Light, Noun, and Verb (bring to, give), Lighten
Light, Noun, and Verb (bring to, give), Lighten
akin to phao, “to give light” (from roots pha—, and phan—, expressing “light as seen by the eye,” and, metaphorically, as “reaching the mind,” whence phaino, “to make to appear,” phaneros, “evident,” etc.); cp. Eng., “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 (Mat 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, 1Co 2:14. Hence believers are called ‘sons of light,’ Luk 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, 1Jo 1:5; (c) the impartiality of God, Jam 1:17; (d) the favor of God, Psa 4:6; of the King, Pro 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, Joh 1:4-5, Joh 1:9; Joh 3:19; Joh 8:12; Joh 9:5; Joh 12:35-36, Joh 12:46; Act 13:47; (g) the illuminating power of the Scriptures, Psa 119:105; and of the judgments and commandments of God, Isa 51:4; Pro 6:23, cp. Psa 43:3; (h) the guidance of God, Job 29:3; Psa 112:4; Isa 58:10; and, ironically, of the guidance of man, Rom 2:19; (i) salvation, 1Pe 2:9; (j) righteousness, Rom 13:12; 2Co 11:14-15; 1Jo 2:9-10; (k) witness for God, Mat 5:14, Mat 5:16; Joh 5:35; (l) prosperity and general well-being, Est 8:16; Job 18:18; Isa 58:8-10.” * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 159,160.]
denotes “a luminary, light,” or “light-giver;” it is used figuratively of believers, as shining in the spiritual darkness of the world, Phi 2:15; in Rev 21:11 it is used of Christ as the “Light” reflected in and shining through the heavenly city (cp. Rev 21:23). In the Sept., Gen 1:14, Gen 1:16.
“an illumination, light,” is used metaphorically in 2Co 4:4, of the “light” of the Gospel, and in 2Co 4:6, of the knowledge of the glory of God. In the Sept., Job 3:9; Psa 27:1; Psa 44:3; Psa 78:14; Psa 90:8; Psa 139:11.
“brightness, luster,” is used of the “light” of the moon, Mat 24:29; Mar 13:24; of a lamp, Luk 11:33 (some mss. have phos, here).
“a hand-lamp:” see LAMP.
“a torch:” see LAMP.
used (a) intrasitively, signifies “to shine, give light,” Rev 22:5; (b) transitively, (1) “to illumine, to light, enlighten, to be lightened,” Luk 11:36; Rev 21:23; in the Passive Voice, Rev 18:1; metaphorically, of spiritual enlightenment, Joh 1:9; Eph 1:18; Eph 3:9, “to make … see;” Heb 6:4; Heb 10:32, “ye were enlightened,” RV (AV, “… illuminated”); (2) “to bring to light,” 1Co 4:5 (of God’s act in the future); 2Ti 1:10 (of God’s act in the past). See ENLIGHTEN, ILLUMINATE.
or possibly epiphauo, “to shine forth,” is rendered “shall give … light,” in Eph 5:14, AV (RV, “shall shine upon”), of the glory of Christ, illumining the believer who fulfills the conditions, so that being guided by His “light” he reflects His character. See SHINE. Cp. epiphosko, “to dawn” (really a variant form of epiphausko).
“to give the light of a torch,” is rendered “giveth light” in Mat 5:15, AV (RV, “shineth”). See SHINE.
transitively, “to show forth” (epi, “upon,” phaino, “to cause to shine”), is used intransitively and metaphorically in Luk 1:79, and rendered “to give light,” AV (RV, “to shine upon”). See APPEAR, SHINE.
“to kindle a fire” and so give “light:” see KINDLE, No. 1, Note.
“to burn,” is translated “do (men) light” in Mat 5:15. See BURN.
“to flash forth, lighten as lightning” (akin to astrape, “lightning”), occurs in Luk 17:24; Luk 24:4 (AV “shining;” RV, “dazzling”). See DAZZLING.
Note: In Luk 2:32, AV, the noun apokalupsis, “an unveiling, revelation,” preceded by eis, “unto, with a view to,” is rendered “to lighten” (RV, “for revelation;” marg., “(the) unveiling”). See REVELATION.
from phos (A, No. 1), “bright,” is rendered “full of light” in Mat 6:22; Luk 11:34, Luk 11:36 (twice), figuratively, of the single-mindedness of the eye, which acts as the lamp of the body; in Mat 17:5, “bright,” of a cloud. See BRIGHT.