The concept of "brighten" in the Bible often relates to the presence of light, joy, and divine favor. It is associated with the illumination that comes from God, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. The Bible frequently uses light as a symbol of God's presence, truth, and guidance.

Light as Divine Presence

In the creation narrative, God is the source of light. Genesis 1:3 states, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." This initial act of creation signifies the power and authority of God to bring forth light, dispelling darkness. Light here is not only physical but also represents the order and goodness that God brings into the world.

Spiritual Enlightenment

The Psalms often speak of God's light as a source of guidance and joy. Psalm 19:8 declares, "The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." This verse highlights how God's commandments and teachings enlighten the believer, providing wisdom and understanding.

Similarly, Psalm 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Here, the Word of God is depicted as a source of illumination, guiding the faithful through life's journey.

Joy and Countenance

The idea of brightening is also connected to joy and the uplifting of one's spirit. Proverbs 15:30 says, "The light of the eyes cheers the heart, and good news nourishes the bones." This proverb suggests that a bright countenance and positive news can bring joy and vitality to a person.

In the New Testament, the theme of light continues with Jesus Christ, who is described as the "light of the world." John 8:12 records Jesus saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus' presence and teachings are seen as the ultimate source of spiritual enlightenment and joy.

Divine Favor and Blessing

The Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 includes the phrase, "The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you." This blessing invokes God's favor and presence, symbolized by the shining of His face, which brings peace and grace to the recipient.

Eternal Light

The book of Revelation speaks of the ultimate fulfillment of God's light in the new creation. Revelation 22:5 describes the New Jerusalem: "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." This passage envisions a future where God's presence provides eternal light, eliminating all darkness.

In summary, the concept of "brighten" in the Bible encompasses God's creative power, spiritual enlightenment, joy, divine favor, and the promise of eternal light in His presence.1. (v.) To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to give a brighter hue to.

2. (v.) To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or splendor to.

3. (v.) To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects.

4. (v.) To make acute or witty; to enliven.

5. (v. i.) To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy; to clear up; to become bright or cheerful.

5461. photizo -- to shine, give light
... From phos; to shed rays, ie To shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally
or figuratively) -- enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5461.htm - 8k1305. barar -- to purify, select
... A primitive root; to clarify (ie Brighten), examine, select -- make bright, choice,
chosen, cleanse (be clean), clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify ...
/hebrew/1305.htm - 6k

8055. samach -- rejoice, be glad
... A primitive root; probably to brighten up, ie (figuratively) be (causatively, make)
blithe or gleesome -- cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful), be ...
/hebrew/8055.htm - 6k

Another Part of My Smoke' which You Frequently Laugh at is My ...
... used to hold in his mouth a lighted straw and blow it out so as to appear to be
breathing forth flame: so you also, like a second Salmoneus, brighten the whole ...
/.../31 another part of my.htm

Putting Clouds Over the Sun
... Brighten their lives while you may; then when you look into the open grave where
Father or Mother is being laid to rest, your conscience will not smite you. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fourteen putting clouds over.htm

The Providence of God
... who against their wills do us good,' As the corn is beholden to the flail to thresh
off its husks, or as the iron is beholden to the file to brighten it, so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/14 the providence of god.htm

Of the Absence of all Discrepancies in the Narratives Constructed ...
... when he says, "Very early, at the rising of the sun;" that is to say, they all refer
to the period when the heavens were now beginning to brighten in the east ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxiv of the absence of.htm

Happiness and goodness, according to canting moralists, stand in ...
... How far is he to make his neighbour happy? How far must he respect that
smiling face, so easy to cloud, so hard to brighten again? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stevenson/a christmas sermon/iii.htm

General Prayers.
... Gentle, pure, and kind. Holy Spirit, brighten Little deeds of toil, And
our playful pastimes Let no folly spoil. Holy Spirit, help ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/little folded hands/general prayers.htm

1 to Pray Does not Imply that Without Prayer God Would not Give us ...
... of the Holy Spirit, they shrivel up, as it were, and bowing their heads become serious,
but scarcely have they left the church before they brighten up and go ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section ii 1 to pray.htm

To Mrs. Sarah ) Mrs. Mary And) Abney, Mrs. Elizabeth )
... Since I have ventured to shew a Part of your early Character to the World, I perswade
my self you will remember, that it must inlarge and brighten daily. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/divine songs for children/to mrs sarah mrs.htm

Since These Things are So, Because it were Too Long to Treat ...
... be) the intellectual [2459] beauty of Him out of Whose mouth nothing false proceedeth,
albeit where truth in her radiance doth more and more brighten upon me ...
/.../augustine/against lying/section 35 since these things.htm

A Stanza of Deliverance
... If this verse should get into your hearts, and set you singing in a similar way,
you will be entertaining a very pleasant visitor, and it will brighten a dark ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/a stanza of deliverance.htm

Brighten (3 Occurrences)
... v.) To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures and
darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's prospects ...
/b/brighten.htm - 7k

Light (2869 Occurrences)
... not light. 21. (vi) To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with
up; as, the room lights up very well. 22. (superl.) Having ...
/l/light.htm - 31k

Lighten (19 Occurrences)
... lightning; to flash. 3. (vi) To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering;
to brighten; to clear, as the sky. 4. (vt) To make ...
/l/lighten.htm - 13k

Illuminate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To shed light on; to brighten; to supply with
light, literally or figuratively; as, to illuminate a passage in a book. ...
/i/illuminate.htm - 7k

Rub (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (vt) To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with
up or over; as, to rub up silver. 6. (vt) To hinder; to cross; to thwart. ...
/r/rub.htm - 8k

Brightened (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Brighten. Multi-Version Concordance
Brightened (3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 14:27 But Jonathan ...
/b/brightened.htm - 7k

Bright (85 Occurrences)

/b/bright.htm - 32k

Forsake (88 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 9:27 Though I say, 'I forget
my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!' (YLT). ...
/f/forsake.htm - 34k

Corner (60 Occurrences)
... Bashan. (Root in KJV WBS YLT RSV). Job 9:27 Though I say, 'I forget my talking,
I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!' (YLT). Job ...
/c/corner.htm - 33k

Brightening (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Brighten. Multi-Version
Concordance Brightening (2 Occurrences). Proverbs 4:18 But ...
/b/brightening.htm - 7k

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