2986. lampros
Lexical Summary
lampros: Bright, shining, splendid, radiant

Original Word: λαμπρός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: lampros
Pronunciation: lam-PROS
Phonetic Spelling: (lam-pros')
KJV: bright, clear, gay, goodly, gorgeous, white
NASB: bright, fine, clear, gorgeous, shining, splendid
Word Origin: [from G2989 (λάμπω - shone)]

1. radiant
2. (by analogy) clear and bright
3. (figuratively) magnificent or luxurious (in appearance)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bright, clear, white.

From the same as lampas; radiant; by analogy, limpid; figuratively, magnificent or sumptuous (in appearance) -- bright, clear, gay, goodly, gorgeous, white.

see GREEK lampas

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from lampó
Definition
bright
NASB Translation
bright (3), clear (1), fine (2), gorgeous (1), shining (1), splendid (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2986: λαμπρός

λαμπρός, λαμπρά, λαμπρόν (λάμπω);

a. shining; brilliant: ἀστήρ, Revelation 22:16 (Homer, Iliad 4, 77, etc.); clear, transparent, Revelation 22:1.

b. splendid, magnificent (A. V. gorgeous, bright (see below)): ἐσθής, Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30; James 2:2f; λίνον (L Tr WH λίθον), Revelation 15:6; βύσσινος, ; neuter plural splendid ((R. V. sumptuous)) things, i. e. elegancies or luxuries in dress and style, Revelation 18:14. The word is sometimes used of brilliant and glistening whiteness (hence, λαμπρά τηβεννα, toga candida, Polybius 10, 4, 8; 10, 5, 1); accordingly the Vulg. in Acts 10:30; James 2:2; Revelation 15:6 renders it bycandidas; and some interpreters, following the Vulg. (indutum vestc alba), understand 'white apparel' to be spoken of in Luke 23:11 (A. V. gorgeous; (see above)); cf. Keim, iii., p. 380 note (English translation, vi. 104).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 2986 depicts radiance, brilliance or splendid appearance, whether of garments, heavenly realities, or moral character. Each canonical occurrence attaches that brightness either to divine disclosure, angelic presence, royal or priestly dignity, or the righteous status granted by God’s grace. The term therefore functions both literally—describing vivid light or costly fabric—and theologically—signaling the glory and purity that come from God.

Old Testament and Intertestamental Background

Hebrew Scripture frequently links divine glory with visible luminosity (Exodus 34:29-35; Ezekiel 1:26-28). Priestly vestments were likewise made “for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). By Second Temple times, Jewish literature could use “shining” clothing to mark angelic beings or the resurrected righteous (Daniel 12:3; Wisdom of Solomon 3:7). This conceptual backdrop prepares New Testament readers to associate physical brightness with heavenly origin and ethical holiness.

Survey of New Testament Occurrences

1. Acts 10:30 – Cornelius recounts how “a man in dazzling clothing” (BSB: “a man in shining clothes”) stood before him, underscoring angelic authority and divine endorsement of the gospel’s expansion to Gentiles.
2. Luke 23:11 – Herod Antipas mocks Jesus by arraying Him “in splendid clothing,” an ironic inversion: the true King is clothed with earthly pomp only in ridicule, yet His hidden glory will soon be revealed.
3. James 2:2-3 – The assembly favors a visitor “wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,” exposing the sin of partiality. External brilliance is set against the Law’s demand for impartial mercy.
4. Revelation 15:6 – Seven angels emerge “clothed in pure, bright linen,” emphasizing priestly purity as they pour out the final bowls of wrath.
5. Revelation 18:14 – Earthly luxury, symbolized by “bright” adornments, is swept away in Babylon’s fall, demonstrating the transience of worldly splendor.
6. Revelation 19:8 – The Bride is granted “fine linen, bright and pure,” identified as “the righteous acts of the saints,” showing that the Church’s radiance is imputed and imparted righteousness.
7. Revelation 22:1; 22:16 – The river of life “clear as crystal, bright as the morning star,” points to unmediated divine glory filling the new creation.

Christological Dimensions

Jesus is the object of mock brightness in Luke 23:11, yet Revelation 22:16 reveals Him as “the bright Morning Star,” vindicating His true majesty. The contrast traces the path from humiliation to exaltation, encouraging believers to view temporal shame in light of eternal splendor.

