Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and General Overview:Brightness, in biblical terms, often refers to the quality of emitting or reflecting light. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe the glory, purity, and divine presence of God. The concept of brightness is associated with God's holiness, the revelation of His presence, and the illumination of truth. In Scripture, brightness is a symbol of God's majesty and the transformative power of His presence.
Biblical References:1.
Divine Presence and Glory: · In the Old Testament, brightness is often linked to the manifestation of God's glory. For instance, in
Ezekiel 1:28, the prophet describes a vision of God's glory: "Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around Him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD." Here, brightness signifies the overwhelming and awe-inspiring presence of God.
2.
Christ as the Light: · The New Testament frequently associates brightness with Jesus Christ, who is described as the light of the world. In
John 8:12, Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." This brightness represents the truth and salvation that Christ brings to humanity.
3.
Heavenly Visions: · Brightness is also a characteristic of heavenly visions and divine encounters. In
Acts 9:3, during Saul's conversion, "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him." This brightness signifies the divine intervention and revelation that leads to transformation.
4.
The Transfiguration: · The Transfiguration of Jesus is another significant event where brightness is emphasized. In
Matthew 17:2, it is written, "There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." This event highlights the divine nature of Christ and His fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
5.
Eschatological Imagery: · In eschatological contexts, brightness is used to describe the future glory and presence of God.
Revelation 21:23 states, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." This imagery conveys the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the eternal illumination provided by His presence.
Symbolism and Theological Significance:Brightness in the Bible symbolizes purity, truth, and the divine nature of God. It serves as a metaphor for the holiness and righteousness that believers are called to emulate. The brightness of God's presence is both a source of comfort and a call to reverence, as it reveals His majesty and the transformative power of His love.
In Christian theology, brightness is also associated with the concept of enlightenment, where the light of Christ dispels the darkness of sin and ignorance. Believers are encouraged to walk in the light, reflecting the brightness of God's truth in their lives, as seen in
Ephesians 5:8: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."
Overall, brightness in the Bible is a profound representation of God's glory, the revelation of His truth, and the hope of eternal life in His presence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The quality or state of being bright; splendor; luster; brilliancy; clearness.
2. (n.) Acuteness (of the faculties); sharpness 9wit.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BRIGHTNESSbrit'-nes: Used by the King James Version inHebrews 1:3 for "effulgence of his glory," as in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version. The Greek apaugasma may mean either "reflection" or "radiation." Patristic usage favors the latter; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 7:26; also the Nicene Creed: "Light of Light," i.e. the Son not only manifests the Father, but is of the same substance. "What emanates from light, must have the nature of light" (Delitzsch).
Greek
2987. lamprotes --brightness...brightness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: lamprotes Phonetic Spelling:
(lam-prot'-ace) Short Definition: splendor,
brightness Definition
...796. astrape -- lightning,brightness
... lightning,brightness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: astrape Phonetic
Spelling: (as-trap-ay') Short Definition: a flash of lightning...
5338. pheggos -- light,brightness
... light,brightness. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: pheggos Phonetic
Spelling: (feng'-gos) Short Definition:brightness, light Definition...
827. auge --brightness, spec. daylight
... 826, 827. auge. 828 .brightness, spec.... Word Origin a prim. word Definition
brightness, spec. daylight NASB Word Usage daybreak (1). break of day....
541. apaugasma -- radiance
...brightness, radiance. From a compound of apo and augazo; an off-flash, ie Effulgence --
brightness. see GREEK apo. see GREEK augazo. (apaugasma) -- 1 Occurrence...
2015. epiphaneia -- appearance
... appearance,brightness. From epiphanes; a manifestation, ie (specially) the advent
of Christ (past or future) -- appearing,brightness. see GREEK epiphanes....
1306. diaugazo -- to shine through
... 1306 (from 1223 , "through, thoroughly," intensifying 826 , "shining at ") -- properly,
to shine at , referring to God's holybrightness every form of...
1391. doxa -- opinion (always good in NT), hence praise, honor...
... Word Origin from dokeo Definition opinion (always good in NT), hence praise, honor,
glory NASB Word Usage approval (2),brightness (1), glories (1), glorious (5...
Strong's Hebrew
5054. negohah --brightness... 5053, 5054. negohah. 5055 .
brightness. Transliteration: negohah Phonetic
Spelling: (neg-o-haw') Short Definition:
brightness. Word
...2096. zohar -- shining,brightness
... 2095, 2096. zohar. 2097 . shining,brightness. Transliteration: zohar
Phonetic Spelling: (zo'-har) Short Definition:brightness....
5051. nogah --brightness
... 5050, 5051. nogah. 5052 .brightness. Transliteration: nogah Phonetic
Spelling: (no'-gah) Short Definition:brightness. Word Origin...
