Light is one of the most fundamental features of our natural world and our lives. And it’s also a major theme in the Bible.
If you’re like me, you take light for granted most of the time. It’s a simple matter of flipping a switch.
But when we happen to be in situations without electricity—like backcountry camping or when we lose power during a storm—access to light becomes highly valuable.
Light shows up continually throughout the Bible, as we’ll see here. It’s physical and metaphorical. It’s used in blessing and judgment.
The scriptures’ use of light helps us understand more about God’s kingdom and ways.
Before we dig into those scriptures though, first let’s find out…
What IS Light?
“Light has properties of both a particle and an electromagnetic wave but not all the properties of either. It consists of photons that travel in a wave-like pattern.” (“What Is Light? Matter or Energy?” ScienceABC.com)
That’s the physics answer.
If you were explaining it to a 5-year old? Light is what helps us see things. It makes it not dark. Probably best explained by showing the difference—walk into a dark room and turn the light on, or walk into a lighted room and turn the light off.
(That’s the best I’ve got—what would you say?)
Our eyes are complex machines that turn light—these traveling wave-like photons—into images so we can see:
“Two molecules in the retina—vitamin A and a protein named ‘opsin’ that together make ‘rhodopsin’—capture single light photons. When light strikes the vitamin, it changes shape and becomes the molecule ’11-cis-retinal.’ This in turn changes the rhodopsin’s shape.
“When light activates enough of these molecular switches within the light-sensitive cell, they cause downstream biochemical systems to amplify and send the signal from the retina, through the optic nerve, and to the brain.
“This complex photochemical reaction is at the heart of what allows eyes to detect light and send signals that the brain can form into meaningful images.” (“Perfect Molecule for Vision Shows Eyes Were Designed” ICR.org)
God’s Creation of Light and Provision of Literal Light
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of light. It was the first physical thing He spoke into existence.
1. Genesis 1:3-5
“God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.”
2. Genesis 1:14-18
“God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,’ and it was so.
“God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
“God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.”
One might wonder how there could be light before the sun, moon and stars were created. Scientists now know the answer to that:
“Actually there are many sources of light, not just the sun. There are also many types of light, not just visible light. Short-wave light includes ultraviolet light, X-rays, and others.
“Long-wave light includes infrared light, radio waves, etc. Light is produced by friction, by fire, by numerous chemical reactions, as well as the nuclear reactions of atomic fission and fusion, which is what we think is occurring in the sun.
“God had at His fingertips many options to accomplish His purposes. Light does not automatically require the sun.” (“Sunlight Before the Sun” ICR.org)
3. Exodus 10:23
“They [the Egyptians] didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”
Thick darkness was one of the plagues just prior to the Exodus. It was a way the Lord distinguished between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. The sons of Israel had light.
Can you imagine a darkness so thick you couldn’t do anything for three days?
[More on how God uses light and darkness in His judgments a bit later.]
4. Exodus 13:21
“Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night.”
And the Lord continued to provide miraculous light for His people for years afterward.
5. Psalm 78:14
“In the daytime He also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.”
The psalmist’s retelling of the Lord’s provision for His people.
6. Psalm 105:39
“He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.”
A retelling via song of the history of the Israelites, including the Exodus.
7. Psalm 136:7-9
“To Him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever; the sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever; the moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever…”
Practically speaking, these lights—the sun, moon and stars—help the rest of creation in so many ways.
We see by them—even the moon, which isn’t a source of light, but merely reflects the sun’s light. We can navigate by the stars. The sun’s light is essential for the plant world to grow and thrive.
8. Ecclesiastes 11:7
“Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.”
Amen!
9. Ecclesiastes 12:1-2
“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’ Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened…”
Ecclesiastes isn’t my favorite book of the Bible—honest confession—but I think the writer is referring to human aging here.
The gist is for us to be thankful for the blessings we have from the Lord, and appreciate them while we can. Especially while we’re young!
10. Isaiah 45:7
“I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.”
A prophetic declaration that confirms the first few chapters of Genesis.
11. Jeremiah 31:35
“Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; Yahweh of Armies is his name…”
The Lord continually reminds us in His book of His creative power and generosity to us!
12. Acts 9:3
“As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.”
