Psalms 18:28

18:28 Indeed, ¹  you are my lamp, Lord. ² 

My God ³  illuminates the darkness around me. ⁴ 

Psalms 112:4

112:4 In the darkness a light ⁵  shines for the godly,

for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. ⁶ 

Esther 8:16

8:16 For the Jews there was radiant happiness and joyous honor. ⁷ 

Job 22:28

22:28 Whatever you decide ⁸  on a matter,

it will be established for you,

and light will shine on your ways.

Proverbs 4:18

4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, ⁹ 

growing brighter and brighter ¹⁰  until full day. ¹¹ 

Isaiah 60:1-2

Zion’s Future Splendor

60:1 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor ¹²  of the Lord shines on you!

60:2 For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers ¹³  the nations,

but the Lord shines on you;

his splendor ¹⁴  appears over you.

Isaiah 62:1

The Lord Takes Delight in Zion

62:1 “For the sake of Zion I will not be silent;

for the sake of Jerusalem ¹⁵  I will not be quiet,

until her vindication shines brightly ¹⁶ 

and her deliverance burns like a torch.”

Micah 7:9

7:9 I must endure ¹⁷  the Lord’s anger,

for I have sinned against him.

But then ¹⁸  he will defend my cause, ¹⁹ 

and accomplish justice on my behalf.

He will lead me out into the light;

I will experience firsthand ²⁰  his deliverance. ²¹ 

John 12:46

12:46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.

Revelation 21:23

21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 22:5

22:5 Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

[18:28]  ¹ tn Or “for.” The translation assumes that כִּי (ki)is asseverative here.

[18:28]  ² tn Ps 18:28 reads literally, “you light my lamp, Lord.” 2 Sam 22:29 has, “you are my lamp, Lord.” The Ps 18 reading may preserve two variants, נֵרִי (neriy, “my lamp”) and אוֹרִי (’oriy, “my light”), cf. Ps 27:1. The verb תָּאִיר (ta’ir, “you light”) in Ps 18:28 would, in this case, be a corruption of the latter. See F. M. Cross and D. N. Freedman, Studies in Ancient Yahwistic Poetry (SBLDS), 150, n. 64. The metaphor, which likens the Lord to a lamp or light, pictures him as the psalmist’s source of life. For other examples of “lamp” used in this way, see Job 18:6; 21:17; Prov 13:9; 20:20; 24:20. For other examples of “light” as a symbol for life, see Job 3:20; 33:30; Ps 56:13.

[18:28]  ³ tn 2 Sam 22:29 repeats the name “Lord.”

[18:28]  ⁴ tn Heb “my darkness.”

[112:4]  ⁵ tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.

[112:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.

[8:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “light and gladness and joy and honor” (so NASB). The present translation understands the four terms to be a double hendiadys.

[22:28]  ⁸ tn The word is גָּזַר (gazar, “to cut”), in the sense of deciding a matter.

[4:18]  ⁹ tn Heb “like light of brightness.” This construction is an attributive genitive: “bright light.” The word “light” (אוֹר, ’or) refers to the early morning light or the dawn (BDB 21 s.v.). The point of the simile is that the course of life that the righteous follow is like the clear, bright morning light. It is illumined, clear, easy to follow, and healthy and safe – the opposite of what darkness represents.

[4:18]  ¹⁰ tn The construction uses the Qal active participle of הָלַךְ (halakh) in a metaphorical sense to add the idea of continuance or continually to the participle הוֹלֵךְ (holekh). Here the path was growing light, but the added participle signifies continually.

[4:18]  ¹¹ tn Heb “until the day is established.” This expression refers to the coming of the full day or the time of high noon.

[60:1]  ¹² tn Or “glory” (so most English versions).

[60:2]  ¹³ tn The verb “covers” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[60:2]  ¹⁴ tn Or “glory” (so most English versions); TEV “the brightness of his presence.”

[62:1]  ¹⁵ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[62:1]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “goes forth like brightness.”

[7:9]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “lift, bear.”

[7:9]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “until.”

[7:9]  ¹⁹ tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”

[7:9]  ²⁰ tn Heb “see.”

[7:9]  ²¹ tn Or “justice, vindication.”