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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/40_Mat_05_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 5:14 - Salt and Light" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/matthew/5-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/matthew/5-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/matthew/">Matthew</a> > <a href="/matthew/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/5-13.htm" title="Matthew 5:13">◄</a> Matthew 5:14 <a href="/matthew/5-15.htm" title="Matthew 5:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/matthew/5.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/nlt/matthew/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. <a href="/esv/matthew/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden. <a href="/kjv/matthew/5.htm">King James Bible</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/5.htm">New King James Version</a> “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; <a href="/nasb/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; <a href="/nasb77/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/lsb/matthew/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; <a href="/amp/matthew/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; <a href="/csb/matthew/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/hcsb/matthew/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/asv/matthew/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. <a href="/cev/matthew/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, <a href="/erv/matthew/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. <a href="/gwt/matthew/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. <a href="/gnt/matthew/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. <a href="/isv/matthew/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> "You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. <a href="/msb/matthew/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/net/matthew/5.htm">NET Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/nheb/matthew/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. <a href="/wbt/matthew/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. <a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> *You* are the light of the world; a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top. <a href="/web/matthew/5.htm">World English Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain is not able to be hid; <a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden. <a href="/ylt/matthew/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid; <a href="/slt/matthew/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid, set on a mountain.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. <a href="/nabre/matthew/5.htm">New American Bible</a> You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> You are indeed the light of the world; a city that is built upon a mountain cannot be hidden. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that has been built upon a mountain.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> You are the light of the world: a city that lies upon a mountain can not be hid: <a href="/godbey/matthew/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>Ye are the light of the world. A city sitting on a mountain is unable to be hidden.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid that is situated on an eminence. <a href="/mace/matthew/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> ye are the light of the world, a city that is situated on an hill, cannot be hid; <a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> *You* are the light of the world; a town cannot be hid if built on a hill-top. <a href="/worrell/matthew/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>Ye are the light of the world: a city, <Fr>that is<FR> situated on a hill, cannot be hid.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/5-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=904" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Salt and Light</a> 13You 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. 14<a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: Hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">You</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: este (V-PIA-2P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">are</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/5457.htm" title="5457: phōs (N-NNS) -- Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.">light</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmou (N-GMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">world.</a> <a href="/greek/4172.htm" title="4172: polis (N-NFS) -- A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.">A city</a> <a href="/greek/2749.htm" title="2749: keimenē (V-PPM/P-NFS) -- To lie, recline, be placed, be laid, set, specially appointed, destined. Middle voice of a primary verb; to lie outstretched."></a> <a href="/greek/1883.htm" title="1883: epanō (Prep) -- From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on.">on</a> <a href="/greek/3735.htm" title="3735: orous (N-GNS) -- A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).">a hill</a> <a href="/greek/1410.htm" title="1410: dynatai (V-PIM/P-3S) -- (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.">cannot</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/2928.htm" title="2928: krybēnai (V-ANP) -- To hide, conceal, lay up. A primary verb; to conceal.">be hidden.</a> 15Neither 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a> 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.” <a href="/philippians/2-15.htm">Philippians 2:15</a> 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 <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Ephesians 5:8</a> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, <a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1-3</a> Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. <a href="/john/1-4.htm">John 1:4-9</a> In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. / There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. ... <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a> But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. <a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a> For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. <a href="/proverbs/4-18.htm">Proverbs 4:18</a> The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. <a href="/daniel/12-3.htm">Daniel 12:3</a> Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. <a href="/revelation/1-20.htm">Revelation 1:20</a> This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. <a href="/luke/8-16.htm">Luke 8:16</a> No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. <a href="/john/12-36.htm">John 12:36</a> 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. <a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6</a> “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, <a href="/acts/13-47.htm">Acts 13:47</a> For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” <a href="/1_john/1-5.htm">1 John 1:5-7</a> And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.the light.