2 Corinthians 4:6

“For God, who said, “Out of darkness light will shine,” is the one who has shone in our hearts for the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the Messiah.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

ForὅτιGod,ὁ θεὸςwho said,ὁ εἰπών“Out ofἘκdarknessσκότουςlightφῶςwill shine,”λάμψειis the onewhoὃςhas shoneἔλαμψενinἐνour heartsταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶνforπρὸςthe lightφωτισμὸνof the knowledgeτῆς γνώσεωςof the gloryτῆς δόξηςof Godτοῦ θεοῦinἐνthe faceπροσώπῳof the Messiah.Χριστοῦ

Allusion · Isaiah 9:2

Go to Isaiah 9:2

Both texts speak of the light that shines in the darkness.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

σκότουςskotousG4655חֹשֶׁךְjoshejH2822“darkness”
φῶςphōsG5457אוֹרorH216“light”
φωτισμὸνphōtismonG5462נָגַהּnagahH5050“light; illumination”

2 Corinthians 4:6, word by word

Godθεὸςtheos

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theos” appears

who saidεἰπώνeipōn

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “eipōn” appears

darknessσκότουςskotous

darkness

Darkness.

Where else “skotous” appears

lightφῶςphōs

God's light

God's light that shows the truth.

Where else “phōs” appears

will shineλάμψειlampsei

shine

Shine, give light.

Where else “lampsei” appears

our heartsκαρδίαιςkardiais

heart

Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.

Where else “kardiais” appears

the lightφωτισμὸνphōtismon

light, illumination

Light, illumination, radiance.

Where else “phōtismon” appears

of the knowledgeγνώσεωςgnōseōs

knowledge

Knowledge.

Where else “gnōseōs” appears

of the gloryδόξηςdoxēs

glory

The greatness and splendor of God.

Where else “doxēs” appears

the faceπροσώπῳprosōpōi

face

The front of the head, where the eyes and the expression are seen.

Where else “prosōpōi” appears

of the MessiahΧριστοῦChristou

Messiah

Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.

Where else “Christou” appears

Translation note· on the manuscripts

Genesis 1:3; compare Isaiah 9:2. Many manuscripts read “of Jesus the Messiah.”

The context

5For we do not proclaim ourselves but the Messiah Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

6 · This verse (above)

7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from us.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 4

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