Matthew 5:14
New International Version
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

New Living Translation
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

English Standard Version
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Berean Standard Bible
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Berean Literal Bible
You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

King James Bible
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

New King James Version
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

New American Standard Bible
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

NASB 1995
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

NASB 1977
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Legacy Standard Bible
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Amplified Bible
“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

Christian Standard Bible
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

American Standard Version
Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

Contemporary English Version
You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden,

English Revised Version
Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.

Good News Translation
"You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

International Standard Version
"You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.

Majority Standard Bible
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

NET Bible
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.

New Heart English Bible
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.

Webster's Bible Translation
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Weymouth New Testament
*You* are the light of the world; a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top.

World English Bible
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain is not able to be hid;

Berean Literal Bible
You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

Young's Literal Translation
'Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid;

Smith's Literal Translation
Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid, set on a mountain.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

New American Bible
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

New Revised Standard Version
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You are indeed the light of the world; a city that is built upon a mountain cannot be hidden.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that has been built upon a mountain.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
You are the light of the world: a city that lies upon a mountain can not be hid:

Godbey New Testament
Ye are the light of the world. A city sitting on a mountain is unable to be hidden.

Haweis New Testament
Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid that is situated on an eminence.

Mace New Testament
ye are the light of the world, a city that is situated on an hill, cannot be hid;

Weymouth New Testament
*You* are the light of the world; a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top.

Worrell New Testament
"Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid.

Worsley New Testament
Ye are the light of the world: a city, that is situated on a hill, cannot be hid.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Salt and Light
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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.…

Cross References
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.”

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

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

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.

John 1:4-9
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. / There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. ...

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.

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.

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

Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Luke 8:16
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

John 12:36
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.

Isaiah 42:6
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

Acts 13:47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

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.


Treasury of Scripture

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

the light.

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

John 12:36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

a city.

Genesis 11:4-8
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth…

Revelation 21:14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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Able Built City Hid Hidden Hill Hill-Top Light Mount Mountain Situated Top World
Matthew 5
1. Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3. The Beattitudes;
13. the salt of the earth;
14. the light of the world.
17. He came to fulfill the law.
21. What it is to kill;
27. to commit adultery;
33. to swear.
38. He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43. to love our enemies;
48. and to labor after perfection.














You are the light of the world
This phrase begins with the emphatic "You," indicating that Jesus is directly addressing His disciples and, by extension, all believers. The Greek word for "light" is "phōs," which signifies not just physical light but also spiritual illumination and truth. In the ancient world, light was a powerful symbol of purity, goodness, and divine presence. The "world" (Greek: "kosmos") refers to the entire human society, emphasizing the global scope of the disciples' influence. Historically, light was essential for navigation and safety, symbolizing guidance and protection. In a spiritual sense, believers are called to illuminate the darkness of the world with the truth of the Gospel, reflecting the light of Christ Himself.

A city on a hill
The imagery of "a city on a hill" is vivid and strategic. In ancient times, cities were often built on elevated ground for defense and visibility. The Greek word for "city" is "polis," which denotes a community or society. The "hill" (Greek: "oros") suggests elevation and prominence. This metaphor implies that the Christian community is meant to be conspicuous and influential, visible to all. Archaeologically, cities like Jerusalem were set on hills, making them visible from afar, serving as beacons of civilization and culture. Spiritually, this suggests that the Church should stand out in the world, offering hope and direction.

cannot be hidden
The phrase "cannot be hidden" underscores the inevitability of the light's visibility. The Greek word for "hidden" is "kryptō," meaning to conceal or keep secret. The construction of the sentence in Greek implies impossibility, stressing that true Christian witness is inherently visible and impactful. Historically, light sources in ancient times, such as lamps or torches, were designed to illuminate as much area as possible. In a spiritual context, this means that the transformative power of a life lived in Christ cannot be concealed; it naturally radiates outward, influencing others. Believers are called to live authentically, allowing their faith to be evident in all aspects of life.

(14) The light of the world.--In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only (John 1:9; John 8:12). The comparison to the "candle" or "lamp" in Matthew 5:15 shows, indeed, that even here the disciples are spoken of as shining in the world with a derived brightness flowing to them from the Fount of light.

A city that is set on an hill.--Assuming the Sermon on the Mount to have been preached from one of the hills of Galilee near the "horns of Hattin," our Lord may have looked or pointed at Safed, 2,650 feet above the sea, commanding one of the grandest panoramic views in Palestine. It is now one of the four holy cities of the Jews, and probably existed as a fortress in our Lord's time (Thomson's The Land and the Book, p. 273). The imagery might, however, come from the prophetic visions of the Zion of the future, idealising the position of the actual Zion (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1). No image could so vividly set forth the calling of the Church of Christ as a visible society. For good or for evil, it could not fail to be prominent in the world's history, a city of refuge for the weary, or open to the attacks of the invader. . . .

Verse 14. - Matthew only. Ye are the light of the world. After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world" - a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards the light, need not be limited to less than the solar system. In other words, the simple reason why he exchanges "earth" for "world" is that they are respectively the best suited to the figure employed. Notice that Christ never applies the former figure, of salt, to himself; but the latter, of light, once or twice, especially John 8:12, where, since he is speaking of himself, and not of others, he adds the thought of life being connected with light, a city, etc.; literally, a city cannot be hid when set on a mountain. It seems at first slightly awkward to introduce the figure of a city between those of the sun and the lamp, both these having to do with light. The reason is that the city is not considered as such, but only as an object which can be teen, and which cannot (οὐ δύναται, emphatic) from its physical conditions avoid being seen. There is a true gradation in the thought of influence. The sun must be seen by all; the city, by the whole neighbourhood; the lamp, by the family. Our Lord comes from the general to the particular; from what is almost theory, at best a matter of hope and faith, to hard fact and practice. The influence you are to have - if it is to be for the whole world, as indeed it is, must be felt in the neighbourhood in which you live, and a fortiori in the immediate circle of your own home. Conjectures have been made whether any one city can reasonably be mentioned as being in sight, and so having suggested this image to our Lord. If the exact spot where he was then sitting were itself certain, such conjectures might be worth considering. But, in fact, so many "cities" in Palestine were set on hills that the inquiry seems vain. Safed, some twelve miles north-west of Capernaum, the view from which extends to Tiberias (Neubaur, 'Geogr.,' p. 228), has been accepted by many, but evidence is lacking for it having been a city at that time. Tabor, at the south-west of the lake, has also been thought of, and at all events seems to have been then a fortified town. The view from it is even more extensive than from Safed (vide especially Socin's Baedeker, p. 365).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
You
Ὑμεῖς (Hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐστε (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
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.

light
φῶς (phōs)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world.
κόσμου (kosmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

A city
πόλις (polis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

on
ἐπάνω (epanō)
Preposition
Strong's 1883: From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on.

a hill
ὄρους (orous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

cannot
δύναται (dynatai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

be hidden.
κρυβῆναι (krybēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 2928: To hide, conceal, lay up. A primary verb; to conceal.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world (Matt. Mat Mt)
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