Ecclesiological Significance

Revelation 19:8 affirms that the Church’s bridal array is both a gift (“was given to her”) and a call (“the righteous acts of the saints”). Corporate holiness becomes visible, missional attire, reflecting God’s own character before a watching world.

Ethical and Pastoral Implications

James 2 warns against judging by outward brilliance. Ministers must reinforce that the gospel levels social distinctions, valuing faith over fabric. Conversely, believers are exhorted to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), not through ostentation but through works that glorify the Father.

Eschatological Horizon

In Revelation, heavenly brilliance heralds consummation. The angels’ shining garments precede the outpouring of judgment; the Bride’s bright linen anticipates the wedding feast; the crystal-bright river flows from the throne in the eternal city. Lampros thus signals both impending accountability and final comfort.

Worship and Devotional Use

Hymnody and liturgy have long employed imagery of radiant garments—“clothed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” Meditating on lampros passages invites believers to rejoice in imputed righteousness while pursuing practical holiness.

Historical Reception

Early Church Fathers (e.g., Chrysostom on James 2) used the term to denounce classism in worship. Medieval theologians linked the Bride’s fine linen to infused virtues, while Reformers stressed its forensic dimension. Modern evangelical scholarship unites these strands: believers are both declared and made righteous, a truth visually encoded in the bright linen.

Contemporary Ministry Application

• Guard against favoritism; embrace the poor with the same honor as the well-attired (James 2).
• Teach believers to anticipate future glory amid present trials, mirroring Christ’s path from mock splendor to unveiled majesty.
• Use lampros imagery in discipleship to illustrate justification (gifted linen) and sanctification (righteous acts).
• Encourage corporate worship that reflects reverent beauty without succumbing to vanity.

In every text, lampros directs attention from fleeting human glitter to the enduring brilliance of God’s holiness and grace, urging the Church to wear, reflect, and proclaim that light in anticipation of Christ’s return.

Forms and Transliterations
λαμπρα λαμπρά λαμπρὰ λαμπρᾷ λαμπραν λαμπράν λαμπρὰν λαμπρον λαμπρόν λαμπρὸν λαμπρος λαμπρός λαμπρὸς lampra lamprà lamprā̂i lampran lampràn lampron lampròn lampros lamprós
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Englishman's Concordance
Luke 23:11 Adj-AFS
GRK: περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα λαμπρὰν ἀνέπεμψεν αὐτὸν
NAS: Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe
KJV: him in a gorgeous robe,
INT: having put on apparel splendid he sent back him

Acts 10:30 Adj-DFS
GRK: ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ
NAS: stood before me in shining garments,
KJV: me in bright clothing,
INT: in apparel bright

James 2:2 Adj-DFS
GRK: ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ εἰσέλθῃ δὲ
NAS: with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes,
KJV: in goodly apparel,
INT: in apparel splendid might have come in moreover

James 2:3 Adj-AFS
GRK: ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν καὶ εἴπητε
NAS: to the one who is wearing the fine clothes,
KJV: him that weareth the gay clothing,
INT: apparel splendid and might have said

Revelation 15:6 Adj-ANS
GRK: λίνον καθαρὸν λαμπρὸν καὶ περιεζωσμένοι
NAS: clean [and] bright, and girded
KJV: in pure and white linen, and
INT: linen pure bright and girded with

Revelation 18:14 Adj-NNP
GRK: καὶ τὰ λαμπρὰ ἀπώλετο ἀπὸ
NAS: things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away
KJV: and goodly are departed
INT: and the bright things are departed from

Revelation 19:8 Adj-ANS
GRK: περιβάληται βύσσινον λαμπρὸν καθαρόν τὸ
NAS: linen, bright [and] clean;
KJV: clean and white: for the fine linen
INT: she could be clothed in fine linen bright pure the

Revelation 22:1 Adj-AMS
GRK: ὕδατος ζωῆς λαμπρὸν ὡς κρύσταλλον
NAS: of life, clear as crystal,
KJV: of water of life, clear as crystal,
INT: of water of life clear as crystal

Revelation 22:16 Adj-NMS
GRK: ἀστὴρ ὁ λαμπρός ὁ πρωινός
NAS: of David, the bright morning
KJV: of David, [and] the bright and
INT: star bright morning

Strong's Greek 2986
9 Occurrences


λαμπρᾷ — 3 Occ.
λαμπρὰν — 2 Occ.
λαμπρὸν — 3 Occ.
λαμπρός — 1 Occ.

2985
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