<a href="/proverbs/4-18.htm">Proverbs 4:18</a> But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.<a href="/john/5-35.htm">John 5:35</a> He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.<a href="/john/12-36.htm">John 12:36</a> While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.a city.<a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Genesis 11:4-8</a> And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth… <a href="/revelation/21-14.htm">Revelation 21:14</a> And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Able</a> <a href="/malachi/3-15.htm">Built</a> <a href="/matthew/4-5.htm">City</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-3.htm">Hid</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-3.htm">Hidden</a> <a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/numbers/14-44.htm">Hill-Top</a> <a href="/matthew/4-16.htm">Light</a> <a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/nahum/3-8.htm">Situated</a> <a href="/matthew/4-8.htm">Top</a> <a href="/matthew/4-8.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/5-36.htm">Able</a> <a href="/matthew/7-24.htm">Built</a> <a href="/matthew/5-35.htm">City</a> <a href="/matthew/10-26.htm">Hid</a> <a href="/matthew/10-26.htm">Hidden</a> <a href="/matthew/8-1.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/numbers/14-40.htm">Hill-Top</a> <a href="/matthew/5-15.htm">Light</a> <a href="/matthew/8-1.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/matthew/8-1.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-5.htm">Situated</a> <a href="/matthew/27-51.htm">Top</a> <a href="/matthew/12-32.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 5</div>1. <a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Jesus' sermon on the mount:</a> 3. <a href="/matthew/5-3.htm">The Beattitudes;</a> 13. <a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">the salt of the earth;</a> 14. <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">the light of the world.</a> 17. <a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">He came to fulfill the law.</a> 21. <a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">What it is to kill;</a> 27. <a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">to commit adultery;</a> 33. <a href="/matthew/5-33.htm">to swear.</a> 38. <a href="/matthew/5-38.htm">He exhorts to forgive wrong,</a> 43. <a href="/matthew/5-43.htm">to love our enemies;</a> 48. <a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">and to labor after perfection.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>You are the light of the world. This phrase identifies the followers of Jesus as a source of spiritual illumination in a world often characterized by darkness and sin. In biblical context, light symbolizes truth, purity, and divine revelation. The metaphor of light is used throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6</a>, where God calls His servant to be a light to the nations. Jesus Himself is described as the "light of the world" in <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>, indicating that His followers are to reflect His light. The call to be the light implies a responsibility to live in a way that reveals God's truth and love to others, influencing the world positively and guiding others to Christ.A city on a hill cannot be hidden. This imagery suggests visibility and prominence. In the historical and geographical context, cities in ancient Israel were often built on elevated ground for defense purposes, making them visible from a distance. The city of Jerusalem, for example, is situated on a hill and served as a spiritual and cultural center. The metaphor implies that the lives of believers should be conspicuous and impactful, much like a city that stands out in the landscape. This visibility is not for self-glorification but to draw others to God. The idea of being a city on a hill also connects to the prophetic vision of Zion in <a href="/isaiah/2-2.htm">Isaiah 2:2-3</a>, where nations are drawn to the mountain of the Lord. Believers are called to live in such a way that their faith and actions cannot be concealed, serving as a beacon of hope and righteousness in the world.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of this verse, delivering the Sermon on the Mount, teaching His disciples and the gathered crowd about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven and the character of its citizens. 2. <a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a> The primary audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who are called to live out the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_world.htm">The World</a> Refers to the broader human society that is in darkness due to sin and in need of the light that believers are called to shine. 4. <a href="/topical/c/city_on_a_hill.htm">City on a Hill</a> A metaphor used by Jesus to illustrate the visibility and influence that believers should have in the world. 5. <a href="/topical/s/sermon_on_the_mount.htm">Sermon on the Mount</a> The context in which this teaching is given, a collection of Jesus' teachings found in Matthew chapters 5-7.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/i/identity_and_purpose.htm">Identity and Purpose</a> Believers are inherently called to be the light of the world, reflecting the light of Christ in their lives. <a href="/topical/v/visibility_and_influence.htm">Visibility and Influence</a> Just as a city on a hill is visible to all, Christians are to live in such a way that their faith is evident and influential in their communities. <a href="/topical/r/responsibility_and_witness.htm">Responsibility and Witness</a> The call to be light carries the responsibility to live out the values of the Kingdom, serving as a witness to the transformative power of the Gospel. <a href="/topical/c/contrast_with_darkness.htm">Contrast with Darkness</a> The presence of light is most impactful in darkness; believers are to engage with the world, bringing hope and truth where it is most needed. <a href="/topical/c/community_and_support.htm">Community and Support</a> Like a city, the collective witness of believers is powerful. Christians are encouraged to support one another in their mission to be light.