In this post we will explore an inspiring collection of Bible verses about light. From scriptures about God’s light shining to Bible verses about light and darkness. Grab your Bible and let’s get started….
How many Bible verses about light? According to the Strong Concordance, light is referenced 272 times in the KJV. It’s safe to say that the Bible is filled with verses about light.
It’s one of those things that when we think of God and heaven we know there is light. In this collection of scriptures, we will look at just 29 verses that talk about light. These are verses you may or may not be familiar with.
Because light is written in different ways in the Bible you will find a lot of verses that will show these references:
- God’s Light
- God shining on us
- Being a light to others (light in the world or light in the darkness)
- The contrast between light and darkness
If you are studying on the topic of light in the Bible then please take this post as a small resource for you to continue in your study.
Before we start I want to share this quote about light from Corrie Ten Boom (click for more quotes!).
In darkness God’s truth shines most clear.
Corrie Ten Boom
Bible Scriptures about Light
All verses below are from the NKJV. You can hover over the reference and you can check out the Amplified translation of the Bible verse. If you would like to check out other translations then head over to Bible Gateway.
Psalm 119:105 NKJV – 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Matthew 4:16 NKJV – 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV – 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 1:5 NKJV – 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 8:12 NKJV – 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Psalm 31:16 NKJV – 16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake.
1 John 1:5-9 NKJV – 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Genesis 1:3 NKJV – 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV – 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ‘
Psalm 27:1 NKJV – 1 [A Psalm] of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD [is] the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
John 12:35-37 NKJV – 35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. 37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,
Micah 7:8 NKJV – 8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD [will be] a light to me.
Psalm 18:28 NKJV – 28 For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Ephesians 5:8-14 NKJV – 8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them]. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Acts 26:22-23 NKJV – 22 “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come– 23 “that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles.”
Psalm 80:19 NKJV – 19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!
Luke 11:34-35 NKJV – 34 “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when [your eye] is bad, your body also [is] full of darkness. 35 “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.
Isaiah 60:1 NKJV – 1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Ephesians 1:18 NKJV – 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Psalm 37:5-6 NKJV – 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 119:130 NKJV – 130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Isaiah 9:2-3 NKJV – 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation [And] increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.
2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV – 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
James 1:17 NKJV – 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV – 9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Acts 13:47 NKJV – 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Ecclesiastes 2:13 NKJV – 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
Revelation 21:23 NKJV – 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Quick Reference List of Scriptures on Topic
Like I do with all my topical Bible verses here is a simple reference list of Bible verses about light. I hope this makes it easy for you to jot down these verses in your journal or Bible for future use or study.
List of Light Bible Verses
- Psalm 119:105
- Matthew 4:16
- Matthew 5:14-16
- John 1:5
- John 8:12
- Psalm 31:16
- Genesis 1:3
- 1 John 1:5-9
- Numbers 6:24-26
- Psalm 27:1
- John 12:35-37
- Micah 7:8
- Psalm 18:28
- Ephesians 5:8-14
- Acts 26:22-23
- Psalm 80:19
- Luke 11:34-35
- Isaiah 60:1
- Ephesians 1:18
- Psalm 37:5-6
- Psalm 119:130
- Isaiah 9:2-3
- 2 Corinthians 6:14
- John 12:36-37
- James 1:17
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Acts 13:47
- Ecclesiastes 2:13
- Revelation 21:23
I hope these verses have encouraged you in your venture in growing in God and learning to be His light to this world. If you would like to learn more then I recommend Derek Prince’s Book Living as Salt and Light.
Feel free to drop me a comment below! I would love what God is doing in your life!
Melissa Tumino
Melissa is a passionate minister, speaker and an ongoing learner of the Bible. She has been involved in church and vocational ministry for over 18 years. And is the founder of Think About Such Things. She has the heart to equip the saints by helping them get into the Word of God and fall more in love with Jesus. She also enjoys family, cooking, and reading.
She has spoken in churches in California, Oregon, Texas, and Mexico and has been featured in Guidepost Magazine and All Recipes Magazine. Read More…
FAQs
What the Bible says about light? ›
“Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.” The Good News: Light is hope, wisdom and goodness — God brings us that and it'll never go away. “Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
What does the Bible say about bringing things into the light? ›“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
What does the Bible say about thinking on good things? ›Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice.
How important is the light of God in our lives? ›Christ teaches us in scripture that faith keeps the darkness at bay. Just as Christ's light will not leave us, neither does the darkness. The good news is that Christ's light gives us life, and in turn we can share Christ's light with others when their light grows dim or darkness overwhelms someone close to us.
What light means spiritually? ›Light is one of the most universal and fundamental symbols. It is the spiritual and the divine, it is illumination and intelligence. Light is the source of goodness and the ultimate reality, and it accompanies transcendence into the Nirvana of Buddhist doctrine.
