An illumination device (1) for backlighting a display is disclosed. The illumination device comprises: at least one semiconductor body (3), suitable for generating electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength range, a first wavelength conversion substance (30), which is disposed downstream of the radiation-emitting front side (6) of the semiconductor body (3) in the emission direction (8) thereof and is suitable for converting radiation of the first wavelength range into radiation of a second wavelength range, which is different from the first wavelength range, and a second wavelength conversion substance (31), which is disposed downstream of the radiation-emitting front side (6) of the semiconductor body (3) in the emission direction (8) thereof and is suitable for converting radiation of the first wavelength range into radiation of a third wavelength range, which is different from the first and second wavelength ranges. A display comprising such an illumination device (1) is furthermore described.