Luke 11:36
New International Version
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

New Living Translation
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

English Standard Version
If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Berean Standard Bible
So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

Berean Literal Bible
If therefore your body is full of light, not having any part dark, it will be all light, as when the lamp shining might light you."

King James Bible
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

New King James Version
If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

New American Standard Bible
Therefore if your whole body is full of light, without any dark part, it will be wholly illuminated, as when the lamp illuminates you with its light.”

NASB 1995
“If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”

NASB 1977
“If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it shall be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”

Legacy Standard Bible
If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”

Amplified Bible
So if your whole body is illuminated, with no dark part, it will be entirely bright [with light], as when the lamp gives you light with its bright rays.”

Christian Standard Bible
If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

American Standard Version
If therefore thy whole body be full of light, having no part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining doth give thee light.

Contemporary English Version
If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you.

English Revised Version
If therefore thy whole body be full of light, having no part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining doth give thee light.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If your whole body is full of light and not darkness, it will be as bright as a lamp shining on you."

Good News Translation
If your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be bright all over, as when a lamp shines on you with its brightness."

International Standard Version
Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."

Majority Standard Bible
So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.?

NET Bible
If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you."

New Heart English Bible
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

Webster's Bible Translation
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light; as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

Weymouth New Testament
If, however, your whole body is penetrated with light, and has no part dark, it will be so lighted, all of it, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

World English Bible
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
if then your whole body is lightened, not having any part darkened, the whole will be lightened, as when the lamp by the brightness may give you light.”

Berean Literal Bible
If therefore your body is full of light, not having any part dark, it will be all light, as when the lamp shining might light you."

Young's Literal Translation
if then thy whole body is lightened, not having any part darkened, the whole shall be lightened, as when the lamp by the brightness may give thee light.'

Smith's Literal Translation
If therefore thy whole body clear, not having any part dark, the whole shall be clear, as when a lamp enlightens thee with its gleam.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If then thy whole body be lightsome, having no part of darkness; the whole shall be lightsome; and as a bright lamp, shall enlighten thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, if your entire body becomes filled with light, not having any part in darkness, then it will be entirely light, and, like a shining lamp, it will illuminate you.”

New American Bible
If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness.”

New Revised Standard Version
If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If your whole body is lighted, and there is no part in it dark, the whole of it will give light, just as a lamp gives you light with its shining.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“But if your whole body is enlightened, and there is no darkened part, it shall be shining entirely like a lamp giving you light by its flame”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
If, therefore, your whole body is light, having no part dark, the whole shall be light, as when a lamp, by its brightness, gives you light.

Godbey New Testament
If then thy whole body is lighted, having no part dark, all will be lighted, as when a lamp may light thee with its brightness.

Haweis New Testament
If then thy whole body be illuminated, not having any dark part, it will be wholly luminous, as a lamp by its brightness diffuseth light.

Mace New Testament
for if thy whole body be enlightned, and no part dark, your whole conduct will be regulated, just as the light of a lamp directs all your motions.

Weymouth New Testament
If, however, your whole body is penetrated with light, and has no part dark, it will be so lighted, all of it, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

Worrell New Testament
If, therefore, your whole body be full of light, not having any part dark, it shall be wholly light, as when the lamp, with its bright shining, illuminates you."

Worsley New Testament
For if thy whole body be light, having no part dark, it will be (when all enlightened) as when a candle giveth thee light by its brightness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lamp of the Body
35Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.” 37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord. ...

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Matthew 6:22-23
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

John 12:35-36
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

2 Peter 1:19
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Isaiah 58:8-10
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. / Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, / and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

Revelation 21:23-24
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. / By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.


Treasury of Scripture

If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle does give you light.

the whole.

Psalm 119:97-105
MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day…

Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 2:1-11
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; …

the bright shining of a candle.

Jump to Previous
Body Bright Brightness Candle Completely Dark Darkened Flame Full Gives However Illumined Illumines Light Lights Part Penetrated Rays Shining Whole Wholly
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Body Bright Brightness Candle Completely Dark Darkened Flame Full Gives However Illumined Illumines Light Lights Part Penetrated Rays Shining Whole Wholly
Luke 11
1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him.
14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27. and shows who are blessed;
29. preaches to the people;
37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness.














