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φῶς

phōs

G5457 noun

SILEX Entry

Root φωτ- to shine, to give light, to illuminate

Definition

Light, in both the physical sense of that which enables sight, and the figurative sense of that which reveals, illuminates, or brings understanding. In literal contexts, refers to visible radiance, daylight, or an artificial source of illumination. In metaphorical or abstract contexts, indicates revelation, knowledge, insight, purity, or divine presence.

Semantic Range

(physical) light, daylight, brightness, radiance; (manifestation) illumination, making visible; (figurative) understanding, revelation, knowledge, moral purity, divine presence

Root / Etymology

From the root φῶς (stem φωτ-), related to the verb φαίνω ('to bring to light, to make appear, to shine'), which is built upon the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰeh₂- ('to shine, to give light'). The root φῶς itself is ancient and attested in classical Greek; no evidence connects it to a directly attested verb με obsolete status in Koine. Related to Latin 'lux', English 'light'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φῶς primarily means physical light from the sun, fire, or other sources, distinguishing visible light from darkness. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, φῶς also frequently took on metaphorical senses, such as enlightenment, knowledge, or moral clarity (often in Platonic or philosophical contexts). In the Septuagint, φῶς commonly renders Hebrew אוֹר ('or), denoting both literal light and, in poetic or prophetic passages, divine guidance or blessing. In the New Testament, φῶς retains both physical and metaphorical senses. For example, in the Gospel of John, φῶς refers to the divine principle of revelation or life, frequently contrasted with darkness as ignorance or evil. Standard English translations often render φῶς simply as 'light,' but this does not always capture the underlying metaphorical sense, especially when used to denote metaphorical or transcendent realities (e.g., illumination of the mind, manifestation of the divine). Distinct from related terms: φλόγα (flame), λαμπάς (lamp, torch), or πυρ (fire), which refer to sources or manifestations of light, while φῶς denotes the light itself as a quality or phenomenon.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an obsolete (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare φαίνω, φημί); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative):--fire, light.

Root Family

φῶς (phōs) — light, radiance, illumination, revelation

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5457-01 φῶς phos N ACC N SG light light 48
G5457-05 φωτὸς photos N GEN N SG light of light 14
G5457-03 φωτί photi N DAT N SG light to light 9
G5457-04 φώτων photon N GEN N PL lights of lights 1
G5457-02 φῶτα phota N ACC N PL lights lights 1

Occurrences in Scripture

73 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5457-01 Matthew 4:16 φῶς phos N ACC N SG light
G5457-01 Matthew 4:16 φῶς phos-2 N NOM N SG light
G5457-01 Matthew 5:14 φῶς phos N NOM N SG light
G5457-01 Matthew 5:16 φῶς phos N NOM N SG light
G5457-01 Matthew 6:23 φῶς phos N NOM N SG light
G5457-03 Matthew 10:27 φωτί photi N DAT N SG to light
G5457-01 Matthew 17:2 φῶς phos N NOM N SG light
G5457-01 Mark 14:54 φῶς phos N ACC N SG fire light
G5457-01 Luke 2:32 φῶς phos N ACC N SG a light light
G5457-01 Luke 8:16 φῶς phos N ACC N SG light light
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