Greek word · G2989

λάμπω

lampō

to shine

To shine, give off light, beam, gleam. It is used of lamps, lightning, heavenly bodies and, figuratively, of people whose deeds or appearance radiate.

Appears 7 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

λάμπω

[in LXX for נָגַהּ, etc. ;]

to shine: Matthew 5:15-16 17:2, Luke 17:24, Acts 12:7, 2 Corinthians 4:6 (cf. ἐκ-, περι-λάμπω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 17:2

Range of meaning

To shine, give off light, beam, gleam. It is used of lamps, lightning, heavenly bodies and, figuratively, of people whose deeds or appearance radiate.

Against the English

'Shone' / 'did shine' in all major versions is accurate. English readers may simply miss the echoes inside Matthew's own Gospel.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 5:15–16: the lamp 'gives light' and 'let your light shine' (same verb). Matthew 13:43 (compound eklampō): 'the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom', a clear echo of Daniel 12:3 (LXX). Exodus 34:29–35 describes Moses' face shining (Hebrew qāran; LXX says it was 'glorified').

From the study of Matthew 5:15

Range of meaning

To shine, give off light, be bright. It is used of lamps, of the sun, and of the shining in the Transfiguration (Matt 17:2) and in divine appearances.

Against the English

'Gives light' (BSB, KJV) and 'shines' (WEB, YLT) are both accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX and the NT. In Matthew it appears here, in 5:16 and in 17:2.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 5:15 λάμπει it shines

    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.

    Here: "It shines." This is the same verb Jesus turns into a command in v.16 ('let your light shine'), so it ties the picture to its application.

  2. Matthew 5:16 λαμψάτω should shine

    In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

    Here: A command in the third person: 'your light is to shine' or 'must shine'. It is the same verb as verse 15, where the lamp 'gives light to everyone in the house'. The form gives the order as a whole and says nothing about whether the shining happens once or keeps going.

  3. Matthew 17:2 ἔλαμψεν shone

    There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

    Here: 'Shone', 'blazed out'. The past tense presents it as a burst of radiance. It is the same verb Jesus used in 5:16 ('let your light shine'), and a compound of it appears in 13:43 ('the righteous will shine like the sun').

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 17:24 λάμπει, shines,

    For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day.

    Here: "Shines, gives light": the main verb of the lightning clause. Its present tense states a general truth: this is what lightning always does. It lights everything up at once.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 12:7 ἔλαμψεν shone

    Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

    Here: 'Shone, blazed out.' The tense presents it as a single event: the light suddenly fills the cell.

2 Corinthians · 2

  1. 2 Corinthians 4:6 λάμψει, ἔλαμψεν will shine,, shone

    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.

    Here: A future verb ('will shine'). It can work as a solemn command ('let light shine'), but it is also the exact wording of Isaiah 9:2 in the Greek Old Testament, 'light will shine on you'. That keeps a note of promise in it.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.