The term "brilliant" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of brilliance, often associated with light, splendor, and wisdom, is prevalent throughout the Scriptures. In biblical terms, brilliance can refer to the radiant glory of God, the wisdom imparted by Him, or the shining righteousness of His people.

Divine Brilliance

The brilliance of God is frequently depicted through imagery of light and radiance. In the Old Testament, God's presence is often associated with overwhelming brightness. For instance, in Ezekiel's vision, the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD is described as "a radiance like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day" (Ezekiel 1:28). This brilliance signifies God's holiness and majesty.

In the New Testament, the brilliance of God is further revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. The transfiguration of Jesus is a moment where His divine nature is visibly manifested. Matthew 17:2 states, "There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." This event underscores the divine brilliance inherent in Christ, affirming His identity as the Son of God.

Brilliance in Wisdom

Brilliance is also associated with wisdom, particularly the wisdom that comes from God. The Book of Proverbs frequently highlights the value of wisdom, portraying it as a light that guides the righteous. Proverbs 4:18 declares, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday." Here, the brilliance of wisdom is likened to the increasing light of day, symbolizing clarity, understanding, and righteousness.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often prays for believers to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. In Ephesians 1:17-18 , he writes, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened." This enlightenment is a form of spiritual brilliance, enabling believers to comprehend the hope and riches of their calling.

Brilliance in Righteousness

The brilliance of righteousness is another theme found in Scripture. The righteous are often depicted as shining lights in a dark world. In Daniel 12:3 , it is written, "Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." This passage highlights the eternal brilliance of those who live righteously and lead others to do the same.

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, calls His followers to be the light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16 states, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Here, the brilliance of believers is a testimony to God's work in their lives, drawing others to Him.

Heavenly Brilliance

The ultimate expression of brilliance is found in the depiction of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 21:23 describes the city: "The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is its lamp." This eternal brilliance signifies the fullness of God's presence and the complete absence of darkness, symbolizing the consummation of His redemptive plan.

In summary, while the term "brilliant" may not be explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is richly woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the glory, wisdom, and righteousness that emanate from God and His people.1. (p. pr.) Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.

2. (p. pr.) Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.

3. (n.) A diamond or other gem of the finest cut, formed into faces and facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more brilliant. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping facets forming a bizet; below, it has a small face or collet, parallel to the table, connected with the girdle by a pavilion of elongated facets. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond, which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat below.

4. (n.) The smallest size of type used in England printing.

5. (n.) A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

2929. krustallizo -- to shine like crystal
... krustallizo Phonetic Spelling: (kroos-tal-lid'-zo) Short Definition: I am clear
as crystal Definition: I am clear as crystal, brilliant like crystal. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2929.htm - 6k

3022. leukos -- bright, white
... white. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: leukos Phonetic Spelling:
(lyoo-kos') Short Definition: white, bright Definition: white, bright, brilliant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3022.htm - 6k

3720. orthrinos -- early
... morning. From orthros; relating to the dawn, ie Matutinal (as an epithet of Venus,
especially brilliant in the early day) -- morning. see GREEK orthros. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3720.htm - 6k

5460. photeinos -- bright, light
... light. Cognate: 5460 (an adjective) -- brilliant (shining), describing
the revelation (revealing nature) of light. See 5457 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5460.htm - 6k

5474. chalkolibanon -- chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass ...
... and libanos (in the implied mean of whiteness or brilliancy); burnished copper,
an alloy of copper (or gold) and silver having a brilliant lustre -- fine brass ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5474.htm - 6k

925. bahir -- bright, brilliant
... 924, 925. bahir. 926 . bright, brilliant. Transliteration: bahir Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-here') Short Definition: bright. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/925.htm - 5k

8121. shemesh -- sun
... From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east;
figuratively, a ray, ie (arch.) A notched battlement -- + east side(-ward), sun ...
/hebrew/8121.htm - 6k

8238. shepharpar -- dawn
... very early in the morning. (Aramaic) from shaphar; the dawn (as brilliant with aurora)
-- X very early in the morning. see HEBREW shaphar. 8237, 8238. ...
/hebrew/8238.htm - 6k

