φῶς (phos) in Matthew 5:16: Noun Nominative Singular Neuter
φῶς (phos) in Matthew 5:16
Textual Witness
The witness reads φῶς in Matthew 5:16.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
Carries the light image into Jesus command.
How To Communicate It
Use it to link the repeated light image across the passage.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Keep the form tied to Matthew 5:16.
- Do not detach it from the command in Matthew 5:16.
- Do not use morphology alone to build a complete doctrinal claim.
What Does The Label Mean?
Noun: the form names a person, place, thing, or concept in the clause.
Nominative: marks the noun sentence role as the context requires.
Singular: the number should be read from this occurrence, not generalized beyond the clause.
Neuter: grammatical gender marks form agreement and does not by itself make a theological claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Let shine
The command in Matthew 5:16
Names the light that is commanded to shine.
Do not detach the noun from the preceding light-of-the-world saying.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: your light
Nominative light subject. names what is to shine. Attached to let shine. Governed by the command in Matthew 5:16. Read with let your light shine.
What is commanded to shine? Your light is commanded to shine.
Direct: The noun directly supports light.
This occurrence must be read within Matthew 5:16, not as a standalone word study.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads φῶς in Matthew 5:16.
The lemma names light, and here it refers back to the light image applied to the disciples.
The nominative noun is the grammatical subject of the command to shine.
Jesus applies the light image by commanding the disciples light to be visible.
The form connects the identity statement in verse 14 with the command in verse 16.
Use it to link the repeated light image across the passage.
Do not build a full theology of light from this noun form alone.