Greek word · G5461

φωτίζω

phōtizō

to illuminate

To shine on, give light to; to bring to light, reveal; to enlighten, meaning to give understanding or saving knowledge. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) it also means "instruct."

Appears 11 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

φωτίζω

(φῶς) [in LXX for אוֹר hi, יָרָה hi., etc. ;]

1. intrans., to shine, give light (Arist., Plut., a1.): before ἐπί, Revelation 22:5.

2. Trans.

(a) to illumine, enlighten (Diod., Plut., al.): with accusative, Luke 11:36, Revelation 21:23; pass., Revelation 18:1. Metaphorical, of spiritual enlightenment (Psalms 119:130, Sirach 45:17, al.): John 1:9, Ephesians 1:18 3:9, R, txt., Hebrews 6:4 10:32;

(b) to bring to light, make known (Polyb.): 1 Corinthians 4:5, Ephesians 3:9, R, mg., 2 Timothy 1:10 (cf. Kennedy, Sources, 107 f.).†

(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 Hebrews 6:4

Range of meaning

To shine on, give light to; to bring to light, reveal; to enlighten, meaning to give understanding or saving knowledge. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) it also means "instruct."

Against the English

English "enlightened" now suggests intellectual sophistication (the 18th-century Enlightenment) or a spiritual awakening of the Eastern kind. The biblical picture is people in darkness on whom God's light has dawned.

How it drifted

Modern uses of "enlightened" and "enlightenment" (philosophical and religious) have taken over the English word.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Ps 18:9 (Eng 19:8): the commandment of the Lord is bright, "enlightening the eyes"; 4 Kgdms (2 Kgs) 12:3, the priest Jehoiada "instructed" Joash. New Testament: John 1:9 (the true light enlightens everyone); 2 Cor 4:4–6; Eph 1:18 (eyes of the heart enlightened); 2 Tim 1:10. Heb 10:32: "recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle." By the mid-2nd century Justin Martyr (1 Apology 61.12–13; 65.1) calls baptism phōtismos ("illumination") and the newly baptized "the enlightened."

From the study of John 1:9

Range of meaning
  1. Shine on, give light to, illuminate. 2) Bring to light, make visible, reveal or expose (1 Cor 4:5, hidden things brought to light; 2 Tim 1:10). 3) Enlighten in the sense of teach or instruct (LXX 2 Kgs 12:2, of the priest Jehoiada instructing King Jehoash; Ps 19:8 'the command of the LORD is radiant, enlightening the eyes'; Ps 119:130).
Against the English

'Enlightens' (KJV, WEB) now suggests intellectual or mystical awakening: the European Enlightenment, or 'enlightenment' in Eastern religion. 'Gives light to' (BSB, ESV, NIV) is plainer and closer to the image.

How it drifted

In the second century Christian writers began calling baptism phōtismos, 'illumination' (Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 61). Later the word picked up philosophical and mystical senses. Neither is in view in John 1.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX passages above; Eph 1:18 ('the eyes of your heart enlightened'); Heb 6:4. John's own commentary on the image is 3:19–21: light came into the world, people loved darkness, and whoever does evil avoids the light so that their deeds are not exposed.

From the study of Ephesians 1:18

Range of meaning

To shine, give light to, light up something so it can be seen. Figuratively, to give understanding or make something known (BDAG: 'to make known in a revelatory manner, enlighten').

Against the English

'Enlightened' is the standard rendering and is accurate. Modern ears may hear the 18th-century Enlightenment (reason freeing itself from religion) or an Eastern spiritual awakening. Paul means God shining light on the inner eyes so they see what is really there. The participle is in the perfect tense: a lasting state of having been lit, not a flash.

How it drifted

From the 2nd century, Christians called baptism 'illumination' (phōtismos; Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 61), and Hebrews 6:4 already says 'once enlightened'. Later readers sometimes took this verse as a reference to baptism. That is possible but is not stated.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament: Psalm 19:8 (18:9) 'the commandment of the LORD is bright, enlightening the eyes'; Psalm 13:3 'lighten my eyes'. The Dead Sea Scrolls priestly blessing, 1QS 2:3: 'may he illuminate your heart with the insight of life'. Within Ephesians, 3:9 has 'to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery'.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 11:36 φωτίζῃ may light

    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.”

    Here: Present subjunctive after 'whenever': 'whenever it lights you up'. The lamp shines on and into the person.

John · 1

  1. John 1:9 φωτίζει enlightens

    The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

    Here: Present tense: what this light characteristically does. The word means to shed light on someone, letting them see or be seen, and it can also mean 'instruct' or 'expose'. It says the light shines on each person. It does not by itself say a light is placed inside them.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:5 φωτίσει will bring to light

    Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

    Here: "Will shine light on." The picture is a lamp carried into a dark room so that what was there all along can be seen.

Ephesians · 2

  1. Ephesians 1:18 πεφωτισμένους enlightened [are]

    I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

    Here: Perfect passive participle: 'having been lit up' and staying lit. The tense points to a lasting state, and the passive implies God is the one doing it. It is in the accusative case, which does not match the 'you' of verse 17, so it hangs loosely on the sentence (see debates).

  2. Ephesians 3:9 φωτίσαι to enlighten

    and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

    Here: The second infinitive that depends on 'this grace was given me' (v. 8). It means shining light on something so that people can see it. The aorist form presents the task as one whole act of disclosure.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 1:10 φωτίσαντος having brought to light

    And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

    Here: "Having brought into the light," made plainly visible. Something that was hidden in God's purpose is now in full daylight. The aorist again presents it as one completed act.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 6:4 φωτισθέντας, having been enlightened,

    It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

    Here: Passive: they did not enlighten themselves. God's light shone on them, and they came out of darkness into the knowledge of the truth (compare 10:26, 32). It describes conversion, not a gain in intellect.

  2. Hebrews 10:32 φωτισθέντες having been enlightened

    Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.

    Here: 'Having been enlightened': a one-time event done to them (passive, with God as the implied actor). It refers to their conversion, when the light of God's message in the Son broke in on them; the same word appears in 6:4.

Revelation · 3

  1. Revelation 18:1 ἐφωτίσθη was illuminated

    After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.

    Here: An aorist passive: the earth "was lit up." It is a single event, and the earth receives light rather than producing it. The wording reworks Ezekiel 43:2.

  2. Revelation 21:23 ἐφώτισεν enlightened

    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.

    Here: Simple past tense: "lit it up." This is physical light falling on the city, not inner "enlightenment." The past tense probably reflects John reporting what he saw, and most versions render it as a present.

  3. Revelation 22:5 φωτίσει will enlighten

    There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

    Here: Future tense, ‘will shine light on.’ It is physical, radiant illumination, the brightness of God’s presence. Following 22:4 (‘they will see his face’), it recalls the priestly blessing, ‘the LORD make his face shine upon you.’

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