Light

Light - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

The offspring of the divine command (Gen. 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" (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Col. 1:12; Rev. 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1 Tim. 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Matt. 5:16; John 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2; Luke 2:32; John 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (James 1:17). It is used of angels (2 Cor. 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14).

Light - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

LIGHT, n. lite. [L. lux, light and luceo, to shine. Eng. luck, both in elements and radical sense.]

1. That ethereal agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense of seeing, but the particles of which are separately invisible. It is now generally believed that light is a fluid, or real matter, existing independent of other substances, with properties peculiar to itself. Its velocity is astonishing, as it passes through a space of nearly twelve millions of miles in a minute. Light, when decomposed, is found to consist of rays differently colored; as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The sun is the principal source of light in the solar system; but light is also emitted from bodies ignited, or in combustion, and is reflected from enlightened bodies, as the moon. Light is also emitted from certain putrefying substances. It is usually united with heat, but it exists also independent of it.

2. That flood of luminous rays which flows from the sun and constitutes day.

God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. Gen 1.

3. Day; the dawn of day.

The murderer rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. Job 24.

4. Life.

O, spring to light, auspicious babe, be born!

5. Any thing that gives light; as a lamp, candle, taper, lighted tower, star, _c.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in - Acts 16.

I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles. Acts 13.

And God made two great lights. Gen 1.

6. The illuminated part of a picture; the part which lies open to the luminary by which the piece is supposed to be enlightened, and is painted in vivid colors; opposed to shade.

7. Illumination of mind; instruction; knowledge.

I opened Ariosto in Italian, and the very first two lines gave me light to all I could desire.

Light, understanding and wisdom - was found in him. Dan 5.

8. Means of knowing. By using such lights as we have, we may arrive at probability, if not at certainty.

9. Open view; a visible state; a state of being seen by the eye, or perceived, understood or known. Further researches will doubtless bring to light many isles yet undiscovered; further experiments will bring to light properties of matter yet unknown.

10. Public view or notice.

Why am I ask'd what next shall see the light?

11. Explanation; illustration; means of understanding. One part of Scripture throws light on another.

12. Point of view; situation to be seen or viewed; a use of the word taken from painting. It is useful to exhibit a subject in a variety of lights. Let every thought be presented in a strong light. In whatever light we view this event, it must be considered an evil.

13. A window; a place that admits light to enter.

1 Ki 7.

14. A pane of glass; as a window with twelve lights.

15. In Scripture, God, the source of knowledge.

God is light. 1 John 1.

16. Christ.

That was the true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1.

17. Joy; comfort; felicity.

Light is sown for the righteous. Psa 97.

18. Saving knowledge.

It is because there is no light in them. Isa 8.

19. Prosperity; happiness.

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. Isa 58.

20. Support; comfort; deliverance. Micah 7.

21. The gospel. Mat 4.

22. The understanding or judgment. Mat 6.

23. The gifts and graces of christians. Mat 5.

24. A moral instructor, as John the Baptist. John 5.

25. A true christian, a person enlightened. Eph 5.

26. A good king, the guide of his people. Sam. 21.

The light of the countenance, favor; smiles. Psa 4.

To stand in one's own light, to be the means of preventing good, or frustrating one's own purposes.

To come to light, to be detected; to be discovered or found.

LIGHT, a. lite.

1. Bright; clear; not dark or obscure; as, the morning is light; the apartment is light.

2. In colors, white or whitish; as a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.

LIGHT, a. lite.

1. Having little weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy. A feather is light, compared with lead or silver; but a thing is light only comparatively. That which is light to a man, may be heavy to a child. A light burden for a camel, may be insupportable to a horse.

2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne or carried by physical strength; as a light burden, weight or load.

3. Not oppressive; easy to be suffered or endured; as a light affliction. 2 Cor 4.

4. Easy to be performed; not difficult; not requiring great strength or exertion. The task is light; the work is light.

5. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as light food. It may signify also, contained little nutriment.

6. Not heavily armed, or armed with light weapons; as light troops; a troop of light horse.

7. Active; swift; nimble.

Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. Sam. 2.

8. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments.

Unmarried men are best masters, but not best subjects; for they are light to run away.

