light of world

Jesus declares 'I am the light of the world' (John 8:12); the Quran names Allah as An-Nur (The Light); the Buddha's dharma is expressed as radiant illumination. Light is humanity's universal metaphor for the transcendent source.

Hebrew shekinah (divine presence/glory) and the 'light of the world' image are functional cognates — the Shekinah manifests as radiant light, and Jesus' claim to be the light of the world echoes the Shekinah language.

English 'light,' Sanskrit deva (shining one), Latin lux, Greek leukos — all derive from PIE *lewk- (to shine). The universal metaphor of divine radiance as spiritual illumination rests on this shared root linking light, fire, and deity.