100 Bible Verses about Light And Darkness

John 8:12 ESV / 2,174 helpful votes

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:5 ESV / 2,139 helpful votes

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1 John 1:5 ESV / 1,820 helpful votes

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV / 1,779 helpful votes

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 1,726 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 1,440 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Psalm 27:1 ESV / 1,433 helpful votes

Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

John 12:35 ESV / 1,400 helpful votes

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 1,373 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 1,362 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Psalm 18:28 ESV / 1,311 helpful votes

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

John 9:5 ESV / 1,270 helpful votes

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Acts 26:18 ESV / 1,268 helpful votes

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

1 John 1:5-7 ESV / 1,252 helpful votes

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in 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.

John 11:10 ESV / 1,244 helpful votes

But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

James 1:17 ESV / 1,243 helpful votes

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

John 3:19 ESV / 1,218 helpful votes

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:19-21 ESV / 1,215 helpful votes

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Matthew 5:14 ESV / 1,215 helpful votes

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

Matthew 4:16 ESV / 1,197 helpful votes

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV / 1,195 helpful votes

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:130 ESV / 1,195 helpful votes

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

John 12:46 ESV / 1,141 helpful votes

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Micah 7:8 ESV / 1,095 helpful votes

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 ESV / 1,045 helpful votes

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Genesis 1:3 ESV / 1,035 helpful votes

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV / 1,025 helpful votes

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 1,022 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

John 3:19-20 ESV / 1,017 helpful votes

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 949 helpful votes

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Isaiah 5:20 ESV / 932 helpful votes

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Luke 1:79 ESV / 930 helpful votes

To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

1 John 1:7 ESV / 893 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 4:19 ESV / 870 helpful votes

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Psalm 139:12 ESV / 862 helpful votes

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Isaiah 9:2 ESV / 859 helpful votes

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Romans 13:12 ESV / 844 helpful votes

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 5:14 ESV / 824 helpful votes

For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

John 12:36 ESV / 815 helpful votes

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Matthew 8:12 ESV / 805 helpful votes

While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 780 helpful votes

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 John 1:6 ESV / 763 helpful votes

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Isaiah 45:7 ESV / 762 helpful votes

I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Matthew 6:22-23 ESV / 725 helpful votes

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Colossians 1:13 ESV / 722 helpful votes

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

John 1:4 ESV / 714 helpful votes

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

1 John 2:11 ESV / 713 helpful votes

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:4 ESV / 713 helpful votes

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

John 12:35-36 ESV / 711 helpful votes

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness 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, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Genesis 1:4 ESV / 710 helpful votes

And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Psalm 82:5 ESV / 703 helpful votes

They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

2 Peter 1:19 ESV / 695 helpful votes

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Isaiah 60:1 ESV / 689 helpful votes

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

1 John 2:8-11 ESV / 686 helpful votes

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 671 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

John 3:16-17 ESV / 657 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Acts 13:47 ESV / 655 helpful votes

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

John 1:1 ESV / 651 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Revelation 21:23 ESV / 646 helpful votes

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Isaiah 42:16 ESV / 642 helpful votes

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 ESV / 639 helpful votes

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8-9 ESV / 596 helpful votes

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Daniel 12:3 ESV / 578 helpful votes

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Jude 1:13 ESV / 558 helpful votes

Wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 545 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Genesis 1:5 ESV / 539 helpful votes

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

1 John 2:9-11 ESV / 529 helpful votes

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 ESV / 522 helpful votes

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Romans 13:11-13 ESV / 522 helpful votes

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Luke 12:3 ESV / 517 helpful votes

Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV / 501 helpful votes

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Genesis 1:3-4 ESV / 501 helpful votes

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

John 1:6 ESV / 500 helpful votes

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John 1:4-5 ESV / 491 helpful votes

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 3:21 ESV / 487 helpful votes

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Psalm 43:3 ESV / 480 helpful votes

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

Ephesians 5:9 ESV / 470 helpful votes

(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Ephesians 5:13-14 ESV / 469 helpful votes

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Revelation 22:5 ESV / 462 helpful votes

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 459 helpful votes

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...

Psalm 139:7-12 ESV / 454 helpful votes

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” ...

1 John 1:1-10 ESV / 435 helpful votes

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ...

Luke 11:34 ESV / 428 helpful votes

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

Isaiah 60:1-2 ESV / 424 helpful votes

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 420 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...

1 John 1:5-9 ESV / 409 helpful votes

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in 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. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 112:4 ESV / 405 helpful votes

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Jeremiah 13:16 ESV / 402 helpful votes

Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:1-18 ESV / 398 helpful votes

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ...

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 379 helpful votes

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Matthew 25:30 ESV / 377 helpful votes

And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

1 John 2:9 ESV / 371 helpful votes

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 367 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Exodus 10:21 ESV / 361 helpful votes

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.”

2 John 1:5 ESV / 354 helpful votes

And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

1 Kings 8:12 ESV / 348 helpful votes

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 331 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ...

Daniel 2:22 ESV / 309 helpful votes

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ESV / 297 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

Psalm 119:1-176 ESV / 246 helpful votes

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ...

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