This is Saul/Paul’s “Damascus road” experience of meeting Jesus, who he had been persecuting.
Light emanates from the risen Jesus! The Apostle John describes the Son of Man (what Jesus called Himself) he encounters in Revelation 1: “His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.”
No wonder Paul was struck with blindness!
13. Acts 12:7
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, ‘“’Stand up quickly!’ His chains fell off his hands.”
Do angels emanate light, too? I don’t know, but it’s pretty cool if they do!
14. Acts 22:6, 9, 11
This chapter is Paul’s testimony that he shares with an unruly mob in Jerusalem. He describes this Damascus road experience with Jesus:
“As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.”
“Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of Him who spoke to me.”
” “When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.”
15. Acts 26:13
Paul shares his testimony again before King Agrippa and other royalty in Caesarea, including his encounter with Jesus:
“at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.”
16. Revelation 21:23-24
“The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.”
17. Revelation 22:5
“There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sunlight; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.”
The end of all things as we know it will culminate in the new heavens and earth one day. The city, the New Jerusalem, will be illuminated with the very light of the Lord God and of the Lamb, Jesus.
Oil for Light in the Tabernacle
The Lord gave specific and detailed instructions to Moses about how things were to be with the Tabernacle during the years the sons of Israel were in the wilderness.
These instructions include what would provide light in this dwelling place of the Lord.
18. Exodus 25:1-2, 6
“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering…oil for the light…’ “
19. Exodus 27:20
“You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.”
20. Exodus 35:8, 14, 28
Moses now takes the Lord’s instructions and passes them on to the Hebrew people. Those with a willing heart are to bring…
“…oil for the light…the lampstand also for the light…the spice and oil for the light…”
21. Exodus 39:37
And then a section that describes all Moses and the people brought and crafted for the Tabernacle, according to the Lord’s instructions…
“…the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light…”
22. Leviticus 24:1-2
“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.’ “
23. Numbers 4:9
Next, the Lord instructs Moses on how the articles of the Tabernacle are to be carried when they travel throughout the wilderness:
“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.”
24. Numbers 8:1-3
“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.”
Light as Metaphor
Many, many Bible verses compare things and situations to light.
As we’ve seen so far, LIGHT is GOOD! In the physical world, it’s absolutely essential for life to exist.
(Not sure what to do with those life forms at the bottoms of the deep oceans—we won’t deal with those here, haha!)
Let’s look at metaphorical references to light in the Old and New Testaments:
25. 2 Samuel 23:4
“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’ “
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
26. Job 18:5
“The light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine.”
That doesn’t sound so good.
27. Psalm 18:28
“For You will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.”
Don’t you love this? Even in the darkest times, God’s light can shine.
This reminds me of a quote I’ve heard often from Corrie ten Boom during her time in the concentration camp with her sister, Betsy.
At one point, Betsy tells Corrie: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
We can adapt that thought: “There’s no darkness so dark that’s God’s light can’t shine through it.”
28. Psalm 56:13
“For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.”
That is an amazing Hope.
29. Psalm 90:8
“You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.“
It’s the mercy of the Lord that exposes our secret sins in His light. Why? So we can repent, be forgiven and experience joy in His presence.
30. Ps 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Kind of like a flashlight or headlamp on a trail at night in the wilderness!
31. Psalm 119:130
“The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”
All of Psalm 119 is about the preciousness of the word of God. When we bring His word into our lives, it gives us light.
32. Psalm 139:11-12
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,’ even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.“
33. Proverbs 4:18
“But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.”
You know how beautiful a sunrise can be? That’s the beauty of the path of righteousness.
34. Proverbs 6:23
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life…”
Isn’t that interesting? We think of rules as confining. But this word of wisdom is: No, the law of the Lord lights your way. It brings freedom.
35. Proverbs 13:9
“The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.”
36. Ecclesiastes 2:13
“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.”
37. Isaiah 2:5
“House of Jacob, come, and let’s walk in the light of Yahweh.”
An invitation.
38. Isaiah 5:20
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
39. Isaiah 10:17
“The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.”
Sounds like judgment and rescue to me. God is the light of Israel, the Holy One.
