An illumination device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight, wherein the illumination device (10) comprises:



a light source (50) for irradiating a light beam in a first direction of radiation (X1),
a first deflection device (100) configured to deflect the light beam in a second direction of radiation (X2), and
a second deflection device (200) for deflecting the light beam deflected by the first deflection device (100) in a third direction of radiation (X3) and for producing a light distribution in front of the illumination device (10), wherein

the illumination device comprises at least one expanding optic (300) with a focus (F1), wherein said expanding optic (300) is associated with the at least one light source (50) and is configured to expand the light beam emitted by the light source (50) in the direction of the first direction of radiation (X1), wherein the at least one light source (50) is arranged in the direction of the first direction of radiation (X1) between the at least one expanding optic (300) and the focus (F1) of the expanding optic (300).