“Let there be light” – this is how creation begins. Light runs through the entire Bible: as an image of God, of Jesus, and of hope in the darkness. Here you will find 21 Bible verses about light.
God is light
Light as an image of God.
-
And God said, Let there be light! and there was light.
Genesis 1:3
-
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; whom shall I dread?
Psalm 27:1Baptismal versesFear
-
For in you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Psalm 36:10Baptismal versesLife
-
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105God's wordBaptismal verses
-
And this is the message we heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness.
1 John 1:5God
-
The people who walk in darkness see a great light; and over those who dwell in the land of darkness it shines brightly.
-
Arise, shine! for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen over you.
-
Do not rejoice, my enemy, when I fall! I will rise again; and though I sit in darkness, the LORD is my light.
Micah 7:8OvercomingWinter
-
For darkness is not darkness with you, and the night shines as bright as the day; darkness is as light.
Psalm 139:12
-
In him was life, and life was the light of people. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:4-5
Jesus, the light of the world – and you
Receiving light and passing it on.
-
Then Jesus spoke to them again and said, I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
John 8:12EpiphanyI Am sayings
-
I have come into the world as a light, so that whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness.
John 12:46Jesus
-
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14Baptismal versesIdentity in Christ
-
So let your light shine before people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16God as FatherConfirmation verses
-
For you were once darkness; now you are light in the LORD.
Ephesians 5:8Confirmation verses
-
For you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5
-
So that you may be blameless, radiant, and children of God, harmless in the midst of an evil and corrupt generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
-
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has given a bright light into our hearts, so that through us may come the enlightenment from the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
-
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, that you may proclaim the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
-
A light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to the praise of your people Israel.
Luke 2:32
-
And the city needs neither sun nor moon to shine; for the glory of God enlightens it, and its light is the Lamb.
Revelation 21:23Glory
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related Topics
This matches
“So let your light shine before people” (Matthew 5:16) – the Let-your-light-shine shirt bears exactly this verse.
Let your light Shine T-ShirtShirt for Matthew 5:16: Let your light shine before people.€38
Heaven Came Down - PostcardPostcard for Christmas: Heaven came down.€2
Heavenly Mindset - PosterPoster for Colossians 3:2 – looking up, every day on the wall.€12
Creation - Knitwear BeanieKnit beanie from the Creation series.€29
Light in the Bible
The first thing God creates in creation is light (Genesis 1:3). Since then, light stands in the Bible for God's presence, for life and guidance. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). The prophets promise a light for people who sit in darkness: “The people who walk in darkness see a great light” (Isaiah 9:1) – a verse that is read at Christmas. John begins his Gospel with the same image: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:5).
You are the light of the world
Jesus says of himself: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness” (John 8:12). And in the Sermon on the Mount, he says something amazing to his listeners: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light that has been received is to be passed on – not hidden under a bushel, but visible, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). At many baptisms, a candle is lit from the Easter candle; you will find suitable verses in the baptismal verses. More about this in The I Am sayings of Jesus, Bible verses for Christmas and Bible verses about mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does “I am the light of the world” stand?
In John 8:12 and John 9:5. It is one of the seven I Am sayings of Jesus.
What does “You are the light of the world” mean?
Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-16 that his followers should pass on his light – through their lives and their good works.
