Light Unto the Nations
Encyclopedia
Light Unto the Nations (or Light of the Nations; Hebrew: אור לגויים, pronounced as "Or LaGoyim"; other: Light of all Nations or Light for all Nations) is a term originated from the prophet Isaiah
, which expresses the universal designation of the Jewish People as a mentor for spiritual and moral guidance for the entire world.
:
The context of these three references (ch. 41-42, 49, and 60) are a prophecy of comfort (Hebrew: נבואת נחמה) and a promise to the people of Israel, in which God will restore the people of Israel to their land, and this return will cause the rest of the nations to open their eyes, and look up to the people of Israel.
says that Jews serve as "a Light unto the nations" by instructing Gentiles in observance of the Noahide Code.
Some Jewish commentator on the Bible
, during the Middle Ages
, connect these verses and the vision of the end of days of Isaiah
and Micah
, according to which, Zion
shall be the spiritual center for the entire world:
Also R. Abraham Isaac Kook
("HaRaAYaH"), one of the chief leaders of the Religious Zionist Movement
, saw in the aspiration of the people of Israel to be a "light unto the nations" a noble part of its designation, while emphasizing the "National force" that the people of Israel have in common with the rest of the nations. Yet, he emphasized that the "Spiritual force" is by virtue a preemptive force upon the previous one:
emphasized his vision of the state of Israel as a moral and social beacon to the whole world, and by that, in his view, it shall implement the vision of the prophets:
The selection of the Menorah as the Emblem of Israel was derived from the image of the state of Israel as a "Light Unto the Nations":
In Israel's official events, the term "Light Unto the Nations" is cited as one of Israel's designations. At times, on the Israeli public discourse, criticism may be added to the term, since sometimes the daily political life may look to a critic or a columnist as somewhat distant from the greater vision.
Israel's nowadays vision of "Light Unto the Nations" was reflected in the words of the current Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
, in his address on Herzliya Conference
:
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
, which expresses the universal designation of the Jewish People as a mentor for spiritual and moral guidance for the entire world.
Origins in the Classical texts
The term originated from verses in the Book of IsaiahBook of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
:
The context of these three references (ch. 41-42, 49, and 60) are a prophecy of comfort (Hebrew: נבואת נחמה) and a promise to the people of Israel, in which God will restore the people of Israel to their land, and this return will cause the rest of the nations to open their eyes, and look up to the people of Israel.
The meaning of the term
RadakDavid Kimhi
David Kimhi , also known by the Hebrew acronym as the RaDaK , was a medieval rabbi, biblical commentator, philosopher, and grammarian. Born in Narbonne, Provence, he was the son of Rabbi Joseph Kimhi and the brother of Rabbi Moses Kimhi, both biblical commentators and grammarians...
says that Jews serve as "a Light unto the nations" by instructing Gentiles in observance of the Noahide Code.
Some Jewish commentator on the Bible
Jewish commentaries on the Bible
This article describes the first printing of the Hebrew Bible with major Jewish commentaries, notes concerning translations into Aramaic and English, lists some universally accepted Jewish commentaries with notes on their method of approach and lists modern translations into English with notes.-...
, during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, connect these verses and the vision of the end of days of Isaiah
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
and Micah
Book of Micah
The Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
, according to which, Zion
Zion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
shall be the spiritual center for the entire world:
Use of the term in modern times
From the commencement of the era of the national revival of the Jewish people (Tekufat ha-Tehiyah, 19th-20th century), various Jewish philosophers began to see in the national revival a chance to fulfill the prophets' vision of a "Light Unto the Nations". One example that may give an insight into the term's meaning, is the one of Shraga Feivel Frankel ("Bar Tuvia") in his assessment of the words of the historian Ze'ev Jawitz:Also R. Abraham Isaac Kook
Abraham Isaac Kook
Abraham Isaac Kook was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, Jewish thinker, Halachist, Kabbalist and a renowned Torah scholar...
("HaRaAYaH"), one of the chief leaders of the Religious Zionist Movement
Religious Zionism
Religious Zionism is an ideology that combines Zionism and Jewish religious faith...
, saw in the aspiration of the people of Israel to be a "light unto the nations" a noble part of its designation, while emphasizing the "National force" that the people of Israel have in common with the rest of the nations. Yet, he emphasized that the "Spiritual force" is by virtue a preemptive force upon the previous one:
The State of Israel as a Light unto the Nations
In his writings and speeches, David ben-GurionDavid Ben-Gurion
' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
emphasized his vision of the state of Israel as a moral and social beacon to the whole world, and by that, in his view, it shall implement the vision of the prophets:
The selection of the Menorah as the Emblem of Israel was derived from the image of the state of Israel as a "Light Unto the Nations":
In Israel's official events, the term "Light Unto the Nations" is cited as one of Israel's designations. At times, on the Israeli public discourse, criticism may be added to the term, since sometimes the daily political life may look to a critic or a columnist as somewhat distant from the greater vision.
Israel's nowadays vision of "Light Unto the Nations" was reflected in the words of the current Israeli Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
, in his address on Herzliya Conference
Herzliya conference
The Herzliya Conference, hosted by the Interdisciplinary Center at Herzliya, is Israel's center stage for the articulation of national policy by its most prominent leaders, including the Israeli President, the Prime Minister, the IDF Chief of General Staff, and the leading contenders for high...
:
See also
- Emblem of Israel
- Menorah (Temple)
- Knesset MenorahKnesset MenorahThe Knesset Menorah is a bronze monument about five meters high, that is located at the edge of Gan Havradim in front of the Knesset. Built by Benno Elkan, a British-Jewish sculptor who worked on it for 6 years, the Parliament of the United Kingdom gave it to Israel in 1956...
- Jews as a chosen peopleJews as a chosen peopleIn Judaism, "chosenness" is the belief that the Jews are the Chosen People, chosen to be in a covenant with God. This idea is first found in the Torah and is elaborated on in later books of the Hebrew Bible...