Study
Word study

Word study

Greek

Light

φῶςStrong’s G5457

phōs

Appears in 61 verses of the New Testament

In short

Phōs is the Greek word usually translated “light”, “fire” and “lights”. It appears in 61 verses of the New Testament.

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
1 Timothy 6:16 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “light”, “fire” and “lights”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • light 52
  • a light 9
  • of light 6
  • fire 1
  • lights 1
  • in light 1
  • of lights 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • John 16
  • Acts 10
  • Luke 7
  • Matthew 6
  • 1 John 5
  • 2 Corinthians 3

15 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 61 verses, by book
Mark 1
14:54
Romans 2
2:1913:12
2 Corinthians 3
4:66:1411:14
Ephesians 3
5:85:95:13
Colossians 1
1:12
1 Thessalonians 1
5:5
1 Timothy 1
6:16
James 1
1:17
1 Peter 1
2:9
Revelation 3
18:2321:2422:5
Greek dictionary

φῶς phōs · light

φῶς (Att.. contr. from φάος; φάω), genitive, φωτός, τό, [in LXX chiefly for אוֹר ;] 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, …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “light” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

LIGHT, noun

lite. [Latin lux, light and luceo, to shine. Eng. luck, both in elements and radical sense.]

  1. That ethereal agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense of seeing, but the particles of which are separately invisible.
  2. That flood of luminous rays which flows from the sun and constitutes day.“God called the light day, and the darkness he called night” Genesis 1:5
  3. Day; the dawn of day.“The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy” Job 24:14
  4. Life.
All definitions and other forms of “light”
  1. Any thing that gives light; as a lamp, candle, taper, lighted tower, star, etc.“Then he called for a light and sprang in -” Acts 16:29“I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles” Acts 13:47“And God made two great lights” Genesis 1:16
  2. The illuminated part of a picture; the part which lies open to the luminary by which the piece is supposed to be enlightened, and is painted in vivid colors; opposed to shade.
  3. Illumination of mind; instruction; knowledge.“LIGHT, understanding and wisdom - was found in him” Daniel 5:11
  4. Means of knowing.
  5. Open view; a visible state; a state of being seen by the eye, or perceived, understood or known.
  6. Public view or notice.
  7. Explanation; illustration; means of understanding.
  8. Point of view; situation to be seen or viewed; a use of the word taken from painting.
  9. A window; a place that admits light to enter.
  10. A pane of glass; as a window with twelve lights.
  11. In Scripture, God, the source of knowledge.“God is light 1” 1 John 1:5
  12. Christ.“That was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” John 1:9
  13. Joy; comfort; felicity.“LIGHT is sown for the righteous” Psalms 97:11
  14. Saving knowledge.“It is because there is no light in them” Isaiah 8:20
  15. Prosperity; happiness.“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning” Isaiah 58:8
  16. Support; comfort; deliverance. Micah 7:8
  17. The gospel. Matthew 4:16
  18. The understanding or judgment. Matthew 6:22
  19. The gifts and graces of christians.
  20. A moral instructor, as John the Baptist. John 5:35
  21. A true christian, a person enlightened. Ephesians 5:8
  22. A good king, the guide of his people.

LIGHT, adjective

lite.

  1. Bright; clear; not dark or obscure; as, the morning is light; the apartment is light
  2. In colors, white or whitish; as a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.

LIGHT, adjective

lite.

  1. Having little weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
  2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne or carried by physical strength; as a light burden, weight or load.
  3. Not oppressive; easy to be suffered or endured; as a light affliction. 2 Corinthians 4:4
  4. Easy to be performed; not difficult; not requiring great strength or exertion.
  5. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as light food.
  6. Not heavily armed, or armed with light weapons; as light troops; a troop of light horse.
  7. Active; swift; nimble.
  8. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments.
  9. Not laden; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted.
  10. Slight; trifling; not important; as a light error.
  11. Not dense; not gross; as light vapors; light fumes.
  12. Small; inconsiderable; not copious or vehement; as a light rain; a light snow.
  13. Not strong; not violent; moderate; as a light wind.
  14. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as a light vain person; a light mind.
  15. Gay; airy; indulging levity; wanting dignity or solidity; trifling.
  16. Wanton; unchaste; as a woman of light carriage.
  17. Not of legal weight; clipped; diminished; as light coin.

LIGHT, verb transitive

lite.

  1. To kindle; to inflame; to set fire to; as, to light a candle or lamp; sometimes with up; as, to light up an inextinguishable flame.
  2. To give light to.
  3. To illuminate; to fill or spread over with light; as, to light a room; to light the streets of a city.
  4. To lighten; to ease of a burden. [Not in use.

LIGHT, verb intransitive

lite.

  1. To fall on; to come to by chance; to happen to find; with on.
  2. To fall on; to strike.“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat” Revelation 7:16
  3. To descend, as from a horse or carriage; with down, off, or from.“He lighten down from his chariot” 2 Kings 5:21“She lighted off the camel” Genesis 24:64

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.