Lamp to My Feet and a Light to My Path

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ‭Psalms 119:105

In all my years as a believer reading and hearing this verse, I had understood this verse to basically be saying the same thing twice for emphasis. However, just recently, I came to a completely different understanding. The 2 phrases that make up this verse are entirely different. When we look back at the original Greek text, we can see that even the Greek words for lamp and light are different.

Lamp – נִיר
Transliteration: ner

Light – אוֹר
Transliteration: or

That being said, one of the listed synonyms for lamp was beacon. While as seen in the definition, another word for light is candle.

So, you have a beacon and a candle. While the candle lights a small area in its immediate vicinity, a beacon’s light can be seen for miles.

This is where my “interpretation” comes in.

Back to the verse –

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

So this is how I have come to understand this.
His word is a  beacon that lights the way and shows us where we are going. It illuminates our destination. Yet, at the same time, it is the light that shines guiding each step that we take along the path as we journey towards that destination.

Jesus himself said it best,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

When we follow Him, whether it is the light guiding us step by step or the lamp that shows us where we are going, we will never agian have to wonder around in the darkness. The destination we are all moving towards is life eternal with Him and The Father. I don’t think it gets any better than that.

So my friends, wherever you are in this journey called life, I urge you to turn to The Light, who is also The Word, and allow His Light to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.