How many times is light mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about light?)

As a born-again Christian, I see myself as a light in the world. Even though we identify ourselves as light as Christians, I was eager to help my Bible study class understand where the term came from and why it appears so many times in the Bible. In our weekly bible study, we decided to look into what the Bible says about light. We kicked off our discussion with the question, “How many times is light mentioned in the Bible?”

In this article, join me as we dig deeper into the Biblical meaning of light and what it symbolizes. Read on to discover Bible verses about light, the characteristics of light in the Bible, and so much more.

What does the Bible say about light?

According to the Bible, light refers to God’s righteousness. Therefore, God is light, Jesus is light, and Christians are light.

In 1 John 1:5, God is referred to as light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. According to Psalm 97:11-12, light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. This suggests that light represents God and His righteousness.

In John 8:12, Jesus proclaims Himself as the light of the world. If anyone follows Him, they will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. In John 12:46, Jesus says that He came into the world as light so that whoever believes in Him shall not remain in darkness. This suggests that Jesus is the light that came to save the world from sin.

Christians are also light. According to Mathew 5:14-16, Jesus told His followers that they were the light of the world. He further says that believers should let their light shine before other people so that others may see their good deeds. This implies that when Christians believe in Jesus, He lives in them and they become light.

Bible Verses About light

1. According to Genesis 1:4, God saw that the light was good. He separated it from the darkness.
2. According to 2 Samuel 22:28-29, God is a lamp that turns darkness into light.
3. In Job 12:21-22, Job says that God reveals the deep things of darkness and brings them into the light.
4. According to John 11:9-10, Jesus says that in the daytime, people do not stumble because they can see through the world’s light. It implies the physical aspect of light that is visible.
5. In Acts 12:7, a light shone in Peter’s cell, where he had been captured, when an angel appeared to him to free him. It suggests the presence of God, who rescued Peter from King Herod.
6. According to 1 Corinthians 4:4-5, God will bring to light all.
7. that was hidden in darkness and expose the heart’s motives.
8. In Ephesians 5:8, Paul encourages believers to love as children of light.

What does light symbolize in the Bible?

In the Bible, light symbolizes the presence of God and Jesus in a sinful world and goodness.

God’s Presence

According to Micah 7:8-9, Micah says that even though he sits in darkness, God will be his light, and he will see His righteousness. This suggests God’s presence amid sin. In Psalms 36:9-10, God has the fountain of life, and it is through His light that we see. Just as a bright street lamp discourages criminals, God’s light discourages sin.

Jesus Christ

According to John 1:1-13, Jesus is referred to as a light. He came into earth as God in human form to bring light to a sinful world (darkness). In John 8:12, Jesus proclaims to be the light of the world. If anyone follows Him, they will not walk in darkness.

Good

According to John 3:19, people loved the darkness because of their evil deeds rather than light. It suggests that light represents good while darkness represents evil. Therefore, darkness is the absence of light, the absence of God.

Characteristics of light in the Bible

Light is Godly, righteous, and the opposite of darkness.

According to 1 John 1:5, God is referenced as light. In Him, there is no darkness. This suggests that light is Godly. Light is also righteous because where there is light, there is no darkness (sin). In Proverbs 4:18-19, righteousness is likened to the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day, while the way of the wicked is likened to deep darkness.

Light is also referred to as the opposite of darkness. According to Ephesians 5:8-11, Apostle Paul reminds believers that they were once darkness but are now light in the Lord. Light consists of all goodness, while darkness consists of fruitless deeds. In Acts 26:17-18, Jesus wanted Saul to open the eyes of the people and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they receive forgiveness.

Types of light in the Bible

According to the Bible, there is physical light, spiritual light, and light that is the opposite of heavy.

Physical Light

In Genesis 1:3-5, God commands the presence of light. He saw that the earth was formless and empty and needed illumination. He called light ‘day’ and darkness ‘night.’ This suggests a physical aspect of light. It is the natural light that is visible and enables sight in the darkness. According to Exodus 10:21-23, God brought darkness that could be felt to the Egyptians in the ninth plague. Egypt was covered in total darkness for 3 days, and they could not see anything or go anywhere. However, God provided light to the Israelites in the places they lived.

Spiritual light

The spiritual light is the presence of God. According to John 8:12, Jesus says whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness. This suggests that light is the presence of God in the dark world full of sin. It is not physically visible but is a spiritual awakening.

Opposite of Heavy

Light is also referenced as the opposite of heavy in some verses. According to Deuteronomy 25:13-16, God detests dishonesty such as having differing weights in a bag, one heavy and another light. According to Mathew 11:30, Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is light.