King James Bible Dictionary

The offspring of the divine command (Genesis 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1 Kings 11:36; Isaiah 58:8; Esther 8:16; Psalms 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Psalms 119:105; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Colossians 1:12; Revelation 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1 Timothy 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Matthew 5:16; John 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2; Luke 2:32; John 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (James 1:17). It is used of angels (2 Corinthians 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).

Created
Genesis 1:3-5; Isaiah 45:7; 2 Corinthians 4:6

Miraculous
Matthew 17:2; Acts 9:3

Figurative and symbolic
1 Kings 11:36; Psalms 27:1; Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; Ecclesiastes 2:13; Isaiah 8:20; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 58:8; Isaiah 60:19-20; Matthew 4:16; Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16; Luke 2:32; Luke 11:34; Luke 16:8; John 1:4-5; John 1:7-9; John 3:19-21; John 5:35; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:35-36; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 5:14; Philippians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:16; James 1:17; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 21:23

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. It is now generally believed that light is a fluid, or real matter, existing independent of other substances, with properties peculiar to itself. Its velocity is astonishing, as it passes through a space of nearly twelve millions of miles in a minute. light when decomposed, is found to consist of rays differently colored; as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The sun is the principal source of light in the solar system; but light is also emitted from bodies ignited, or in combustion, and is reflected from enlightened bodies, as the moon. light is also emitted from certain putrefying substances. It is usually united with heat, but it exists also independent of it.

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 1:3.

3. Day; the dawn of day.

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy. Job 24:13.

4. Life.

O, spring to light auspicious babe, be born!

5. 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 1:3.

6. 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.

7. Illumination of mind; instruction; knowledge.

I opened Ariosto in Italian, and the very first two lines gave me light to all I could desire.

LIGHT, understanding and wisdom - was found in him. Daniel 5:11.

8. Means of knowing. By using such lights as we have, we may arrive at probability, if not at certainty.

9. Open view; a visible state; a state of being seen by the eye, or perceived, understood or known. Further researches will doubtless bring to light many isles yet undiscovered; further experiments will bring to light properties of matter yet unknown.

10. Public view or notice.

Why am I ask'd what next shall see the light?

11. Explanation; illustration; means of understanding. One part of Scripture throws light on another.

12. Point of view; situation to be seen or viewed; a use of the word taken from painting. It is useful to exhibit a subject in a variety of lights. Let every thought be presented in a strong light In whatever light we view this event, it must be considered an evil.

13. A window; a place that admits light to enter.

1 Kings 7:4.

14. A pane of glass; as a window with twelve lights.

15. In Scripture, God, the source of knowledge.

God is light 1 John 1:4.

16. Christ.

That was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:4.

17. Joy; comfort; felicity.

LIGHT is sown for the righteous. Psalms 97:11.

18. Saving knowledge.

It is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.

19. Prosperity; happiness.

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. Isaiah 58:8.

20. Support; comfort; deliverance. Micah 7:8.

21. The gospel. Matthew 4:16.

22. The understanding or judgment. Matthew 6:22.

23. The gifts and graces of christians. Mat 5.

24. A moral instructor, as John the Baptist. John 5:35.

25. A true christian, a person enlightened. Ephesians 5:8.

26. A good king, the guide of his people. Sam. 21.

The light of the countenance, favor; smiles. Psalms 4:6.

To stand in one's own light to be the means of preventing good, or frustrating one's own purposes.

To come to light to be detected; to be discovered or found.

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. A feather is light compared with lead or silver; but a thing is light only comparatively. That which is light to a man, may be heavy to a child. A light burden for a camel, may be insupportable to a horse.

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. The task is light; the work is light

5. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as light food. It may signify also, contained little nutriment.

6. Not heavily armed, or armed with light weapons; as light troops; a troop of light horse.

7. Active; swift; nimble.

Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. Sam. 2.

8. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments.

Unmarried men are best masters, but not best subjects; for they are light to run away.

9. Not laden; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted. The ship returned light

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.

There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person, than profanely to scoff at religion.

15. Gay; airy; indulging levity; wanting dignity or solidity; trifling.

Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light

We may neither be light in prayer, now wrathful in debate.

16. Wanton; unchaste; as a woman of light carriage.

A light wife doth make a heavy husband.

17. Not of legal weight; clipped; diminished; as light coin.

To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.

To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.

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. We often hear lit used for lighted as, he lit a candle; but this is inelegant.

2. To give light to.

Ah hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn to light the dead -

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. See Lighten.]

LIGHT, verb intransitive lite.

1. To fall on; to come to by chance; to happen to find; with on.

A weaker man may sometimes light on notions which had escaped a wiser.

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.

To settle; to rest; to stoop from flight. The bee lights on this flower and that.

LI'GHT-ARMED, adjective Armed with light weapons.

LI'GHT-BEARER, noun A torch-bearer.

LI'GHT-BRAIN, noun An empty headed person.

LIGHTED, participle passive li'ted. Kindled; set on fire; caused to burn. [Lit, for lighted is inelegant.]