So if your whole body is full of light
The phrase "whole body" in Greek is "holon to sōma," emphasizing completeness and entirety. In the biblical context, the body often symbolizes the entirety of a person's being, including mind, spirit, and actions. The "light" here is "phōs" in Greek, representing truth, purity, and divine revelation. Jesus is teaching that when one's entire being is filled with God's truth and righteousness, there is no room for sin or moral darkness. This reflects the transformative power of living in accordance with God's will, where every aspect of life is illuminated by His presence.

and no part of it is in darkness
The term "darkness" is "skotia" in Greek, often used in Scripture to denote ignorance, sin, and separation from God. The absence of darkness signifies a life free from sin and moral corruption. Historically, darkness has been associated with evil and chaos, contrasting with the order and goodness of light. Jesus is calling His followers to live lives that are completely transparent and aligned with God's truth, leaving no room for hidden sin or deceit.

you will be radiant
The word "radiant" suggests a visible manifestation of inner purity and divine presence. In Greek, the concept of radiance is often linked to glory and honor. This radiance is not self-generated but is a reflection of God's light within us. It implies that a life fully devoted to God will naturally exude His glory, impacting those around us. This is reminiscent of Moses' face shining after being in God's presence (Exodus 34:29-35), symbolizing the transformative effect of divine communion.

as though a lamp were shining on you
The imagery of a "lamp" is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing guidance, truth, and the presence of God. In Psalm 119:105, God's word is described as a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path." The lamp here represents the illuminating power of God's truth in a believer's life. When one's life is aligned with God's word, it is as if a divine lamp is shining upon them, providing clarity, direction, and purpose. This metaphor underscores the importance of living in the light of God's truth, allowing it to guide every decision and action.

(36) If thy whole body therefore be full of light.--The statement reads at first like an identical proposition. "If thy whole body be full of light, it shall be full of light all over." The apparent truism is, however, the most expressive utterance of a truth. If the "whole body"--life in all its various manifestations--is illumined by the divine light; if the character is in its measure perfect, as that of the Father is perfect, who is Light, and in whom is no darkness at all (1John 1:5); if passion, prejudice, ignorance are no longer there--then that character is . . ." We expect to hear something else as a climax of praise, but there is no higher word possible; the whole character is "full of light," illumined, flooded by the eternal Light.

Verse 36. - If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. The Lord here completes his allegory, still preserving the same images, with a sketch of the condition of a holy and humble man of heart, who with a "single eye," that is, honestly, trustfully, lovingly, has looked upon the sign and believed. Godet's comment on this hard and mystic saying of the Blessed is very beautiful: "When, through the fact of the clearness of thine eye, thy whole body shall be penetrated with light, without there being in thee the least trace of darkness, then the phenomenon which will be wrought in thee will resemble what takes place on thy body when it is placed in the rays of a luminous focus. Jesus means that from the inward part of a perfectly sanctified man there rays forth a splendor which glorifies the external man, as when he is shone upon from without. It is glory as the result of holiness. The phenomenon described here by Jesus is no other than that which was realized in himself on the occasion of his transfiguration, and which he now applies to all believers." There is little doubt that this teaching had been spoken by the Master on one, if not on more than one, previous occasion. In St. Matthew's report, in almost identical language (Matthew 5:15 and Matthew 6:22), the immediate application was different, and the reference of the lamp put in a prominent place was not to the Resurrection.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

[whole]
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

body
σῶμά (sōma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

[is] full
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

of light,
φωτεινόν (phōteinon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5460: Bright, luminous, full of light. From phos; lustrous, i.e. Transparent or well-illuminated.

[and] no
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

part [of it]
μέρος (meros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

in darkness,
σκοτεινόν (skoteinon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4652: Full of darkness, dark. From skotos; opaque, i.e. benighted.

[you] will be
ἔσται (estai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

radiant,
φωτεινὸν (phōteinon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5460: Bright, luminous, full of light. From phos; lustrous, i.e. Transparent or well-illuminated.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

though
ὅταν (hotan)
Conjunction
Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.

a lamp
λύχνος (lychnos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3088: A lamp. From the base of leukos; a portable lamp or other illuminator.

were shining
ἀστραπῇ (astrapē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 796: A flash of lightning, brightness, luster. From astrapto; lightning; by analogy, glare.

on you.”
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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