The Hebrew Word "Light" and A Messianic Title

There are a couple of Hebrew words which denote light. In Genesis we can learn the meaning of both words for light.

In Genesis 1:14-19, the word used for light is ma'or. This word is used to refer to the light given by the celestial bodies as well as the Menorah, or lamp stand (Exodus 35:14).

In Genesis 1:3 we read:

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

These were the first words spoken by God at creation. The primary word for light in this scripture is ore. This light is not the light of the sun, moon, and stars, for they were not created until the fourth day.

This light is a supernatural light which comes forth from God only. It had the power to expel the darkness and to sustain earth with all of its life forms. This supernatural light is a characteristic of God's very nature. He is LIGHT and in Him there is no darkness. His very nature expels all darkness and sustains life.

In Revelation we read that the renewed heaven and the renewed earth will not need the sun, moon, stars or lamps for light for it is recorded that Yahweh Elohim will be its light.

“There shall be no night there. They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:5

When Yeshua (Jesus) stated that He was the “light” of the world, He was referring to Himself as being God, for only God can be the ore; the supernatural light of the world that expels all darkness.

“ Then Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Referring to Yeshua, in John 1:4-5 we read:

In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it. (CJB)

Rabbi Shapira states in his book:

“ In addition, the primary light of ore has traditionally been associated with The Messiah in ancient Jewish commentary. In the Pesikta Rabbati we read that this light is the "light of the Messiah". The word ore is linked throughout scripture to the Messiah. Not only was Messiah to be light but this light existed before the creation of the world. This is an eternal light. Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonatan use the Aramaic term Nehorah, which is derived from the same root as the Hebrew word ore, and is used to describe the light of the Messiah. There is only one person who claimed to be "light" and by doing so he declared Himself to be the Messiah who has existed since the beginning”. [1]

It is clear from the conversation that took place in John 8:12-59 that the Pharisees knew exactly who Yeshua was claiming to be. They understood that He was declaring Himself equal with and equivalent to - God the Creator. That is why they took up stones to stone Him.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then they took up stones to cast at him, but Jesus concealed himself and went out of the temple, and going through the midst of them, went away. John 8:56-59

In these scriptures we clearly see that Yeshua was testifying that He was the light of Messiah that existed before the beginning of time, (before Abraham). He was declaring Himself to be the Divine Light which came from above. He not only claims to be the Divine Light but also claims to be able to forgive sins and to give eternal life!

In verses 23-24 Yeshua states: Ye are from below, I am from above; ye are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said unto you that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye do not believe that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.

Twice in these sections of scripture He has referred to Himself as I AM, clearly a name associated only with the Father, The Creator of all things.

Yeshua was the fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the gentiles (nations) shall walk to thy light, and the kings to the brightness of thy birth. Isaiah 60:1-3

The prophet is encouraging the Jewish people of the coming light that will be for all nations.

We can now see the parallels to the ministry of Yeshua when it was spoken:

The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and upon those who sat in the land and shadow of death, light arose to them (Matthew 4:16 from Isaiah 9:1-2).

Revelation 21:23-24 - And the city had no need of the sun neither of the moon to shine in her, for the clarity of God has illuminated it, and the Lamb is its lamp.

This scripture is in fulfillment of that which was spoken by Isaiah:

The sun shall no longer be thy light by day; nor shall the moon give light unto thee for brightness; but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall set no more; neither shall thy moon wane; for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Isaiah 60:19-20

The Rambam interprets this verse to speak of Messiah (Guide to the Perplexed Part II, chapter 29)

Yeshua clearly declares that He is the supernatural "light" that was from the beginning and has always existed. He alone is the source of eternal light. Messiah Yeshua will restore the earth to its condition before Adam and Eve sinned as the great ore or Nehorah.

No mere human can become this eternal light! Only the Creator was this light! No mere human can forgive sins, only God Himself. Yet Yeshua claimed He was "the light" and that he was able to forgive sins. No mere human can give eternal life, only God, yet Yeshua claimed that He could give eternal life! (John 10:28 and many others).

Notice in Revelation 22: 1:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. One throne - One (Echad) Elohim! They are one, just as Yeshua proclaimed:

I and the Father are one (John 10:30).

Then they picked up stones to stone Him again. Why? Because they understood what He was proclaiming.

Do you know this Jewish Messiah, Yeshua?

Leisa Baysinger

[1] The Return of the Kosher Pig; by Shapira, Itzhak; page 183

Bibliography

Hebrew Treasures; Bridges for Peace International, PO Box 1093 Jerusalem, Israel; pgs 75-77.

The Return of the Kosher Pig; Shapira, Itzhak; published by Lederer Books; Copyright 2013; pgs 183-192

All scripture is from the Jubilee Bible unless otherwise indicated