Matthew 5:14
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
- KJV
- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
- WEB
- “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
- ASV
- Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
- DARBY
- *Ye* are the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid.
- BLB
- You⁺ are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is not able to be hidden.
- ÅB
- «Dere er verdens lys; en by som ligger på et fjell, kan ikke skjules.
- OTB
- Dere er verdens lys. En by som ligger på et fjell kan ikke skjules.
- B1930
- I er verdens lys; en by som ligger på et fjell, kan ikke skjules;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
Read in contextJohn 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Read in contextEphesians 5:8–14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
Read in contextProverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Read in contextJohn 12:36
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
Read in contextRomans 2:19–20
if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
Read in context2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Read in context