What light symbolizes?

Answer 1

The word Light is used as a symbol in the spiritual realm for what Jesus Christ does and is as compared to what light does in the normal everyday life of people. As in the real world people who have bad intentions don't like light and prefer to perform their crimes in the darkness of night to assist in anonymity and escape, so in the spiritual realm people who are 'in darkness' do not like the light since they will then be exposed.

Light in the physical world has the property of revealing things or showing us things so that we can see where we are going. This idea is carried over into the spiritual realm in Christianity, in that Jesus brings things to the light, i.e. He reveals things about people that they would rather leave hidden. Jesus is also the revealer of spiritual truth or 'light' which is another way of saying that He reveals things as they really are. This ability He demonstrated to cut through to the truth of the matter was found to be uncomfortable for many people who met Him while on earth.

Another example of the use of this 'symbol' is that Christians are to live 'in the light' of Christ who is Himself both the Creator of physical light and of spiritual light. "I am the light of the world". There is a contrast between the old life of darkness and ignorance and the new life of light and knowledge.

Light in the physical realm, as well as in the spiritual, is seen as a Creation of God alone. People themselves cannot create light, even though they use it. Thus God, the creator of all is alone to be worshiped, since He is 'above all and through all' He has made.

Below are a few verses illustrating the above comments.

John 3:19-21 (King James Version)19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 8:12 (King James Version)12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Ephesians 5:8 (King James Version)8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 1 Peter 2:9 (King James Version)9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 John 2:9-10 (King James Version)9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Answer 2

Jesus Christ is the Light sent by the Father. He reveals truth to the world by shinning his light in the darkness of a sinful world. Followers of God have this Light in them and shine that light to the world through thoughts, words, and actions following Jesus's example.

Answer 3

The Scriptures contain many figurative references to light. Ability to see is meant by the words "the light of my own eyes." (Ps 38:10) For God to "give light" to someone means that he gives them life or allows them to continue living. (Job 3:20, 23; compare Ps 56:13.) "Children that have seen no light" are those who are born dead. (Job 3:16; compare Ps 49:19.) "It is good for the eyes to see the sun" may be understood to mean 'it is good to be alive.'-Ec 11:7.

Morning light is picturesquely described as 'taking hold of the ends of the earth and shaking the wicked out of it,' because dawn disperses evildoers. Darkness is their "light," for they are accustomed to carrying out their evil deeds under its cover, and this figurative "light" is taken from them by the literal light of dawn.-Job 38:12-15; compare Job 24:15-17.

As the light of the sun is clearly observable, thus Jehovah's adverse judgments are obvious. This is alluded to at Hosea 6:5: "The judgments upon you will be as the light that goes forth."

The 'light of God's face' means divine favor. (Ps 44:3; 89:15) "Lift up the light of your face upon us" is an expression meaning 'show us favor.' (Ps 4:6) Similarly, the favor of a ruler is referred to as "the light of the king's face."-Pr 16:15.

Light may denote brightness or cheerfulness, the opposite of gloom. (Job 30:26) This may explain the words of Job (29:24): "The light of my face they would not cast down." Although others were gloomy and dejected, this did not cause Job to become of like disposition.

A bright prospect, such as salvation or deliverance, is at times referred to under the figure of light. (Es 8:16; Ps 97:11; Isa 30:26; Mic 7:8, 9) Jehovah's causing his glory to shine forth upon Zion pointed forward to her deliverance from a captive state. As a result Zion was to become a source of enlightenment to the nations. (Isa 60:1-3, 19, 20; compare Re 21:24; 22:5.) On the other hand, for the sun, moon, and stars not to give their light would signify calamity.-Isa 13:10, 11; Jer 4:23; Eze 32:7, 8; Mt 24:29.

Answer 4

From time immemorial, light signifies truth and learning.

Answer 5

'or (אור)