What does Jesus mean by light? ›Light is defined as life, as seen in John 1:4, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men”. Those who have faith through Him will have eternal life. This “life” is a gift Jesus brought from God into a dying world.
Why is it important to let your light shine? ›When Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others,” that wasn't the whole sentence. He went on to give the reason why it's important to shine: “so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16b).
What does it mean to come into the light? ›Definition of come to light
: to become known Other details have come to light because of this investigation. She was angry when it came to light that some people were being promoted unfairly.
A mind created, crafted, and kept by Christ is free and clear. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Where in the Bible does it say be very careful about what you think? ›Be Careful About What You Think Your Thoughts Run Your Life - Proverbs 4-23: Bible Quotes Notebook with Inspirational Bible Verses and Motivational Religious Scriptures Paperback – July 16, 2019.
What does the Bible say about clear thoughts? ›
1 Peter 4:7. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
How do we walk in the light of God? ›To walk in the light means to walk: in the Spirit, uprightly, and in the way of the Lord. by faith, in love, and in the truth. in the newness of life and perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
What is the true light of God? ›John tells us in the opening chapter of his gospel that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). Jesus is the true light.
Why is light so important to us? ›Earth has been bathed with light from the Sun ever since; it is our most important source of energy. Sunlight warms us, causes weather patterns, allows plants to manufacture oxygen and our food from carbon dioxide and water, and it allows us to find our way around in the daytime!
What light means in life? ›Light is also a spiritual symbol of hope. In many of the world's religions, light signifies salvation from the darkness of sin. Believers gain confidence from knowing that letting their light of faith shine in a dark world can bring about real change for the better in their lives.
What are the two meanings of light? ›Light is a source of illumination, whether a natural one (like the sun) or an artificial one (like your lamp). Like light itself, the word can take a lot of different forms — it can be a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and it can mean "bright" or "not heavy".
Is light a symbol of truth? ›At other points in scripture, light is used purely as a symbol—a sym- bol of truth, wisdom, power, and righteousness.
What is the purpose of light? ›Light allows us to see the surrounding world by distinguishing details, individual colours, movement, brightness. It has a very big impact on a human in terms of the physiology and psyche. But light also has extremely important functions in relation to a lot of biological processes that occur in our body.
What is the light of life in John 8 12? ›#3 “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” It follows that if one recognizes Jesus as the light of the world and follows him, he or she will always have the light. He promised that he and his salvation would not be taken away from those who come to him.
Why is light important 3 reasons? ›Exposure to natural light helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, improves our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, helps us to focus, enables us to get more done, and even makes us happier.
What are the three Importance of light? ›
It seems we have evolved to need and enjoy light. As well as being an important source of vitamin D, it enables sight and provides a natural daily rhythm. There is some evidence that the amount of natural light we are exposed to improves our sleep patterns and therefore our mental health.
What does God mean by light of the world? ›The Light of the World. Jesus Christ is the light of the world because he is the source of the light which “proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space” (D&C 88:12). His light is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (D&C 93:2; see also D&C 84:46).
What does light mean in Matthew 5? ›Explanation and Commentary on Matt 5:14
Jesus himself is the “light of all mankind…that shines in the darkness” (Jn 1:4-5). He is the truth. Jesus came to reveal the true nature of His Father in heaven and showed what God is really like. The world is in darkness and has been since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
What does a lightworker do? Quite simply, a lightworker is someone who is here to help transmute the darkness into light. They're often people who have endured some hardship and/or trauma in their lives and have come to understand that challenges are not meant to break them.
How do you become light in the dark? ›- Smile at a stranger.
- Listen.
- Offer to help someone carry their grocery bags to the car.
- Wave as you pass another car or a person walking.
- Let someone into traffic when you're waiting at a stoplight.
- Hold the door open for the person behind you.
- #2: Read the Bible Consistently. ...
- #3: Spend Time with God in the Secret Place. ...
- #4: Pray in the Spirit Continually. ...
- #5: Thank God for Everything. ...
- #6: Sing Praise Often. ...
- #7: Pray for People as Often as You Can. ...
- #8: Spend Time with Born Again Believers. ...
- #9: Take Short Breaks to Focus on God.
Give Me Peace, Heavenly Father
Give me peace, Oh Heavenly Father, in my mind, in my heart and in my soul. Bless me, Lord, with Your tender mercies, grace, and Thy loving-kindness. Clear my mind and conscience so that it would not hinder me from drawing near to You. Allow my actions to reveal my thoughts.
“Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe'” (Mark 9:23). It is time to change your mindset, and renew your thoughts and ways of thinking. God never intended for us to live according to the world's system and ways of doing things.
