Light

Old Testament15

1. Genesis 1:3listed key text

   And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.(opening verse of the passage)

   ›Commentary on Genesis 1:32 voices

   “As the words themselves make sufficiently clear, we are told that this light was made. The light born from God is one thing; the light that God made is another. The light born from God is the very Wisdom of God, but the light made by God is something mutable, whether corporeal or incorporeal.

   “We ought to understand that God did not say "Let there be light" by a sound brought forth from the lungs or by the tongue and teeth. Such thoughts are those of persons physically preoccupied. To be wise in accord with the flesh is death. "Let there be light" was spoken ineffably.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 1:3→

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2. Exodus 13:21thread stop

   And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.

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3. 1 Kings 11:36topical floor

   I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:362 voices

   “The words "so that David may always have a lamp" refer to that small part of the kingdom which was like the sun in the abundance of its light: "Your throne will be like the sun before me." Moreover, as we light many firebrands from …

   “And unto his son will I give one tribe,.... Judah and Benjamin reckoned as one; See Gill on 1Ki 11:13, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there; or a kingdom, as the Targum; or an illustrious prince, a successor, shining in royal majesty and glory, to guide and direct, cheer and comfort, the people of Israel; be an honour to David's family, and a means of continuing the pure worship of God in the temple at Jerusalem; see 2Sa 21:17.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:36→

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4. Psalms 27:1thread stop

   The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?

   ›Commentary on Psalms 27:11 voice

   “Christians have nothing to fear, even if demons should not be well-disposed to them; for they are protected by the supreme God, who is well pleased with their piety and who sets his divine angels to watch over those who are worthy of such guardianship, so that they can suffer nothing from demons.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 27:1→

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5. Psalm 119:105listed key text

   Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.(opening verse of the passage)

   ›Commentary on Psalm 119:1051 voice

   “ן, NUN.--The Fourteenth Part. NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,.... The same Solomon says of the law and commandment, the preceptive part of the word, Pro 6:23; and the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it "law" here.

   Everything gathered on Psalm 119:105→

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6. Psalms 119:130topical floor

   The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 119:1301 voice

   “The entrance of thy words giveth light,.... The beginning of them; the first three chapters in Genesis, what light do they give into the origin of all things; the creation of man, his state of innocence; his fall through the temptations of Satan, and his recovery and salvation by Christ, the seed of the woman, the first principles of the oracles of God, the rudiments of religion, the elements of the world, the rites of the ceremonial law, gave great light into Gospel mysteries.

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7. Proverbs 6:23topical floor

   For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

   ›Commentary on Proverbs 6:231 voice

   “Solomon also writes that "the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light." This sensible light that is in the world, by falling on our bodily eyes, dispels the darkness. So also the law of God, when admitted into the mind and heart of people, illuminates it thoroughly and does not allow it to fall against the stumbling blocks of ignorance or be caught in the thickets of sin.

   Everything gathered on Proverbs 6:23→

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8. Ecclesiastes 2:13topical floor

   And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

   ›Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:131 voice

   "And I perceived that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. "I am allowed, he says, to see through that very wisdom of mankind, which is mixed with uncertainty. Nor is it possible, he adds, for it to flow into our minds so clearly as it does into the king and our creator. I know however that the difference between wisdom and folly is great even as much as one can differentiate between day and night, between light and dark.

   Everything gathered on Ecclesiastes 2:13→

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9. Isaiah 8:20topical floor

   To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 8:201 voice

   “(Verse 19 and following) And when they say to you, seek from the Pythons and the diviners, who make their enchantments, whether not the people seeks from their God for the living from the dead? To the law more and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this word, it will not be morning light for them. And they will pass through it: they will fall down and be hungry: and when they are hungry, they will become angry and curse their king and their God.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 8:20→

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10. Isaiah 9:2listed key text

    The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.(opening verse of the passage)

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11. Isaiah 45:7topical floor

    I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 45:72 voices

    “(Verse 7) Forming light and creating darkness: making peace and creating evil. I am the Lord who does all these things. Therefore, I, the only God, give you strength. I myself create opposing things, light and darkness, that is, day and night; peace and evil, that is, calm and war, through which I indicate that I was angry with my people when they endured the darkness of captivity and the evils of slavery. And again, I showed mercy when I released them to their homeland and they received peace and joy.

    “(Chapter 45, Verses 1-7) Thus says the Lord to Cyrus, his anointed one, whom he has taken by the right hand to subdue nations before him and strip the loins of kings, to force gateways before him that their gates be closed no more: I will go before you, and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 45:7→

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12. Isaiah 49:6topical floor

    He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

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13. Isaiah 58:8topical floor

    Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 58:81 voice

    “(Verse 8.) Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. LXX: Then your light shall break forth like the morning; your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of God shall surround you.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 58:8→

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14. Isaiah 60:19topical floor

    No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 60:191 voice

    “(Verse 19, 20.) The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the splendor of the moon shine on you; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will not decrease; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be fulfilled.

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15. Isaiah 60:20topical floor

    Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 60:202 voices

    “(Verse 19, 20.) The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the splendor of the moon shine on you; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will not decrease; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be fulfilled.

    “He also sets out the eternity of its governor: your sun, which is God, shall go down no more: but you are always the selfsame, and your years shall not fail (Ps 101:28[102:27]). And the days of your mourning shall be ended. This as to …

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 60:20→

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New Testament3

1. Matthew 4:16topical floor

   the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

   ›Commentary on Matthew 4:162 voices

   “(in Esai. c. 9. 1.) They are said at the first time to be lightened from the burden of sin, because in the country of these two tribes, the Saviour first preached the Gospel; at the last time their faith was increased, most of the Jews remaining in error. By the sea here is meant the Lake of Gennesaret, a lake formed by the waters of the Jordan, on its shores are the towns of Capernaum, Tiberias, Bethsaida, and Corozaim, in which district principally Christ preached.

   “And the "great light" is Christ our Lord and the brightness of the gospel preaching. It is not, in fact, the law, which was likened to a lamp. For this reason a lamp always burned in the tabernacle, on account of the shortness of the law's rays, which had strength to extend their light only within the confines of the Jewish territories. Therefore the Gentiles were "in darkness," not having this lamplight.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 4:16→

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2. Matthew 5:14thread stop

   You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

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3. Matthew 5:16topical floor

   In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 5:162 voices

   “Let your light so shine - Or more literally, Thus let your light shine, Ουτω λαμψατω το φως. As the sun is lighted up in the firmament of heaven to diffuse its light and heat freely to every inhabitant of the earth; and as the lamp is not set under the bushel, but placed upon the lamp-stand that it may give light to all in the house; Thus let every follower of Christ, and especially every preacher of the Gospel, diffuse the light of heavenly knowledge, and the warmth of Divine love through the whole circle of their acquaintance.

   “Hyperichius said, 'He who teaches others by his life and not his speech is truly wise.'

   Everything gathered on Matthew 5:16→

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