9. Not laden; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted. The ship returned light.

10. Slight; trifling; not important; as a light error.

11. Not dense; not gross; as light vapors; light fumes.

12. Small; inconsiderable; not copious or vehement; as a light rain; a light snow.

13. Not strong; not violent; moderate; as a light wind.

14. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as a light, vain person; a light mind.

There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person, than profanely to scoff at religion.

15. Gay; airy; indulging levity; wanting dignity or solidity; trifling.

Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.

We may neither be light in prayer, now wrathful in debate.

16. Wanton; unchaste; as a woman of light carriage.

A light wife doth make a heavy husband.

17. Not of legal weight; clipped; diminished; as light coin.

To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.

To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.

LIGHT, v.t. lite.

1. To kindle; to inflame; to set fire to; as, to light a candle or lamp; sometimes with up; as, to light up an inextinguishable flame. We often hear lit used for lighted as, he lit a candle; but this is inelegant.

2. To give light to.

Ah hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn to light the dead -

3. To illuminate; to fill or spread over with light; as, to light a room; to light the streets of a city.

4. To lighten; to ease of a burden. [Not in use. See Lighten.]

LIGHT, v.i. lite.

1. To fall on; to come to by chance; to happen to find; with on.

A weaker man may sometimes light on notions which had escaped a wiser.

2. To fall on; to strike.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. Rev 7.

3. To descend, as from a horse or carriage; with down, off, or from.

He lighten down from his chariot. 2 Ki 5.

She lighted off the camel. Gen 24.

To settle; to rest; to stoop from flight. The bee lights on this flower and that.

Lightness - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

LIGHTNESS, n. li'teness.

1. Want of weight; levity; the contrary to heaviness; as the lightness of air, compared with water.

2. Inconstancy; unsteadiness; the quality of mind which disposes it to be influenced by trifling considerations.

- Such is the lightness of you common men.

3. Levity; wantonness; lewdness; unchastity.

4. Agility; nimbleness.

lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words):

1. Origin of Light

2. A Comprehensive Term

(1) Natural Light

(2) Artificial Light

(3) Miraculous Light

(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light

3. An Attribute of Holiness

(1) God

(2) Christ

(3) Christians

(4) The Church

4. Symbolism

5. Expressive Terms

1. Origin of Light:

The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation, Ge 1:14) in suns, stars, and solar systems brought the initial creative process to completion, as the essential condition of all organic life. The origin of light thus finds its explanation in the purpose and very nature of God whom John defines as not only the Author of light but, in an all-inclusive sense, as light itself: "God is light" (1 Joh 1:5).

2. A Comprehensive Term:

The word "light" is Divinely rich in its comprehensiveness and meaning. Its material splendor 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). Every phase of the word, from the original light in the natural world to the spiritual glory of the celestial, is found in Holy Writ.

(1) Natural Light.

The light of day (Ge 1:5); of sun, moon and stars; "lights in the firmament" (Ge 1:14-18; Ps 74:16; 136:7; 148:3; Ec 12:2; Re 22:5). Its characteristics are beauty, radiance, utility. It "rejoiceth the heart" (Pr 15:30); "Truly the light is sweet" (Ec 11:7); without it men stumble and are helpless (Joh 11:9,10); it is something for which they wait with inexpressible longing (Job 30:26; compare Ps 130:6). Life, joy, activity and all blessings are dependent upon light.

Light and life are almost synonymous to the inhabitants of Palestine, and in the same way darkness and death. Theirs is the land of sunshine. When they go to other lands of clouded skies their only thought is to return to the brightness and sunshine of their native land. In Palestine there is hardly a day in the whole year when the sun does not shine for some part of it, while for five months of the year there is scarcely an interruption of the sunshine. Time is reckoned from sunset to sunset. The day's labor closes with the coming of darkness. "Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening" (Ps 104:23).

The suddenness of the change from darkness to light with the rising sun and the disappearance of the sun in the evening is more striking than in more northern countries, and it is not strange that in the ancient days there should have arisen a worship of the sun as the giver of light and happiness, and that Job should mention the enticement of sun-worship when he "beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness" (Job 31:26). The severest plague in Egypt next to the slaying of the firstborn was the plague of darkness which fell upon the Egyptians (Ex 10:23). This love of light finds expression in both Old Testament and New Testament in a very extensive use of the word to express those things which are most to be desired and most helpful to man, and in this connection we find some of the most beautiful figures in the Bible.