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) The light of the world.--In its highest or truest sense the word belongs to Christ, and to Him only (<a href="/john/1-9.htm" title="That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.">John 1:9</a>; <a href="/john/8-12.htm" title="Then spoke Jesus again to 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</a>). The comparison to the "candle" or "lamp" in <a href="/matthew/5-15.htm" title="Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house.">Matthew 5:15</a> shows, indeed, that even here the disciples are spoken of as shining in the world with a derived brightness flowing to them from the Fount of light.A city that is set on an hill.--Assuming the Sermon on the Mount to have been preached from one of the hills of Galilee near the "horns of Hattin," our Lord may have looked or pointed at Safed, 2,650 feet above the sea, commanding one of the grandest panoramic views in Palestine. It is now one of the four holy cities of the Jews, and probably existed as a fortress in our Lord's time (Thomson's The Land and the Book, p. 273). The imagery might, however, come from the prophetic visions of the Zion of the future, idealising the position of the actual Zion (<a href="/isaiah/2-2.htm" title="And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.">Isaiah 2:2</a>; <a href="/micah/4-1.htm" title="But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow to it.">Micah 4:1</a>). No image could so vividly set forth the calling of the Church of Christ as a visible society. For good or for evil, it could not fail to be prominent in the world's history, a city of refuge for the weary, or open to the attacks of the invader. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 14. - Matthew only. Ye are the light of the world. After speaking of the moral tone that the disciples were to give to the world, in contrast to sin in its corrupting power, Christ refers to them as enlightening, in contrast to sin as darkness and ignorance. Our Lord further naturally exchanges the term "the earth" (which from its strong materialism had suited the figure of the salt) for "the world" - a phrase which must, indeed, as regards the disciples, be limited to this earth, but as regards the light, need not be limited to less than the solar system. In other words, the simple reason why he exchanges "earth" for "world" is that they are respectively the best suited to the figure employed. Notice that Christ never applies the former figure, of salt, to himself; but the latter, of light, once or twice, especially <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>, where, since he is speaking of himself, and not of others, he adds the thought of life being connected with light, a city, etc.; literally, a city cannot be hid when set on a mountain. It seems at first slightly awkward to introduce the figure of a city between those of the sun and the lamp, both these having to do with light. The reason is that the city is not considered as such, but only as an object which can be teen, and which cannot (οὐ δύναται, emphatic) from its physical conditions avoid being seen. There is a true gradation in the thought of influence. The sun must be seen by all; the city, by the whole neighbourhood; the lamp, by the family. Our Lord comes from the general to the particular; from what is almost theory, at best a matter of hope and faith, to hard fact and practice. The influence you are to have - if it is to be for the whole world, as indeed it is, must be felt in the neighbourhood in which you live, and a fortiori in the immediate circle of your own home. Conjectures have been made whether any one city can reasonably be mentioned as being in sight, and so having suggested this image to our Lord. If the exact spot where he was then sitting were itself certain, such conjectures might be worth considering. But, in fact, so many "cities" in Palestine were set on hills that the inquiry seems vain. Safed, some twelve miles north-west of Capernaum, the view from which extends to Tiberias (Neubaur, 'Geogr.,' p. 228), has been accepted by many, but evidence is lacking for it having been a city at that time. Tabor, at the south-west of the lake, has also been thought of, and at all events seems to have been then a fortified town. The view from it is even more extensive than from Safed (vide especially Socin's Baedeker, p. 365). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/5-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>You Ὑμεῖς (Hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. are ἐστε (este) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. the τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. light φῶς (phōs) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5457.htm">Strong's 5457: </a> Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness. of the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. world. κόσμου (kosmou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). A city πόλις (polis) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4172.htm">Strong's 4172: </a> A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town. on ἐπάνω (epanō) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1883.htm">Strong's 1883: </a> From epi and ano; up above, i.e. Over or on. a hill ὄρους (orous) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3735.htm">Strong's 3735: </a> A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain). cannot δύναται (dynatai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1410.htm">Strong's 1410: </a> (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible. be hidden. κρυβῆναι (krybēnai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive <a href="/greek/strongs_2928.htm">Strong's 2928: </a> To hide, conceal, lay up. A primary verb; to conceal. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world (Matt. 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