LIGHTEN, verb intransitive li'tn. [from light, the fluid.]

1. To flash; to burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with an instantaneous illumination.

This dreadful night that thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars as doth the lion.

2. To shine like lightning.

3. To fall; to light. obsolete

LIGHTEN, verb transitive li'tn.

1. To dissipate darkness; to fill with light; to spread over with light; to illuminate; to enlighten; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets.

A key of fire ran all along the shore, and lightened all the river with a blaze.

2. To illuminate with knowledge; in a moral sense.

A light to lighten the Gentiles. Luke 2:32.

3. To free from trouble and fill with joy.

They looked to him and were lightened. Psalms 34:5.

LIGHTEN, verb transitive li'tn. [from light, not heavy.]

1. To make lighter; to reduce in weight; to make less heavy; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.

2. To alleviate; to make less burdensome or afflictive; as, to lighten the cares of life; to lighten the burden of grief.

3. To cheer; to exhilarate.

He lightens my humor with his merry jest.

LIGHTER, noun li'ter.

1. One that lights; as a lighter of lamps.

2. A large open flat-bottomed boat, used in loading and unloading ships.

LIGHTERMAN, noun li'terman. A man who manages a lighter; a boatman.

LIGHTFINGERED, adjective li'tefingered. Dexterous in taking and conveying away; thievish; addicted to petty thefts.

LIGHTFOOTED, li'tefooted. adjective Nimble in running or dancing; active. [Little used.]

LI'GHTHEADED, adjective [See head.]

1. Thoughtless; heedless; weak; volatile; unsteady.

2. Disordered in the head; dizzy; delirious.

LI'GHTHEADEDNESS, noun Disorder of the head; dizziness; deliriousness.

LI'GHTHE'ARTED, adjective Free from grief or anxiety; gay; cheerful; merry.

LI'GHT-HORSE, noun Light armed cavalry.

LI'GHT-HOUSE, noun A pharos; a tower or building erected on a rock or point of land, or on an isle in the sea, with a light or number of lamps on the top, intended to direct seamen in navigating ships at night.

LI'GHTLEGGED, adjective Nimble; swift of foot.

LIGHTLESS, li'teless. Destitute of light; dark.

LIGHTLY, adverb li'tely.

1. With little weight; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly

2. Without deep impression.

The soft ideas of the cheerful note, lightly received, were easily forgot.

3. Easily; readily; without difficulty; of course.

4. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.

Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.

5. Without dejection; cheerfully.

Bid that welcome which comes to punish us, and we punish it, seeming to bear it lightly

6. Not chastely; wantonly.

7. Nimbly; with agility; not heavily or tardily.

He led me lightly o'er the stream.

8. Gaily; airily; with levity; without heed or care.

LIGHTMINDED, adjective Unsettled; unsteady; volatile; not considerate.

He that is hasty to give credit, is lightminded

LIGHTNESS, noun li'teness.

1. Want of weight; levity; the contrary to heaviness; as the lightness of air, compared with water.

2. Inconstancy; unsteadiness; the quality of mind which disposes it to be influenced by trifling considerations.

- Such is the lightness of you common men.

3. Levity; wantonness; lewdness; unchastity.

4. Agility; nimbleness.

Frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nahum 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2 Samuel 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Psalms 135:7; 144:6; Zechariah 9:14). They represent God's glorious and awful majesty (Revelation 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (20:9).

Job 28:26; Job 37:3; Job 38:25; Job 38:35; Psalms 18:14; Psalms 77:18; Psalms 78:48; Psalms 97:4; Psalms 135:7; Psalms 144:6; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16; Ezekiel 1:13-14; Daniel 10:6; Nahum 2:4; Zech 9:14; Zech 10:1; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 28:3; Luke 10:18; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18

LIGHTNING, noun li'tening. [that is, lightening, the participle present of lighten.]

1. A sudden discharge of electricity from a cloud to the earth, or from the earth to a cloud, or from one cloud to another, that is, from a body positively charged to one negatively charged, producing a vivid flash of light, and usually a loud report, called thunder. Sometimes lightning is a mere instantaneous flash of light without thunder, as heat-lightning, lightning seen by reflection, the flash being beyond the limits of our horizon.

2. [from lighten, to diminish weight.] Abatement; alleviation; mitigation.

LI'GHTROOM, noun In a ship of war, a small apartment, having double glass windows towards the magazine, and containing lights by which the gunner fills cartridges.

LIGHTS, noun lites. plural [so called from their lightness.]

The lungs; the organs of breathing in animals. These organs in man we call lungs; in other animals, lights

LIGHTSOME, adjective li'tesome.

1. Luminous; not dark; not obscure.

White walls make rooms more lightsome than black. [Little used.]

The lightsome realms of love.

[In the latter passage, the word is elegant.]

2. Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating.

That lightsome affection of joy.

LI'GHTSOMENESS, noun

1. Luminousness; the quality of being light; opposed to darkness or darksomeness.

2. Cheerfulness; merriment; levity. [This word is little used.]