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Wednesday, April 24th, 2024
the Fourth Week after Easter
Bible Encyclopedias
Light; Lightness
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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lı̄t´nes : "Light" is used in Scripture, as in ordinary speech, in the sense of what is small, slight, trivial, easy; "lightness" with the connotation of vacillation or lasciviousness. Thus in the Old Testament, "a light thing," a small, easy, slight thing ( קלל , ḳālal , 2 Kings 3:18; Isaiah 49:6; Ezekiel 8:17; Ezekiel 22:7 , in the last case "to treat slightingly"). "Lightness" (קול , ḳōl ) occurs in Jeremiah 3:9 ("the lightness of her whoredom"); in Jeremiah 23:32 , the Revised Version (British and American) changes "lightness" (a different word) to "vain boasting." In the New Testament the phrase occurs in Matthew 22:5 , "made light of it" (ἀμελέω , ameléō ), i.e. "treated it with neglect"; and Paul asks (2 Corinthians 1:17 ), "Did I show lightness?" (the Revised Version (British and American) "fickleness"). These examples sufficiently illustrate the meaning.
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Light; Lightness'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/l/light-lightness.html. 1915.