(2) Artificial Light.

When natural light fails, man by discovery or invention provides himself with some temporary substitute, however dim and inadequate. The ancient Hebrews had "oil for the light" (Ex 25:6; 35:8; Le 24:2) and lamps (Ex 35:14; Mt 5:15). "There were many lights. (lampas) in the upper chamber" at Troas, where Paul preached until midnight (Ac 20:8); so Jer 25:10 the Revised Version (British and American), "light of the lamp;" the King James Version, "candle."

(3) Miraculous Light.

When the appalling plague of "thick darkness," for three days, enveloped the Egyptians, terrified and rendered them helpless, "all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" (Ex 10:23). Whether the darkness was due to a Divinely-ordered natural cause or the light was the natural light of day, the process that preserved the interspersed Israelites from the encompassing darkness was supernatural. Miraculous, also, even though through natural agency, was the "pillar of fire" that gave light to the Israelites escaping from Pharaoh (Ex 13:21; 14:20; Ps 78:14), "He led them .... all the night with a light of fire." Supernatural was the effulgence at Christ's transfiguration that made "his garments .... white as the light" (Mt 17:2). Under the same category Paul classifies `the great light' that `suddenly shone round about him from heaven' on the way to Damascus (Ac 22:6; compare Ac 9:3). In these rare instances the supernatural light was not only symbolic of an inner spiritual light, but instrumental, in part at least, in revealing or preparing the way for it.

(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light.

The phenomena of natural light have their counterpart in the inner life of man. Few words lend themselves with such beauty and appropriateness to the experiences, conditions, and radiance of the spiritual life. For this reason the Scriptures use "light" largely in the figurative sense. Borrowed from the natural world, it is, nevertheless, inherently suited to portray spiritual realities. In secular life a distinct line of demarcation is drawn between intellectual and spiritual knowledge and illumination. Education that enlightens the mind may leave the moral man untouched. This distinction rarely obtains in the Bible, which deals with man as a spiritual being and looks upon his faculties as interdependent in their action.

(a) A few passages, however, refer to the light that comes chiefly to the intellect or mind through Divine instruction, e.g. Ps 119:130, "The opening of thy words giveth light"; so Pr 6:23, "The law is light." Even here the instruction includes moral as well as mental enlightenment.

(b) Moral: Job 24:13,16 has to do exclusively with man's moral attitude to truth: "rebel against the light"; "know not the light." Isa 5:20 describes a moral confusion and blindness, which cannot distinguish light from darkness.

(c) For the most part, however, light and life go together. It is the product of salvation: "Yahweh is my light and my salvation" (Ps 27:1). "Light," figuratively used, has to do preeminently with spiritual life, including also the illumination that floods all the faculties of the soul: intellect, conscience, reason, will. In the moral realm the enlightenment of these faculties is dependent wholly on the renewal of the spirit. "In thy light .... we see light" (Ps 36:9); "The life was the light of men" (Joh 1:4).

Light is an attribute of holiness, and thus a personal quality. It is the outshining of Deity.

3. An Attribute of Holiness:

(1) God.

"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 Joh 1:5). Darkness is the universal symbol and condition of sin and death; light the symbol and expression of holiness. "The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame" (Isa 10:17). God, by His presence and grace, is to us a "marvellous light" (1Pe 2:9). The glory of His holiness and presence is the "everlasting light" of the redeemed in heaven (Isa 60:19,20; Re 21:23,14; 22:5).

(2) Christ.