2122. ziv --brightness, splendor
... 2121, 2122. ziv. 2123 .brightness, splendor. Transliteration: ziv Phonetic
Spelling: (zeev) Short Definition: face....brightness, countenance....
934. bahereth --brightness, bright spot
... 933, 934. bahereth. 935 .brightness, bright spot. Transliteration: bahereth
Phonetic Spelling: (bo-heh'-reth) Short Definition: spot....
5053. nogah --brightness, daylight
... 5052, 5053. nogah. 5054 .brightness, daylight. Transliteration: nogah
Phonetic Spelling: (no'-gah) Short Definition: day. Word...
3314. yiphah --brightness, splendor
... 3313, 3314. yiphah. 3315 .brightness, splendor. Transliteration: yiphah
Phonetic Spelling: (yif-aw') Short Definition: splendor....
3974. maor -- a luminary
... raw'}; or morah {meh-o-raw'}; from 'owr; properly, a luminous body or luminary,
ie (abstractly) light (as an element): figuratively,brightness, iecheerfulness...
2892. tohar -- purity, purifying
... clearness, glory, purifying From taher; literallybrightness; ceremonially purification
-- clearness, glory, purifying. see HEBREW taher. 2891, 2892....
166. ahal -- to be clear, shine
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be clear, shine NASB Word Usage has...brightness
(1). shine. A primitive root; to be clear -- shine. 165, 166....
Library
Beyond theBrightness of the Sun
... Beyond theBrightness of the Sun. TP Acts 22:11.... I have seen a light from heaven,.
Past thebrightness of the sun". Light that knows no cloud, no waning,....
Whether theBrightness of the Heavenly Bodies Will be Increased at...
... OF THE QUALITY OF THE WORLD AFTER THE JUDGMENT (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether thebrightness
of the heavenly bodies will be increased at this renewal?...
Lo, in ItsBrightness the Morning Arising,
... EASTER Lo, in itsbrightness the morning arising,. tr., John Brownlie
11,10,11,10. I. Lo, in itsbrightness the morning arising,....
Lo, in ItsBrightness the Morning Arising,
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Lo, in itsbrightness the morning arising,.
11,10,11,10. Lo, in itsbrightness the morning arising,. Gold...
TheBrightness and Magnificence of this World
... THE FIRST CENTURY 37 Thebrightness and magnificence of this world. The
brightness and magnificence of this world, which by reason...
Youth'sBrightness Gone
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCCXCI YOUTH'SBRIGHTNESS GONE. The
flash of youthful light is past and gone; Not as of yore....
OBrightness of the Immortal Father's Face
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 12. OBrightness of the immortal
Father's face.... Edward W. Eddis, 1864. OBrightness of the immortal Father's face,...
Whether the Elements Will be Renewed by an Addition ofBrightness?
... OF THE QUALITY OF THE WORLD AFTER THE JUDGMENT (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether
the elements will be renewed by an addition ofbrightness?...
Of the Great Difference Between theBrightness of the Saints and...
... THE SPARKLING STONE CHAPTER XI. OF THE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEBRIGHTNESS OF
THE SAINTS AND THE HIGHESTBRIGHTNESS TO WHICH WE CAN ATTAIN IN THIS LIFE....
Although, Even if There Went Before no Testimonies Concerning...
... Although, even if there went before no testimonies concerning Christ and the Church,
whom ought it not to move unto belief, that the Divinebrightness hath on...
Thesaurus
Brightness (36 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Acuteness (of the faculties); sharpness 9wit. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BRIGHTNESS.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Brightness (36 Occurrences).
...Glory (590 Occurrences)
... 9:23; Ephesians 1:12). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory"
(Hebrews 1:3; John 1:14; 2:11). (5.) The bliss of heaven...
Radiance (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Sparkling luster; vividbrightness; brilliancy.
Multi-Version Concordance Radiance (9 Occurrences)....
Gleaming (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:4 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud,
with flashing lightning, and abrightness around it, and out of its midst...
Glowing (14 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:4 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud,
with flashing lightning, and abrightness around it, and out of its midst...
Amber (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great
cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and abrightness was about it, and out of...
Surpassing (21 Occurrences)
... Acts 26:13 At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, surpassing
thebrightness of the sun, shining around me, and them who journeyed with me....
Bright (85 Occurrences)
... (n.) Splendor;brightness.... Job 25:5 Behold, even the moon has nobrightness, and
the stars are not pure in his sight; (Root in WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)....
Colour (22 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great
cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and abrightness was about it, and out of...
Light (2869 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially,
the dawn of day. 4. (n.) Thebrightness of the eye or eyes....
Resources
What is the significance of burning coals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIs the phoenix mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? | GotQuestions.orgBrightness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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