40. Isaiah 42:6-7
” ‘I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.’ “
Isaiah 42 is, I believe, a Messianic prophesy. The fulfillment is in Jesus Christ.
41. Isaiah 42:16
” ‘I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.’ “
The Lord God’s promises to His people. Wow.
42. Isaiah 50:10
“Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.”
Because the Lord is our light in the darkness.
43. Isaiah 60:1-3
“ ‘Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you. For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.’ “
Because we walk in the light of the Lord, His light shines through us to others around us. We can be beacons of light in a dark world.
44. Matthew 6:22-23
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
45. John 5:35
“He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”
Jesus is talking about John the Baptist here—the one who came to prepare the way for Jesus. Once Jesus arrived, we rejoice in His light rather than that of another human.
46. Romans 13:12
“The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.”
47. 2 Corinthians 6:14
“Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?“
48. 2 Corinthians 11:14
“…even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
Part of a teaching by Paul about false teachers.
49. Ephesians 5:13-14
“But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14 Therefore he says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ “
The “all things” in this passage is sin—the “unfruitful deeds of darkness.” Jesus shining His light and exposing sin is GOOD!
50. 2 Timothy 1:10
“Christ Jesus…abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.”
51. 1 John 1:6-7
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
One of the great promises of the New Covenant in Jesus! To walk in the light is to walk openly and doing what is right before God and others, confessing and repenting of sin and coming into freedom.
52. 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.”
Light As a Gift
Can you imagine a world without light? A life without light? It would be unthinkable.
Where I live in Minnesota, a northern climate, I know many people who say they really struggle emotionally through our winter. The nights are long and the days are short.
In other words—there’s less light each day. It’s hard for many to endure long hours of darkness.
So what do we do to help? Turn on light! Light candles…keep the fairy lights going after Christmas…turn on more lamps.
Likewise, most of us are surrounding by plenty of spiritual darkness. Will we accept the Lord’s wonderful gift of spiritual light? Mental and emotional light, just as we love the physical light?
Here are a bunch of scriptures that tell of one of God’s most precious gifts:
53. Job 33:28-30
“He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light. Behold, God does all these things…to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.”
Redemption. Hallelujah!
54. Psalm 4:6
“Many say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Yahweh, let the light of Your face shine on us.”
55. Psalm 27:1
“Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Would you agree that things look more scary in the dark? Our minds go to all kinds of scenarios when we see an object. Then the lights come on and it turns out to be perfectly harmless—like a big rock instead of a bear!
Because the Lord is our light, we don’t have to fear.
56. Psalm 36:9
“For with You is the spring of life. In Your light we will see light.”
57. Psalm 43:3
“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill, to your tents.”
Yes, Lord! Amen.
58. Psalm 44:3
“For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You were favorable to them.”
We win our battles through the Lord, not our own strength. What a relief! Verses like these keep me focused on living rightly before Him so that light, that favor is over my life.
How about you?
59. Psalm 89:15
“Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of Your presence, Yahweh.”
This is for the worshipers! What a motivation to “learn to acclaim” Him every day. To stay in an attitude of worship and praise before Him Monday through Saturday as well as Sunday!
60. Psalm 97:11
“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”
Here, light is paired with gladness. Our submission and obedience to the Lord plant seeds of light and gladness in our lives. That’s a gift!
61. Psalm 112:4
“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.”
Since the New Covenant, this light comes from Jesus’ life within us. The darkness can’t stop the sun from rising and bringing its light over the earth.
The forces of spiritual darkness can’t stop Jesus’ light from rising in the lives of His people.
62. Psalm 118:27-28
“Yahweh is God, and He has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to You. You are my God, I will exalt You.”
This is an interesting one for those of us living after the time of ritual sacrifices. Maybe: Because He has given us light, our thanks and praise are our sacrifice to Him.
63. Proverbs 29:13
“The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives light to the eyes of both.”
[Interesting note here: The translators of the WEB, the version we use here due to its being in the public domain, translated the word for light to sight. But the original Hebrew is or which means light. So I changed WEB’s translation to match.]
This is what we call “common grace.” All people receive God’s physical gift of light, because they live on the earth He created. Good and bad, rich and poor—all reap the benefits of light.
64. Isaiah 9:2
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.”
This verse is part of one of the great Messianic prophecies in Isaiah. The light is Jesus.
