Luceat lux vestra
“Let your light shine.”
Vulgate Bible, Matthew 5:16
What does “Luceat lux vestra” mean?
Luceat lux vestra translates as “Let your light shine.”
Show your good qualities and do good openly, so others can see and be inspired.
“Luceat lux vestra” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Luceat | let it shine | third person singular present subjunctive of luceo, “to shine”; here a command or wish (jussive subjunctive): “let it shine” |
| lux | light | nominative singular feminine of lux, “light”; the subject of the verb |
| vestra | your | nominative singular feminine of vester, “your”, agreeing with lux; “your” in the plural, meaning several people |
How to pronounce “Luceat lux vestra”
The difference is in the c and the v: Classical has a hard k in Luceat and a w in vestra, while Church Latin has ch and v. The stress is on the first syllable of luceat and vestra, and lux is a single syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “let shine the light of you (all)”, in English “let your light shine”. It is part of a longer verse in the Latin Vulgate, the Bible translation made largely by Jerome in the late 4th century.
The words come from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:16. In the full verse, Jesus tells his listeners to let their light shine before others so that they may see their good works and glorify the Father in heaven.
Because the phrase is short and encouraging, many schools, colleges and charities have adopted it as a motto, and it appears on crests, banners and graduation programmes.
How to use “Luceat lux vestra”
It suits a school or club motto, a graduation or encouragement card, a speech about showing kindness openly, or a tattoo for someone who wants a hopeful, faith-rooted line. In its original setting it has a religious meaning, so consider that if you want a purely secular message.
- Latin
- Luceat lux vestra
- English
- Let your light shine.
- Source
- Vulgate Bible, Matthew 5:16
- Era
- Late Antiquity
- Theme
- Light
Common mistakes
- The plural vestra is correct in the Bible because Jesus addresses a crowd. For one person the Latin would be lux tua, and the verb stays the same.
- It is a wish or command, not a statement. Lucet lux vestra would mean “your light shines”, which is a different sentence.
- The line is only the start of Matthew 5:16. Without the rest of the verse, it can lose its original point, which is that good deeds should lead others to praise God rather than the doer.
Questions about “Luceat lux vestra”
What does “Luceat lux vestra” mean literally?
“Let your light shine.” Luceat is a third person subjunctive used as a command, lux is “light” and vestra is “your”, in the plural.
Where does “Luceat lux vestra” come from?
It comes from the Vulgate Latin Bible, Matthew 5:16, in the Sermon on the Mount. The Vulgate was translated mainly by Jerome in the late 4th century.
How do you pronounce “Luceat lux vestra”?
In Classical Latin it is LOO-keh-aht looks WEHS-trah. In Church Latin it is LOO-cheh-aht looks VEHS-trah.
Is “Luceat lux vestra” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is the Vulgate wording and grammatically correct. Vestra is plural, so for a tattoo about yourself alone, “Luceat lux tua” would be the singular form.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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