Bible Dictionary
SHINE
To shine means to give or reflect light, whether from heavenly bodies, fire, or other sources. Scripture also uses shining figuratively for divine glory, prophetic or Christian witness, angels, and Christ’s radiance.
Definition
To shine is to give or reflect light, whether directly from heavenly bodies, fire, and candles, or indirectly as brightness reflected from another source. The word may also describe the diffusion of beams of light in a figurative sense.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses shining literally of heavenly bodies, fire, lightning, and candles. Figuratively, it describes divine glory, the radiance of Christ, angelic appearances, and the brightness of faithful or prominent servants of God.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>shin: The Hebrew words 'ahal, 'or, halal, zahar, zarach, yapha`, naghah, `ashath and qaran are all translated "shine." All indicate either the direct or indirect diffusion of beams of light. In a direct and literal sense the word "shine" is used of the heavenly bodies, or of candles, and fire (Job 18:5; 25:5 the King James Version; Job 29:3; 31:26; 2Ki 3:22). In a figurative sense it is used of reflected light or brightness, in any sense (Ex 34:29 f,35; Isa 60:1; Eze 43:2; Da 12:3). God as the sun of righteousness is thus depicted in Ps 50:2. The New Testament words astrapto, augazo, lampo and phaino are translated "shine." Thus literally it is said of the lightning that it shines (Mt 24:27 the King James Version; Lu 17:24); the word is tropically applied to the life of faith or to men prominent in the kingdom of God (Mt 5:16; Joh 5:35; 2Co 4:6; Php 2:15; 2Pe 1:19); to the glory of God (Lu 2:9); to angelic appearances (Lu 24:4; Ac 12:7), or to Christ as He appeared to John on Patmos (Re 1:16).</p><p>Henry E. Dosker</p>