65. Isaiah 51:4
“Listen to Me, My people; and hear Me, My nation,
for a law will go out from Me, and I will establish My justice for a light to the peoples.”
66. Isaiah 58:8-10
“Then your light will break out as the morning, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness shall go before you, and Yahweh’s glory will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer. You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly; and if you pour out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise in darkness, and your obscurity will be as the noonday.”
Here, light is paired with healing and is a direct result of living rightly before the Lord and people.
67. Micah 7:8-9
“Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of Yahweh, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light. I will see His righteousness.”
The wonderful judgment, forgiveness and redemption of the Lord always leads to living in the light.
68. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
“For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, seeing it is God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
And as we share Jesus with others, we give them a chance to live in His light, too.
69. Colossians 1:12-14
“…giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.”
This is the last part of Paul’s wonderful prayer for the Colossian church and God’s people everywhere. It starts in verse 9.
Our inheritance through Jesus is as saints in light—transferred from the power of darkness to His own kingdom. Wow! What a gift.
Light & Darkness as Judgment
God so created His world as to give people—all people—the freedom to choose to follow Him or not.
The Bible is crystal clear on the results of that choice for each of us. Here are some verses that highlight this:
70. Isaiah 50:10-11
“Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of His servant?
He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves, walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: you will lie down in sorrow.”
Again, WEB’s translation is a bit off from the original Hebrew, according to Strong’s. The word translated sorrow here is maatsebah. It literally means torment.
I understand this passage to mean that if I try to make my own light (“the torches you have kindled”) rather than turn to the Lord for His light, the result is torment. Yikes. This is serious business.
71. Isaiah 59:9
“Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t overtake us. We look for light, but see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.”
72. Jeremiah 13:16
“Give glory to Yahweh your God, before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, He turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.”
73. Jeremiah 25:10
“Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.”
All these blessings—much of what we take for granted due to common grace—are from the Lord. When He removes Himself, these blessings are removed, too.
74. Lamentations 3:2
“He [God] has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.”
In the first section of this chapter in Lamentations, Jeremiah is talking about how the Lord brought him through all these dark things and places. But then he reverts into one of the great statements of faith in the Bible, starting in verse 22.
Sometimes darkness is part of the Lord’s plan to lead us into His light.
75. Ezekiel 32:8
” ‘I will make all the bright lights of the sky dark over you, and set darkness on your land,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”
The Lord is serious about righteousness and sin in our lives.
76. Amos 5:18, 20
“ ‘Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light…Won’t the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?’ “
I’m pulling these Old Testament scriptures out of a broader prophetic context. So be sure and read the surrounding text to understand this judgment of darkness.
77. Zechariah 14:6-7
“It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost. It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light.”
Again, it’s important to read these judgment verses in the context of the whole.
And if you’ve bought into the misconception that judgment is only in the Old Testament…
78. Matthew 24:29
“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken…”
Said Jesus, talking of the times of the end.
79. Mark 13:24
“But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light…”
Same conversation from Mark’s gospel.
80. Luke 12:3
“Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
We can’t hide from the Lord. That’s my take on this one.
81. 1 Corinthians 4:5
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.”
Same idea.
82. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.”
The sad reality is that some people choose unbelief. This verse indicates that as a result of unbelief, the light of Jesus is veiled to them. It should compel us to intercession for them!
83. Revelation 8:12
“The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.”
The absence of light is darkness. This is part of the prophetic revelation given to John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, of what will take place in the last days.
84. Revelation 18:23
“The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.”
Similar to Jeremiah 25:10 earlier in this section, when the Lord pulls His presence away, the result is darkness and misery. Everything good we have in this earth, in this life, is because of Him. Rebellion and sin against God brings judgment eventually.
God’s Relation to Light
Here are even more verses in the Bible that show how light is essential to who God is. It’s part of Him.
85. Psalm 104:2
“He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.”
86. Isaiah 60:19-20
“The sun will be no more your light by day; nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end.”
Wow, what a promise! This is emphasized again at the end of the Bible in Revelation 21 and 22 (we already listed those passages above in the first section).
87. Ezekiel 1:4, 27-28
“I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire…
“I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.”