Why do we have to be careful how we think? ›“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23TEV). God is far more interested in changing your mind than changing your circumstances. We want God to take away all of the problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness.
What does Matthew 9 37 say? ›Matthew 9:37, ESV: Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Matthew 9:37, KJV: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Matthew 9:37, NASB: Then He *said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
What is the meaning of Proverbs 4 23? ›
In this verse we are taught to keep our spiritual “heart.” It reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life.” Heart, therefore, means the command center of the soul; the mind, will, and affections. It is a high risk, vulnerable place because of sin.
How do you clear all your thoughts? ›- Be mindful.
- Start writing.
- Put on music.
- Get some sleep.
- Take a walk.
- Tidy up.
- Unfocus.
- Talk about it.
...
If you're feeling stuck, try these strategies:
- Go for a walk.
- Listen to music — it can have surprising benefits.
- Read a chapter of your favorite book.
- Doodle.
- Do a guided meditation or try some mindful breathing.
- Take a nap.
Loving God, please grant me peace of mind and calm my troubled heart. My soul is like a turbulent sea. I can't seem to find my balance so I stumble and worry constantly. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you've laid out for me.
What is the light offered by faith? ›The light that comes from faith, from the revelation of God in Jesus Christ and in his Spirit, illuminates the depths of reality and helps us to recognise that reality bears within itself the indelible signs that the work of God is good.
Is God a point of light? ›“God is light” is a recurring theme in the Bible. Genesis says that “and God said 'let there be light' and then there was light”. It is very close to although not quite same as saying “I will be the light”. In fact, according to some Biblical verses, God has more explicitly said that He is indeed light.
Who is the light in the Bible? ›Jesus declares that he is "the light of the world" ( John 8:12 ; 9:5 ). Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, who has come as the light that enlightens all people ( John 1:4-14 ), so that those believing in him will no longer be in darkness ( 12:46 ).
Who is the light in John 1? ›Explanation and Commentary of John 1:5
Jesus is the light of the world (Jn 1:4). He is the “true light, which gives light to everyone” (v. 9). This means that he would be the one to drive away the darkness of the dominion of satan.
The light of the Trinity, which suffuses the mind in the highest forms of prayer, is sapphire blue, the colour of heaven. Evagrius did not reach this conclusion as a result of abstract thought, but on the basis of a particular biblical verse: Exodus 24:10.
What are the 5 importance of light? ›Light is responsible for all life, for the production of the air that we breathe, the cycles of our oceans, the magnetic fields around our planet, gravity, warmth and our weather. We omit the importance of the true nature of the projection of our sun at our peril.
What are the 5 characteristics of light? ›
You'll also recognize when there's no pizzazz to the light and, most likely, you will not make so many disappointing images. Photography is “writing with light.” So, let's build our conversation about lighting on five fundamental characteristics of light: Direction, Intensity, Color, Contrast, and Hardness.
What are 5 uses of light? ›- Food formation.
- Growth of the human body.
- Regulation of Physiology.
- Sight and vision.
- Heat and temperature.
- Drying & evaporation.
- For speed regulation.
- Source of electrical energy.
Characteristics of LIGHT in Bible
God is light – What does that mean?
"Let There Be Light": 6 Things You Need to Know about the Light ...
Generally speaking, light serves as a symbol of life, happiness, prosperity, and, in a wider sense, of perfect being. As a symbol of life, light can also serve as a symbol of immortality. Darkness, on the other hand, is associated with chaos, death, and the underworld.
What is light to God? ›In theology, divine light (also called divine radiance or divine refulgence) is an aspect of divine presence perceived as light during a theophany or vision, or represented as such in allegory or metaphor. The term "light" has been widely used in spirituality and religion.
What are the two meanings of light? ›Light is a source of illumination, whether a natural one (like the sun) or an artificial one (like your lamp). Like light itself, the word can take a lot of different forms — it can be a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and it can mean "bright" or "not heavy".
How do you become light to others? ›Being a light to others also means responding with kindness and understanding if you come across a person who is not interested in hearing your words of encouragement. God did not teach us to force His Word upon others but to teach it gracefully and with compassion.
Why does light symbolize life? ›Symbol of Life
Many people look to the light of the rising sun for its life-giving energy. The expression it's good for the eyes to see the sun may also mean it's good to be alive. In religious contexts, light is associated with creation, as God created light before anything else.
John tells us in the opening chapter of his gospel that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). Jesus is the true light.
How do we receive light from God? ›- praying and seeking God's will.
- participating in the life and worship of the Church.
- reading and reflecting on the Scriptures.
- receiving Communion.
- opening our lives to the Holy Spirit.
What is the light in John 1? ›
The Light Revealed
He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created” (John 1:1-3). Everything God wants to say to man is found in Jesus Christ. He is preexistent and coexistent with the Father.