Luke 11:34
in Luke 11Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The lamp of thy body is thine eye: when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
KJV
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
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This verse in Luke 11
Commentary
20 notes on this verse(Epist. 41.) Or else; The light and eye of the Church is the Bishop. It is necessary then that as the body is rightly directed as long as the eye keeps itself pure, but goes wrong when it becomes corrupt, so also with respect to the Prelate, according to what his state may be, must the Church in like manner suffer shipwreck, or be saved.
This site's exposition
Your eye is the lamp of your body
Good renders a Greek word meaning sound, clear and undivided in aim. Bad carries the sense of grudging or covetous, so a grasping disposition darkens the whole life.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(de Cons. Ev. lib. ii. c. 39.) Luke indeed relates this in the same place as Matthew, but in a somewhat different order. But who does not see that it is an idle question, in what order our Lord said those things, seeing that we ought to learn by the most precious authority of the Evangelist, that there is no falsehood. But not every man will repeat another's words in the same order in which they proceeded from his mouth, seeing that the order itself makes no difference with respect to the fact, whether it be so or not.
For He gives the name of the eye especially to our understanding, but the whole soul, although not corporeal, He metaphorically calls the body. For the whole soul is enlightened by the understanding. For the understanding from its very beginning desires only singleness, containing no dissimulation, or guile, or division in itself.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Second, there is added the application of the similitude, when it says: The lamp of your body is your eye. For of the material body, the bodily eye is the lamp, because it rules, directs, and illuminates the whole body; but of the spiritual body, …
(28. Mor. c. 12.) Or else; By the name body each particular action is understood which follows its own intention, as it were the eye of the spectators. Therefore it is said, The light of the body is the eye, because by the ray of a good intention the deserving parts of an action receive light. If then thy eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light, for if we intend rightly in singleness of heart, we accomplish a good work, even though it seem not to be good. And if thy eye be evil, thy whole body will be full of darkness, because when with a crooked intention even a right thing is done, although it appears to glitter in men's sight, yet before the bar of the internal judge it is covered with darkness. Hence too it is rightly added, Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. For if what we think we do well we cloud by a bad intention, how many are the evils themselves which even when we do them we know to be evil?
What else does he mean by "the eye" than simply the mind, which will never become simple unless it contemplates the simple light? The simple light is Christ. He who has his light shining in his mind is said to have the mind of Christ. …
13 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
The lamp of your body is your eye. By body, He means the works that appear openly to all; indeed, the eye itself performs the intention of the mind, and by its merit, these works are discerned as works of light or darkness, as He …
If your eye is simple, your whole body will be full of light. But if it is evil, your body also will be full of darkness. He said, if you strive to do good with a pure and upright intention, the works that you do …
But as if the eye of the body be light the body will be light, but if dark the body will be dark also, so is it with the understanding in relation to the soul. Hence it follows, If thine eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light; but if evil, thy whole body will be full of darkness.
But you, Pharisees, did not wish to do this, and the eye of the soul, that is, the mind, which was until now straight, you have twisted and darkened. For just as the eye of the body, whatever it is like, makes the body the …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
(1.) If this eye of the soul be single, if it see clear, see things as they are, and judge impartially concerning them, if it aim at truth only, and seek it for its own sake, and have not any sinister by--looks and intentions, the whole body, that is, the whole soul, is full of light, it receives and entertains the gospel, which will bring along with it into the soul both knowledge and joy.
How can they have instruction, information, direction, or comfort, from the gospel, that wilfully shut their eyes against it? and what hope is there of such? what remedy for them? The inference hence therefore is, Take heed that the light which is in thee be not darkness,
The light of the body is the eye,.... The Vulgate Latin and all the eastern versions read "the light of thy body is thine eye".
The Nineteenth Century6 voices
The light of the body is the eye - Or, the eye is the lamp of the body. See on Mat 6:22 (note), etc. The 35th and 36th verses are wanting in some MSS., and are variously read in others.