Christ, the eternal Word (logos, Joh 1:1), who said "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3), is Himself the "effulgence of (God's) glory" (Heb 1:3), "the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world" (Joh 1:9) (compare the statements concerning Wisdom in The Wisdom of Solomon 7:25 f and concerning Christ in Heb 1:3; and see CREEDS; LOGOS; JOHANNINE THEOLOGY; WISDOM). As the predicted Messiah, He was to be "for alight of the Gentiles" (Isa 42:6; 49:6). His birth was the fulfillment of this prophecy (Lu 2:32). Jesus called Himself "the light of the world" (Joh 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); As light He was "God .... manifest in the flesh (1Ti 3:16 the King James Version). "The Word was God" (Joh 1:1). Jesus as logos is the eternal expression of God as a word is the expression of a thought. In the threefold essence of His being God is Life (zoe) (Joh 5:26; 6:57); God is Love (agape) (1 Joh 4:8); God is Light (phos) (1 Joh 1:5). Thus Christ, the logos, manifesting the three aspects of the Divine Nature, is Life, Love and Light, and these three are inseparable and constitute the glory. which the disciples beheld in Him, "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" (Joh 1:14). In revealing and giving life, Christ becomes "the light of men" (Joh 1:4). God gives "the light of the knowledge of (his) glory in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Co 4:6), and this salvation is called "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2Co 4:4). Christ is thus the Teacher, Enlightener ("Christ shall give thee light," Eph 5:14 the King James Version), Guide, Saviour of men.

(3) Christians.

All who catch and reflect the light of God and of Christ are called "light," "lights."

(a) John the Baptist: "a burning and a shining light" (Joh 5:35 the King James Version). It is significant that this pre-Christian prophet was termed luchnos, while the disciples of the new dispensation are called phos (Mt 5:14): "Ye are the light of the world."

(b) Henceforth Christians and saints were called "children of light" (Lu 16:8; Joh 12:36; Eph 5:8), and were expected to be "seen as lights in the world" (Php 2:15).

(c) The Jew who possessed the law mistakenly supposed he was "a light of them that are in darkness" (Ro 2:19).

(4) The Church.

Zion was to "shine" because her `light had come' (Isa 60:1). The Gentiles were to come to her light (Isa 60:3). Her mission as the enlightener of the world was symbolized in the ornamentations of her priesthood. The Urim of the high priest's breastplate signified light, and the name itself is but the plural form of the Hebrew 'or. It stood for revelation, and thummim for truth. The church of the Christian dispensation was to be even more radiant with the light of God and of Christ. The seven churches of Asia were revealed to John, by the Spirit, as seven golden candlesticks, and her ministers as seven stars, both luminous with the light of the Gospel revelation. In Ephesians, Christ, who is the Light of the world, is the Head of the church, the latter being His body through which His glory is to be manifested to the world, "to make all men see," etc. (Eph 3:9,10). "Unto him be the glory in the church" (Eph 3:21), the church bringing glory to God, by revealing His glory to men through its reproduction of the life and light of Christ.

4. Symbolism:

Light symbolizes:

(1) the eye, "The light of the body is the eye" (Mt 6:22, the King James Version; Lu 11:34);

(2) watchfulhess, "Let your lights (the Revised Version (British and American) "lamps") be burning," the figure being taken from the parable of the Virgins;

(3) protection, "armor (Ro 13:12), the garment of a holy and Christ-like life;

(4) the sphere of the Christian's daily walk, "inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12);

(5) heaven, for the inheritance just referred to includes the world above in which "the Lamb is the light thereof"

(6) prosperity, relief (Es 8:16; Job 30:26), in contrast with the calamities of the wicked whose "light .... shall be put out" (Job 18:5);

(7) joy and gladness (Job 3:20; Ps 97:11; 112:4);

(8) God's favor, the light of thy countenance" (Ps 4:6; 44:3; 89:15), and a king's favor (Pr 16:15);

(9) life (Ps 13:3; 49:19; Joh 1:4).

5. Expressive Terms:

Expressive terms are:

(1) "fruit of the light" (Eph 5:9), i.e. goodness, righteousness, truth;

(2) "light in the Lord" (Eph 5:8), indicating the source of light (compare Isa 2:5);

(3) "inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12), a present experience issuing in heaven;

(4) "Father of lights" (Jas 1:17), signifying the Creator of the heavenly bodies;

(5) "marvellous light" (1Pe 2:9), the light of God's presence and fellowship;

(6) "Walk in the light" (1 Joh 1:7), in the light of God's teaching and companionship;

(7) "abideth in the light" (1 Joh 2:10), in love, Divine and fraternal;

(8) "Light of the glorious gospel of Christ "; "light of the knowledge of the glory of God" (2Co 4:4,6 the King James Version).

Dwight M. Pratt

James Orr