2447. chaklili -- dull
... red. By reduplication from an unused root apparently meaning to be dark; darkly
flashing (only of the eyes); in a good sense, brilliant (as stimulated by wine ...
/hebrew/2447.htm - 6k

Of the Beauty of the Universe, which Becomes, by God's Ordinance ...
... Book XI. Chapter 18."Of the Beauty of the Universe, Which Becomes, by God's
Ordinance, More Brilliant by the Opposition of Contraries. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 18 of the beauty of.htm

Substitution
... We have God's brilliant thoughts in the wondrous scenes which are beheld from
mountain-top and valley; and we have God's most sweet and pleasant thoughts of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/substitution.htm

Philip the Evangelist
... There is, first, a brief space of brilliant service, and then there are long
years of obscure toil. I. The brief space of brilliant service. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/philip the evangelist 2.htm

What is the Divine Gloom?
... supernal, both super-God and super-good, Guardian of the Theosophy of Christian
men, direct us aright to the super-unknown and super-brilliant and highest ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/mystic theology/caput i what is the.htm

The Minne-Songs
... the band of knights, poets, and adventurers, who gathered round the Landgrave Hermann
of Thuringia, and made that little court at once brilliant and disturbed. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/the minne-songs.htm

The Son of the Murket
... Ta-meri was more than usually brilliant, and Nechutes, flushed with her favor, was
playing splendidly and rejoicing beyond reason over his gains. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvii the son of.htm

The Young Saul and the Aged Paul [Footnote: to the Young. ]
... At the beginning you see a brilliant young Pharisee, Gamaliel's promising pupil,
advanced above many who were his equals in his own religion, as he says himself ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the young saul and the.htm

Exultation of the Disciples on their Return. --The Overthrow of ...
... at the same time he warned them against a tendency, dangerous to their ministry,
which might possibly attach to their joy at its brilliant and extraordinary ...
/.../section 205 exultation of the.htm

Concerning Certain Stars which the Pagans have Called by the Names ...
... and yet they will have this same Venus to be also the moon:"not to mention how Venus
and Juno are said by them to contend about that most brilliant star, as ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 15 concerning certain stars which.htm

The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress.
... As your heads were crowned with gold and most brilliant stones, so likewise were
your minds adorned with the precepts of the Gospel and the teachings of the ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the letter of the synod 2.htm

Brilliant (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr.) Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright;
as, a brilliant star. ... Multi-Version Concordance Brilliant (5 Occurrences). ...
/b/brilliant.htm - 9k

Colors (12 Occurrences)
... and define color effects. The inhabitants of Syria and Palestine today delight
in brilliant colors. Bright yellow, crimson, magenta ...
/c/colors.htm - 36k

Color (18 Occurrences)
... and define color effects. The inhabitants of Syria and Palestine today delight
in brilliant colors. Bright yellow, crimson, magenta ...
/c/color.htm - 39k

Glitter (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant
and broken light or showy luster; to gleam; as, a glittering sword. ...
/g/glitter.htm - 8k

Blaze (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a brilliant
display. 4. (n.) A white spot on the forehead of a horse. ...
/b/blaze.htm - 10k

Brilliantly (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a brilliant manner. Multi-Version
Concordance Brilliantly (2 Occurrences). Revelation 17:4 The ...
/b/brilliantly.htm - 7k

Star (16 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions,
as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc. ...
/s/star.htm - 29k

Quench (14 Occurrences)
... 4; Jeremiah 21:12). Quenching the coal or the light of Israel may mean slaying
a dear one or a brilliant leader. In the New Testament ...
/q/quench.htm - 12k

Vermilion (2 Occurrences)
... in printing, etc. 2. (n.) Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and
brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion. 3. (vt) To color ...
/v/vermilion.htm - 7k

Kerenhappuch (1 Occurrence)
... Antimony, producing a brilliant black, was used among the Orientals for coloring
the edges of the eyelids, making the eyes large and lustrous. ...
/k/kerenhappuch.htm - 7k

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