IN this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light. Some saw His brightness, and were even dazzled by it, as was that woman who cried, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the paps which You have sucked." The malicious saw not His light but even dared to impute His miracles to the Prince of Darkness. Others professed to see so little light in Him that they demanded a sign from Heaven. Our Lord's constant answer was to go shining on. He was meant to be observed, even as a lamp is intended to be seen.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Mt 6:22, 23.) But Lu 11:36 here is peculiarly vivid, expressing what pure, beautiful, broad perceptions the clarity of the inward eye imparts. DENUNCIATION OF THE PHARISEES.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We learn from these words of the Lord Jesus, the importance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We are reminded of what men do when they light a candle. They do not "put it in a hidden place," under a basket. They place it on a candlestick — that it may be serviceable and useful by giving light. When the Gospel of Christ is placed before a man's soul, it is as if God offered to him a lighted candle.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We learn from these words of the Lord Jesus, the importance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We are reminded of what men do when they light a candle. They do not "put it in a hidden place," under a basket. They place it on a candlestick — that it may be serviceable and useful by giving light. When the Gospel of Christ is placed before a man's soul, it is as if God offered to him a lighted candle. It is not sufficient to hear it, and assent to it, and admire it, and acknowledge its truth. It must be received into the heart — and obeyed in the life. Until this takes place, the Gospel does him no more good than if he were a heathen, who has never heard the Gospel at all. A lighted candle is before him, but he is not turning it to account. The guilt of such conduct is very great. God's light neglected, will be a heavy charge against many at the last day. But even when a man professes to value the light of the Gospel, he must take care that he is not selfish in the use of it. He must endeavor to reflect the light on all around him. He must strive to make others acquainted with the truths which he finds good for himself. He must let his light so shine before men, that they may see whose he is and whom he serves — and may be induced to follow his example, and join the Lord's side. He must regard the light which he enjoys as a loan , for the use of which he is accountable. He must strive to hold his candle in such a way — that many may see it, and as they see it, admire and believe. Let us take heed to ourselves — that we do not neglect our light. The sin of many in this matter is far greater than they suppose. Thousands flatter themselves that their souls are not in a very bad state — because they abstain from gross and glaring acts of wickedness, and are decent and respectable in their outward lives.
IN this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light. Some saw His brightness, and were even dazzled by it, as was that woman who cried, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the paps which You have sucked." The malicious saw not His light but even dared to impute His miracles to the Prince of Darkness. Others professed to see so little light in Him that they demanded a sign from Heaven. Our Lord's constant answer was to go shining on. He was meant to be observed, even as a lamp is intended to be seen. A lamp is not lighted to be placed in a cellar, nor to be hidden under a bushel—the lamp is lighted on purpose, that all who come into the house may see the light. Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ could not be hid. In the narrow circle of the Holy Land, He shone so clearly that Gentiles came to the brightness of His rising. Yet, to make Him seen to the ends of the earth, He must be set on the lamp stand. He was lifted up by crucifixion. And soon after He was raised by resurrection—He was lifted up from earth to Heaven at His ascension and in another sense He was set on high by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the widespread ministry of His servants. Our Lord was thus taken from under the bushel of the obscurity which attached to His humble origin, brought away from the dark cellar of the despised Jewish nation, and set out in the open, where Greek and Roman, Barbarian and Scythian, might rejoice in His light. It is our duty to keep His name and His Truth ever before the world, waiting for the time when every eye shall see Him on the throne of His Glory. Our Lord would have all men behold the light of His Gospel. For the text says, "that they which come in may see the light." Whosoever comes into the Church, or even into the world, should be met with this lamp. For this Gospel is to be preached to every creature under Heaven.
The words behind it
30 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὁ | ho | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λύχνος | luchnos | lamp | G3088 → | 14 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σώματός | somatos | of body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀφθαλμός | ophthalmos | eye | G3788 → | 100 times |
| σου. | sou | of you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅταν | hotan | When | G3752 → | 123 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀφθαλμός | ophthalmos | eye | G3788 → | 100 times |
| σου | sou | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἁπλοῦς | haplous | clear | G573 → | |
| ᾖ, | e | may be, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὅλον | holon | all | G3650 → | 109 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σῶμά | soma | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| σου | sou | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| φωτεινόν | photeinon | light | G5460 → | 5 times |
| ἐστιν· | estin | is; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐπὰν | epan | when | G1875 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πονηρὸς | poneros | evil | G4190 → | 78 times |
| ᾖ, | e | it may be, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σῶμά | soma | body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| σου | sou | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| σκοτεινόν. | skoteinon | [is] dark. | G4652 → |
ὉThe
hoG3588 →19766 times
λύχνοςlamp
luchnosG3088 →14 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
σώματόςof body
somatosG4983 →142 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ὀφθαλμόςeye
ophthalmosG3788 →100 times
σου.of you.
souG4771 →2973 times
ὅτανWhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ὀφθαλμόςeye
ophthalmosG3788 →100 times
σουof you
souG4771 →2973 times
ἁπλοῦςclear
haplousG573 →
ᾖ,may be,
eG1510 →2333 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὅλονall
holonG3650 →109 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
σῶμάbody
somaG4983 →142 times
σουof you
souG4771 →2973 times
φωτεινόνlight
photeinonG5460 →5 times
ἐστιν·is;
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἐπὰνwhen
epanG1875 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
πονηρὸςevil
ponerosG4190 →78 times
ᾖ,it may be,
eG1510 →2333 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
σῶμάbody
somaG4983 →142 times
σουof you
souG4771 →2973 times
σκοτεινόν.[is] dark.
skoteinonG4652 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
it leads to
- John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Isaiah 6:10
Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
- 1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
- John 12:40
Through
Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Ephesians 1:18
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
- 1 Peter 2:9
Through
Psalms 119:18Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:17–18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
- Ephesians 1:17–18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About Luke

This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 11; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2109: “The Eye and the Light” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gregory of Nazianzus, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Symeon the New Theologian, DISCOURSES 33.2; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.
