Bible Dictionary: Lampstand

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LAMP; LAMPSTAND

lamp'-stand (nir, ner, lappidh, Phoenician lampadh, whence lampas; luchnos is also used): Ner or nir is properly "light" or "a light-giving thing," hence, "lamp," and is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American), but often "candle" in the King James Version. Its use in connection with the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus 25:37 2 Chronicles 4:20 f), where oil was employed for light (Exodus 35:14 Leviticus 24:2), shows that this is its proper meaning. Lappidh is properly "a torch" and is thus rendered generally in the Revised Version (British and American), but "lamp" in Isaiah 62:1, where it is used as a simile. the King James Version renders it "lamp" usually, but "torch" in Nahum 2:3; Zechariah 12:6. In Job 12:5 the Revised Version (British and American) renders it "for misfortune," regarding it as composed of the noun pidh, and the preposition l-. Lampas in Greek corresponds to it, but luchnos is also rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) "lamp," while the King James Version gives "candle," as in Matthew 5:15 and corresponding passages in the other Gospels.

1. Forms and History:

Lamps were in use in very remote times, though we have few allusions to them in the early history of Egypt. There are indications that they were used there. Niches for lamps are found in the tombs of Tell el-Amarna (Archaeological Survey of Egypt, Tell el-Amarna Letters, Part IV, 14). Lampstands are also represented (ibid., Part III, 7). Torches were of course used before lamps, and are mentioned in Genesis (15:17 the Revised Version (British and American)), but clay lamps were used in Canaan by the Amorites before the Israelites took possession. The excavations in Palestine have furnished thousands of specimens, and have enabled us to trace the development from about 2000 B.C. onward. The exploration carried out at Lachish (Tell Hesy) and Gezer (Tell Jezer) by the Palestine Exploration Fund has given ample material for the purpose, and the numerous examples from tombs all over Palestine and Syria have supplied a great variety of forms.

2. Figurative Use:

"Lamp" is used in the sense of a guide in Psalm 119:105 Proverbs 6:23, and for the spirit, which is called the lamp of Yahweh in man (Proverbs 20:27), and it of course often signifies the light itself. It is used also for the son who is to succeed and represent his father (1 Kings 15:4), and it perhaps is employed in this sense in the phrase, "The lamp of the wicked shall be put out" (Job 21:17 Proverbs 13:9; and perhaps Job 18:6).

The early Canaanite or Amorite lamp was a shallow, saucer-like bowl with rounded bottom and vertical rim, slightly pointed or pinched on one side where the lighted end of the wick was placed. This form continued into Jewish times, but was gradually changed until the spout was formed by drawing the rim of the sides together, forming a narrow open channel, the remainder of the rim being rolled outward and flattened, the bottom being also flattened. This was the early Hebrew pattern and persisted for centuries. The open bowl was gradually closed in, first at the spout, where the rim of one side was lapped over the other, and finally the whole surface was closed with only an orifice in the center for receiving the oil, and at the same time the spout was lengthened. This transformation is seen in lamps of the Seleucid period, or from around 300 B.C. These lamps have usually a circular foot and sometimes a string-hole on one side. The next development was a circular bowl with a somewhat shorter spout, sometimes being only a bulge in the rim, so that the orifice for the wick falls in the rim, the orifice for filling being quite small at the bottom of a saucer-like depression in the center of the bowl. There is sometimes a loop handle affixed on the side opposite to the spout. Sometimes the handle is horizontal, but commonly vertical. This form is called Roman, and the bowl is often ornamented with mythological human or animal figures (Fig. 5). Other forms are elongated, having numerous wick holes (Fig. 6). The mythological and animal forms were rejected by the Jews as contrary to their traditions, and they made lamps with various other designs on the bowl, such as vine leaves, cups, scrolls, etc. (Figs. 7-11). One very marked Jewish design is the seven-branched candlestick (Exodus 25:32) of the temple (Fig. 12). The lamps of the parable of the Ten Virgins were probably similar to these (Matthew 25:1). The latest form of the clay lamp was what is called Byzantine, the bowl of which has a large orifice in the center and tapers gradually to the spout (Fig. 13); they are ornamented commonly with a palm branch between the central orifice and the wickhole, or with a cross. Sometimes there is an inscription on the margin (Fig. 13). The words on this read Phos ku(riou) pheni pasin kale,"The light of the Lord shines to all (beautifully?)." Others read, "The Lord is my light"; "beautiful light," etc. These inscriptions determine the period as being Christian. In Roman times, and earlier also, bronze was much used for the finer lamps, often with covers for the orifice and sometimes with chain and ring for hanging. Very elaborate designs in this material occur.

These terra-cotta lamps are found in the tombs and burial places throughout Palestine and Syria, and they were evidently deposited there in connection with the funeral rites. Very few are found in Canaanite tombs, but they become numerous in later times and especially in the early Christian centuries. The symbolism in their use for funeral purposes is indicated by the inscriptions above mentioned (see PEFS, 1904, 326;; Explorations in Palestine, by Bliss. Maclister and Wunsch, 4to, published by the Palestine Exploration Fund). These lamps were used by the peasants of the country down to recent times, when petroleum has superseded olive oil for lighting. The writer has seen lamps of the Jewish and Roman period with surface blackened with recent usage. Olive oil was commonly used, but terebinth oil also (Thomson, LB, III, 472).

