φωτεινός (phōteinos)
phōteinos
bright
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective phōteinos describes something that is bright, luminous, or full of light. Derived from the root for "light" (phōs), it functions as a direct contrast to darkness in the New Testament. The word appears only four times, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, where it characterizes physical states of illumination.
In Matthew 17:5, it modifies the cloud at the Transfiguration, emphasizing its radiant nature. More frequently, Jesus uses it metaphorically to describe the human eye or inner life. In Matthew 6:22 and Luke 11:34-36, a "phōteinos" eye signifies clarity and moral integrity, allowing light to fill the entire body. This usage suggests that true spiritual vision results in an interior space that is well-lit and free from the obscurity of darkness.
Translators typically render phōteinos as "clear," "sound," or simply "good" when referring to the eye, capturing the idea of unobstructed perception. The term does not merely denote brightness but implies a quality of being fully illuminated. This distinction highlights the biblical theme that moral purity enables a person to perceive and reflect divine truth without distortion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word phōteinos describes a quality of brightness that goes beyond simple illumination. It suggests an inner clarity where light flows freely without obstruction. When applied to the eye, it points to a heart aligned with truth, allowing spiritual perception to remain sharp and undistorted.
In Matthew 17:5, this radiant quality appears in the bright cloud at the Transfiguration, marking a moment of divine revelation. Yet Jesus also uses it metaphorically in Matthew 6:22 to describe moral integrity. A sound eye lets light fill the whole body, suggesting that our inner focus determines how much truth we can see and reflect.
This imagery invites us to examine what draws our attention. When our hearts are fixed on goodness, we become vessels of clarity rather than confusion. The promise is not just to see clearly but to live in a way that lets that light shine through every part of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- light2×
- of light1×
- full of light1×
- bright1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φωτεινὸν3×
- φωτεινόν1×
- φωτεινὴ1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:22
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
This verse uses the word metaphorically to show how moral integrity allows spiritual light to permeate a person's entire life.
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Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
Here the term describes the physical radiance of the cloud at the Transfiguration, emphasizing the glory of God's presence.
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Luke 11:34
The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
Jesus contrasts a good eye with an evil one to illustrate how inner focus determines whether a person lives in light or darkness.
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Luke 11:36
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”
The word appears here to describe the complete illumination of a body that has no part dark, symbolizing total spiritual clarity.