Appendix:Gikun Usage in Meiji Version of Japanese Bible/光明

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Japanese[edit]

Kanji in this term
Grade: 2 Grade: 2
irregular

Etymology[edit]

Gikun word derived by applying Chinese-derived spelling 光明 (lights), a term which decomposes into (light) + (bright), to native Japanese word ひかり (hikari, lights).

Noun[edit]

光明 (ひかり)[1] (hikari) →  (ひかり) (hikari), 光明 (こうみょう)(kōmyō)

  1. lights (referring specifically to sun and moon)
※ Two kanji meaning "light" form this word which emphasizes the two forms of light God made to light the earth: the sun to shine during the day and the moon to reflect the sun's light during the night. This word would have normally been written as  (ひかり) (hikari). The addition of to the ordinary (light) to form 光明 (ひかり) was especially appropriate for translating Genesis 1:14 in that (sun) and (moon) are the specific lights referred to.

Quotations[edit]

  1. ^ OT, page 1:
     (かみ)(いひ)たまひけるは(てん)(おほ)(ぞら)光明(ひかり)ありて(ひる)(よる)とを(わか)(また)天象(しるし)のため時節(とき)のため()のため(とし)のために(なる)べし
    Kami ii tamaikeru wa ten no ōzora ni hikari arite hiru to yoru to wo wakachi mata shirushi no tame toki no tame hi no tame toshi no tame ni narubeshi
    And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years