How many times is light mentioned in the Bible?
The word light appears 272 times in the King James Version, in 235 verses. Counting every form (light, lights), it appears 282 times in 243 verses across 48 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses light 252 times (263 with every form).
Light in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of light counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| light | 272 | 252 |
| lights | 10 | 11 |
| Total | 282 | 263 |
Which books mention light most
Light appears in 48 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Job and Isaiah share the most, 31 each.
Also in: Proverbs (5), Jeremiah (5), Ephesians (5), Numbers (4), 2 Kings (4), Ezekiel (4), Ecclesiastes (3), Daniel (3), Micah (3), Judges (2), Nehemiah (2), Amos (2), Habakkuk (2), Zephaniah (2), Zechariah (2), Romans (2), Leviticus (1), Deuteronomy (1), Ruth (1), 2 Chronicles (1), Esther (1), Lamentations (1), Hosea (1), Mark (1), 1 Corinthians (1), Philippians (1), Colossians (1), 1 Thessalonians (1), 1 Timothy (1), 2 Timothy (1), James (1), 1 Peter (1), 2 Peter (1).
First and last mention of light
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
The verse that uses it most is Isaiah 30:26, 4 times:
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Where the two translations differ
27 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 13 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Numbers 21:5: counted in the KJV only
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
The people spoke against God, and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this disgusting bread.”
Deuteronomy 27:16: counted in the KJV only
Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Exodus 30:8: counted in the World English Bible only
And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
Numbers 8:3: counted in the World English Bible only
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lamp stand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Verses with light on our topic pages
24 verses that use light in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
On: Gratitude, Blessings, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
On: Protection, Worry, Fear, Courage
For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
On: Depression, Suffering, Perseverance
Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
On: Relationships, Dating
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
On: Heaven, Eternal Life
For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
On: Protection
he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.
On: Trust
Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents.
On: Guidance
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
On: Guidance
Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.
On: Depression
Common questions
How many times is light in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 183 of the 282 uses are in the Old Testament and 99 in the New Testament. Light appears in 48 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Job and Isaiah share the most, 31 each.
Where is light first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 1:3: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." The last is Revelation 22:5.
More word counts: cross, blood, gold, amen, hallelujah, mercy, glory, truth, or all 107 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-02.