In the context of the Bible, "rays" are often associated with light, glory, and divine presence. The imagery of rays is used to convey the majesty and holiness of God, as well as His ability to illuminate and reveal truth to humanity.

Divine Light and Glory

The concept of rays is closely linked to the divine light that emanates from God. In the Old Testament, the prophet Habakkuk provides a vivid description of God's glory: "His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden" (Habakkuk 3:4). This passage highlights the brilliance and power of God, symbolized by the rays that emanate from Him. The rays are a manifestation of His divine presence and authority.

Theophany and Revelation

Rays are also associated with theophanies, where God reveals Himself to humans. In Exodus, when Moses descended from Mount Sinai after speaking with God, his face shone with rays of light: "When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to approach him" (Exodus 34:30). This radiance was a physical manifestation of Moses' encounter with God, signifying the divine revelation he received.

Christ as the Light

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is often depicted as the light of the world, a theme that can be connected to the imagery of rays. In the Gospel of John, 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" (John 8:12). The rays of light symbolize the truth and salvation that Christ brings to humanity, dispelling spiritual darkness.

Symbolism in Prophecy

The imagery of rays is also present in prophetic literature, where it symbolizes the coming of God's kingdom and the establishment of His justice. In Malachi, the coming of the Messiah is described with the imagery of the sun: "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings" (Malachi 4:2). The rays of the sun here represent the healing and restoration that the Messiah will bring.

Spiritual Enlightenment

Rays of light are often used metaphorically to describe spiritual enlightenment and understanding. The psalmist prays for divine guidance, saying, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). The rays of light from God's word illuminate the path of righteousness, guiding believers in their spiritual journey.

In summary, the imagery of rays in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of God's glory, revelation, and the transformative power of His presence. Through rays of light, the Scriptures convey the themes of divine majesty, spiritual enlightenment, and the hope of redemption through Jesus Christ.796. astrape -- lightning, brightness
... Word Origin from astrapto Definition lightning, brightness NASB Word Usage flashes
of lightning (4), lightning (4), rays (1). lightning, bright shining. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/796.htm - 6k

5461. photizo -- to shine, give light
... From phos; to shed rays, ie To shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally
or figuratively) -- enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5461.htm - 8k

5457. phos -- light
... From an obsolete phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare phaino,
phemi); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5457.htm - 7k

7160. qaran -- to send out rays
... 7159, 7160. qaran. 7161 . to send out rays. Transliteration: qaran Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-ran') Short Definition: shone. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7160.htm - 6k

2583. chanah -- to decline, bend down, encamp
... A primitive root (compare chanan); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline
(of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; gen. ...
/hebrew/2583.htm - 6k

7161. qeren -- a horn
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a horn NASB Word Usage hill (1), horn
(24), horns (46), might (1), rays (1), strength (1), tusks (1). hill, horn. ...
/hebrew/7161.htm - 6k

As Now the Sun's Declining Rays
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 30. As now the sun's declining rays.
CM ... John Chandler, 1837. As now the sun's declining rays. At eventide descend, ...
/.../daily prayer evening 30 as.htm

Whether it was Fitting that Christ Should Work Miracles in the ...
... according to some, this gloom or darkening of the sun, which occurred at the time
of Christ's passion, was caused by the sun withdrawing its rays, without any ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was fitting that 9.htm

Two Ways of Rising
... But the sun, with its warming rays, smiles down upon the water, and the
water rises in unseen vapor and floats into the atmosphere. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty-four two ways of.htm

Of the Pain and Restlessness of Love
... Here Christ is risen to the zenith of the conscience, and He sends His Divine rays
into the hungry desires and into the longings of the heart; and this ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxiii of the pain.htm

That the Holy Light of Glory Will Serve for the Union of the ...
... So the sun, the sovereign object of our corporal eyes amongst natural things, does
not present itself unto our view without sending first its rays, by means ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiv that the holy.htm

Sin Laid on Jesus
... Sin I may compare to the rays of some evil sun. ... God as it were holds up a burning
glass, and concentrates all the scattered rays in a focus upon Christ. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/sin laid on jesus.htm

Whether it is Reasonable in the Platonists to Determine that the ...
... not the being seen which contaminates, then they must deny that these gods of theirs,
these brilliant lights of the world, see men when their rays beam upon ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 16 whether it is reasonable.htm

Of the Affectionate Languishing of the Heart Wounded with Love.
... regard not my hue, for truly I am brown, because my beloved, who is my sun, has
darted the rays of his love upon me; rays which by their light illuminate, but ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xv of the affectionate.htm

Concerning Things done in Illumination.
... And I pray, let no uninitiated person approach the sight [233] ; for neither is
it without danger to gaze upon the glorious rays of the sun with weak eyes, nor ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput ii i concerning things.htm

The Service Common to Two and Many Nuns.
... Shining above as God-like rays, with intellectual rays ye enlighten the world, disperse
the darkness and drive away the troops of the evil demons; wherefore we ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xxiii the service common.htm

Rays (5 Occurrences)
...Rays (5 Occurrences). Matthew 5:15 And a burning light is not put under a vessel,
but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house. ...
/r/rays.htm - 7k

Ray (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) One of a number of lines or parts diverging from a common point or
center, like the radii of a circle; as, a star of six rays. ...
/r/ray.htm - 8k

Radiant (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Emitting or proceeding as from a center;
resembling rays; radiating; radiate. 2. (a.) Especially ...
/r/radiant.htm - 12k

Shade (67 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Comparative obscurity owing to interception or interruption of the rays
of light; partial darkness caused by the intervention of something between the ...
/s/shade.htm - 31k

Reflect (6 Occurrences)
... v.) To bend back; to give a backward turn to; to throw back; especially, to cause
to return after striking upon any surface; as, a mirror reflects rays of light ...
/r/reflect.htm - 9k

Rainbow (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Caused by the reflection and refraction of the
rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed ...
/r/rainbow.htm - 10k

Morning (264 Occurrences)
... "The first rays of the morning sun, by which it announces its appearance before
being itself visible, are compared to the fork-like antlers of a stag; and this ...
/m/morning.htm - 44k

Sunshine (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The light of the sun, or the place where it shines; the direct rays of the
sun, the place where they fall, or the warmth and light which they give. ...
/s/sunshine.htm - 8k

Hind (4 Occurrences)
... "The first rays of the morning sun, by which it announces its appearance before
being itself visible, are compared to the fork-like antlers of a stag; and this ...
/h/hind.htm - 10k

Astronomy
... The penetration of its rays renders "under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9) a fit expression
for universality of place, and on the other hand the fierceness of its ...
/a/astronomy.htm - 40k

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