are lost in astonishment, and dare not pry into the mystery lest we be blinded by its insufferable glory.
Psalm 119:105-note Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Comment: Here the metaphor of light “light” is used in an intellectual sense to symbolize truth which guides our steps along the "highway of holiness." (cp Jn 17:17)
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
- James Sammis
Spurgeon: It is a lamp by night, a light by day, and a delight at all times. David guided his own steps by it, and also saw the difficulties of his road by its beams. He who walks in darkness is sure, sooner or later, to stumble; while he who walks by the light of day, or by the lamp of night, stumbles not, but keeps his uprightness. Ignorance is painful upon practical subjects; it breeds indecision and suspense, and these are uncomfortable: the Word of God, by imparting heavenly knowledge, leads to decision, and when that is followed by determined resolution, as in this case, it brings with it great restfulness of heart.
Proverbs 6:23-note For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life,
Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.
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