Greek · G5457 · unreviewed

φῶς

Light

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φῶς G5457

Pronunciation phōs

What does φῶς (phōs) mean in the Bible?

φῶς (phōs) is a Greek word meaning "light". φῶς (Att. Expresses the revelatory influence of kingdom citizens. This term runs through the canonical themes of Holiness, Kingdom, Messiah.

Full entry for φῶς (G5457) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

light

Extended definition

Spiritual truth and divine revelation revealing God's character and transforming human understanding.

light (opposite to τὸ σκότος, ἡ σκοτία): Mat.17:2, 5, Jhn.11:9-10, 2Co.4:6; ἡλίου, Rev.22:5; of a lamp, Luk.8:16 11:33, Jhn.5:35, Rev.18:23; of a supernatural heavenly light, Act.9:3 12:7 22:6, 9 22:11 26:13; hence, ἄγγελος φωτός, 2Co.11:14; ὁ κλήρος τ. ἁγίων ἐν τ. φ., Col.1:12; of the divine glory, Rev.21:24; by meton., of that which gives light: of fire, Mrk.14:54, Luk.22:56 (cl.; 1Ma.12:29; cf. DCG, i, 595; pl., of a lamp or torch, Act.16:29; of heavenly bodies, Jas.1:17. Metaphorical,

aof God: 1Jn.1:5 Jn 1:7; φῶς οἰκῶν ἀπρόσιτον, 1Ti.6:16;

bof spiritual truth and its effects on the lives of men: Mat.4:16 5:16, Jhn.1:4-5 3:19-21, Act.26:18, 23, 2Co.6:14, Eph.5:13, 1Pe.2:9, 1Jn.2:8; τ. φ. τ. ζωῆς, Jhn.8:12; τ. ὅπλα τοῦ φ., Rom.13:12; καρπὸς τοῦ φ., Eph.5:9; έν τ. φ. περιπατεῖν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Jn.1:7 Jn 2:9-10; υἱοὶ (τέκνα) τοῦ φ., Luk.16:8, Jhn.12:36, Eph.5:8, 1Th.5:5; by meton., of one from whom truth shines forth: Act.13:47 (LXX), Rom.2:19; esp. of Christ, Luk.2:32, Jhn.1:7-8 12:35-36, 46; τ. φ. τ. κόσμου, Jhn.8:12 9:5;τ. φ. τ. ἀληθινόν, Jhn.1:9; of Christians, Mat.5:14, Eph.5:8; __(with) of the spiritual understanding: τ. φ. τὸ ἐν σοί, Mat.6:23, Luk.11:35;

dadverbially, of that which is open to view (opposite to ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ): ἐν τ. φ., Mat.10:27, Luk.12:3.

Synonymssee: φέγγος

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Expresses the revelatory influence of kingdom citizens. 1 John 1:5-10

Represents divine revelation embodied in Christ. 1 John 2:7-11

Declares Jesus as illumination for the nations. Acts 26:19-23

Represents divine revelation, purity, and life. John 8:12–20

Symbol of revelation and divine life.

Represents divine revelation and life.

Identifies Christ as the revealer of divine truth.

Symbolizes salvation extended to all peoples.

Defines God’s essential character and establishes the ethical framework for fellowship.

Represents the realm inaugurated by Christ in which believers now walk.

God’s nature as light defines the ethical and spiritual expectations for fellowship. Christian life flows from who God is, not from human preference.

Living in the light means aligning with God’s revealed truth and character, which includes active love.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 4:16 · Matt 5:14 · Matt 5:16 · Matt 6:23 · Matt 17:2 · Luke 11:35 · John 1:4 · John 1:5 · John 1:8 · John 1:9 · John 3:19 · John 8:12 · John 9:5 · John 11:10 · John 12:35 · John 12:46 25×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter Luke 16:8 · John 1:7 · John 1:8 · John 12:36 · Acts 22:11 · Rom 13:12 · 2 Cor 11:14 · Eph 5:8 · Eph 5:9 · Eph 5:13 · 1 Thess 5:5 · Rev 21:24 · Rev 22:5 13×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter Jas 1:17 1×

Dative · Singular · Neuter Matt 10:27 · Luke 12:3 · John 5:35 · 2 Cor 6:14 · Col 1:12 · 1 John 1:7 · 1 John 2:9 · 1 John 2:10 9×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 4:16 · Mark 14:54 · Luke 2:32 · Luke 8:16 · Luke 22:56 · John 3:19 · John 3:20 · John 3:21 · John 8:12 · John 11:9 · John 12:35 · John 12:36 · Acts 13:47 · Acts 22:6 · Acts 22:9 · Acts 26:13 23×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Acts 16:29 1×

Canonical Themes

Holiness Kingdom Messiah Redemption Revelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 1:5-10 light phōs Dative · Singular · Neuter

A metaphor for God’s holiness, purity, truth, and moral perfection, opposed to darkness as sin and falsehood.

1 John 2:7-11 light phōs Dative · Singular · Neuter

The revealed presence and holiness of God manifested in Christ.

Acts 26:19-23 Light phōs

Illumination or revelation.

John 8:12–20 φῶς phōs Nominative · Singular · Neuter

light

Additional Occurrences

1-john Light phōs

moral purity, revelatory holiness

1-john Light phōs

moral purity and revelatory presence of God

John 8:12-20 φῶς phōs

light

John 9:1-12 φῶς phōs

light

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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