This heavenly vision given to Ezekiel is full of light in various forms.
88. Daniel 2:22
“He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”
This is part of Daniel’s prayer of thanks to the Lord after He revealed the secret of the King’s dream.
89. Habakkuk 3:4
“His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from His hand, where His power is hidden.”
Part of Habakkuk’s song of praise to the Lord.
90. Matthew 4:16
” ‘The people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.’ ”
Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 9 here.
91. Matthew 17:2
“He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light.”
The transfiguration of Jesus as witnessed by Peter, James and John shortly before He went to the cross. They got to get a glimpse behind the curtain of who He really was—God in the flesh!
92. Luke 2:30-32
” ‘…my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.’ ”
The thanksgiving prayer of the aged Simeon when he got to see the Messiah first-hand in the temple, shortly after Jesus’ birth.
93. John 1:4-5, 9
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it…The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.”
Part of the apostle John’s description of Jesus at the beginning of his gospel account.
94. John 8:12
“Again, therefore, Jesus 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.’ ”
95. John 9:5
” ‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ ”
Jesus isn’t shy about saying He who is.
96. John 12:46
” ‘I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.’ “
We definitely have a theme here!
97. Acts 26:23
” ‘…how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, He would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.’ ”
The apostle Paul giving his defense before King Agrippa and Festus in Caesarea, just prior to being sent to Rome. Again, Jesus’ purpose in coming, dying and being raised to life was to bring light to the darkness.
That’s redemption.
98. 1 Timothy 6:16
“He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power.”
99. James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.”
100. 1 John 1:5
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.“
Revelation 21 and 22—the last chapters of the Bible—expound on how the new heavens and earth and the New Jerusalem won’t need the sun or moon for light, because God’s presence will literally be there to provide all the light needed.
We already listed these verses earlier, but I wanted to bring them up again here to reinforce that GOD IS LIGHT. It’s His nature.
Our Relation to Light
And that brings us, finally, to our relation to Light.
101. Isaiah 49:6
“I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
Part of another Messianic prophecy…and part of our Great Commission as His people.
102. Isaiah 62:1
“For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp.“
The promise of the New Jerusalem, foretold by Isaiah and reinforced at the end of Revelation. As the redeemed of the Lord, we’ll be part of this eternal city and her future.
103. Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
This is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Not only does He call Himself the light of the world, He calls His followers the same thing.
104. Mark 4:21-22
“He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.’ “
Again, Jesus says for us to let our lights shine brightly.
105. Luke 8:16-17
“ ‘No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed; nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.’ “
Luke’s version of Jesus’ same words.
106. Luke 11:33-36
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”
107. Luke 16:8
“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.”
I think it’s an admonition not to be naive! Be innocent of darkness, but wise.
108. John 3:19-21
“This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
I could’ve put this passage under the Judgment section too. It’s here because Jesus makes it clear we have a choice to choose the light or not.
Hate the light or hate the darkness. Choose.
109. John 11:9-10
“Jesus answered, ‘Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.’ ”
110. John 12:35-36
“Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.’ “
Jesus is talking about Himself as the light and our opportunity to embrace Him so we can have His light too.
111. Acts 13:47
” ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”
Again, a reinforcement of the Isaiah prophecy for Jesus and His followers.
112. Acts 26:18
” ‘…to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “
This is another part of Paul’s defense before Agrippa and Festus. He’s relating to them his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road and Jesus’ commission for him for the rest of his life.
He—and we—are to have an active part in helping other people turn from darkness to light and follow Jesus.
113. Romans 2:19
“…you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness…”
114. Ephesians 5:8
“For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
To walk as children of light means to live our lives so others can see Him in us, displaying the fruits of His Spirit: “…all goodness and righteousness and truth.” (verse 9)
115. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
“You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness.”
We can’t live as both children of light and darkness. We must choose.
116. 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
We have our marching orders!
(All verses are taken from the World English Bible, public domain)
Here’s more…
- Water and Its Importance in the Bible
- How God Speaks through Signs in the Heavens
- Lessons from the Pearl
- 116 Bible Verses about Light - December 10, 2024
- Water and Its Importance in the Bible - August 27, 2024
- How God Speaks through Signs in the Heavens - June 14, 2024