H. Poster

Greek

3087. luchnia -- a lampstand
... a lampstand. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: luchnia Phonetic Spelling:
(lookh-nee'-ah) Short Definition: a lamp-stand Definition: a lamp-stand. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3087.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4501. menorah -- a lampstand
... 4500, 4501. menorah or menorah. 4502 . a lampstand. Transliteration: menorah
or menorah Phonetic Spelling: (men-o-raw') Short Definition: lampstand. ...
/hebrew/4501.htm - 6k

5043. nebrashta -- the candlestick
... 5042, 5043. nebrashta. 5044 . the candlestick. Transliteration: nebrashta
Phonetic Spelling: (neb-reh-shaw') Short Definition: lampstand. ...
/hebrew/5043.htm - 6k

Library

The Golden Lampstand
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND. ... I have to deal now with the meaning
and lessons of this golden lampstand, and it teaches us". ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the golden lampstand.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... Three articles stand in it: the table for the so- called shew-bread, the
great lampstand, and the golden altar of incense. Of these ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

Lamps and Bushels
... slightly, but sufficiently to admit of a flat vessel being put under it without
danger, if for any reason it were desired to shade the light; and one lampstand ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/lamps and bushels.htm

The Altar of Incense
... There are three pieces of ecclesiastical furniture in it: an altar in the centre,
flanked on either side by a great lampstand, and a table on which were piled ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the altar of incense.htm

Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses.
... Of branches woven with the central stem,. A lampstand, and as many [1588] lamps: ...
[1591] And thus. 170 The Lampstand True and living Lamps do shine. ...
/.../book iv of marcions antitheses.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... 'THE LOVE OF THINE ESPOUSALS'. THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE. THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND.
THE NAMES ON AARON'S BREASTPLATE. THREE INSCRIPTIONS WITH ONE MEANING. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/

Numbers
... This quasi-historical interlude is again followed by a few sections of a more legal
nature"instructions for fixing the lamps upon the lampstand, viii.1-4 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

Zechariah
... In the fifth vision (iv.)[1] the prophet sees a lampstand with seven lamps and an
olive tree on either side, the trees representing the two anointed leaders ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/zechariah.htm

Contents
... THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE (Exodus 25:30). THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND (Exodus
25:31). THE NAMES ON AARON'S BREASTPLATE (Exodus 28:12,29). ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/contents 2.htm

The Salt and the Light of the World.
... homelier, the more individual and personally applicable figure of the lamp: 'Neither
do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and it ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/the salt and the light.htm

Thesaurus

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia LAMP; LAMPSTAND. lamp'-stand ... 472). H. Poster.
Multi-Version Concordance Lampstand (38 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/l/lampstand.htm - 24k

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand
of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the lampstand be ...
/b/blossoms.htm - 11k

Cups (28 Occurrences)
... (BBE DBY YLT). Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. Of
hammered work shall the lampstand be made, even its base ...
/c/cups.htm - 15k

Buds (20 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. Of ... (WEB BBE
NIV). Exodus 37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. He ...
/b/buds.htm - 12k

Bulbs (6 Occurrences)
... Bulbs (6 Occurrences). Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. ...
(See NAS). Exodus 37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. ...
/b/bulbs.htm - 7k

Capitals (21 Occurrences)
... Capitals (21 Occurrences). Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. ...
(WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Exodus 37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. ...
/c/capitals.htm - 13k

Flowers (42 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. ... Exodus 37:17 He made the
lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of beaten work. ...
/f/flowers.htm - 22k

Flower (33 Occurrences)
... and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud
and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand; (WEB KJV ...
/f/flower.htm - 18k

Lamps (45 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:14 the lampstand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and
the oil for the light; (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/lamps.htm - 19k

Bud (23 Occurrences)
... and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud
and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand; (WEB BBE NIV ...
/b/bud.htm - 14k

Bible Concordance

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:15 Nor is a lamp lighted to be put under a bushel, but on the lampstand; and then it gives light to all in the house.
(WEY NAS)

Mark 4:21 He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?
(WEY NAS)

Luke 8:16 "When any one lights a lamp, he does not cover it with a vessel or hide it under a couch; he puts it on a lampstand, that people who enter the room may see the light.
(WEY NAS)

Luke 11:33 "When any one lights a lamp, he never puts it in the cellar or under the bushel, but on the lampstand, that people who come in may see the light.
(WEY NAS)

Hebrews 9:2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:31 "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the lampstand be made, even its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:32 There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:34 and in the lampstand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:35 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the lampstand.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:36 Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
(See NIV)

Exodus 25:39 It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories.
(See NIV)

Exodus 26:35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and you shall put the table on the north side.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 30:27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 31:8 the table and its vessels, the pure lampstand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 35:14 the lampstand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:17 He made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were of one piece with it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:18 There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side:
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:19 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:20 In the lampstand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:21 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 37:22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold.
(See NIV)

Exodus 39:37 the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 40:4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 40:24 He put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 24:4 He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before Yahweh continually.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 3:31 Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:9 "They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 8:2 "Speak to Aaron, and tell him,'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.'"
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 8:3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 8:4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 4:10 Let us make, I pray thee, a small upper chamber with walls, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lampstand; and it shall be when he cometh to us, he shall turn in thither.
(DBY NAS)

1 Chronicles 28:15 by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, silver by weight for every lampstand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lampstand;
(Root in WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 13:11 and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense: the show bread also set they in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening: for we keep the instruction of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken him.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 5:5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 4:2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 4:11 Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?"
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Lampstand

Related Terms

Blossoms (16 Occurrences)

Cups (28 Occurrences)

Buds (20 Occurrences)

Bulbs (6 Occurrences)

Capitals (21 Occurrences)

Flowers (42 Occurrences)

Flower (33 Occurrences)

Lamps (45 Occurrences)