Topical Bible: Lamps

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In biblical times, lamps were essential household items used for lighting homes, streets, and places of worship. They are frequently mentioned throughout the Bible, symbolizing guidance, knowledge, and the presence of God.

Old Testament References

Lamps in the Old Testament were typically small, portable clay vessels filled with olive oil, with a wick made from flax or other fibers. The Hebrew word for lamp, "נֵר" (ner), appears in various contexts. In Exodus 25:37, God instructs Moses on the construction of the Tabernacle, including the golden lampstand (menorah): "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it." This lampstand was to be kept burning continually as a symbol of God's eternal presence among His people (Leviticus 24:2-4).

The lamp also serves as a metaphor for God's guidance and wisdom. Psalm 119:105 declares, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," illustrating how God's Word provides direction and clarity in life. Similarly, Proverbs 6:23 states, "For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, lamps continue to hold symbolic significance. Jesus uses the imagery of lamps in His teachings. In Matthew 5:14-16, He tells His followers, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Here, the lamp symbolizes the witness of believers, who are called to shine their light before others.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 further emphasizes the importance of being prepared and vigilant. The wise virgins take oil for their lamps, while the foolish ones do not. When the bridegroom arrives, only those with lit lamps are ready to enter the wedding feast, highlighting the necessity of spiritual readiness.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Lamps in the Bible often symbolize God's presence, guidance, and the believer's responsibility to reflect His light. The continuous burning of the lamp in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple signifies God's unending presence and faithfulness. In a broader sense, lamps represent the light of Christ in the world, as believers are called to be His witnesses, illuminating the darkness with truth and love.

The imagery of lamps also serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness. Just as the wise virgins kept their lamps ready, Christians are encouraged to remain steadfast in faith, always prepared for the return of Christ.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, lamps were a common household item, often made from clay or metal. They were simple in design, with a spout for the wick and a reservoir for oil. Olive oil was the most common fuel, valued for its availability and clean-burning properties. The design and use of lamps varied across regions and periods, but their fundamental purpose remained the same: to provide light in the darkness.

Understanding the cultural and historical context of lamps enhances the appreciation of their symbolic use in Scripture, where they convey profound spiritual truths about God's nature and the believer's role in the world.

Greek

2985. lampas -- a torch
... with oil. Word Origin from lampo Definition a torch NASB Word Usage lamps
(7), torch (1), torches (1). lamp, light, torch. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2985.htm - 6k

3088. luchnos -- a (portable) lamp
... a stand (). Word Origin a prim. word Definition a (portable) lamp NASB
Word Usage lamp (13), lamps (1). candle, light. From the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3088.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5216. ner -- a lamp
ner or ner. 5215b, 5216. ner or ner. 5217 . a lamp. Transliteration: ner
or ner Phonetic Spelling: (neer) Short Definition: lamps. ...
/hebrew/5216.htm - 6k

Library

Dying Lamps
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII DYING LAMPS. 'Our lamps are gone out.'"Matthew
25:8. ... They woke from their sleep, and hastily trimmed their lamps. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/dying lamps.htm

The Light and the Lamps
... THE LIGHT AND THE LAMPS. 'He was not that Light, but was sent to bear
witness of that Light.'"John 1:8. 'He was a burning and a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the light and the lamps.htm

Lamps and Bushels
... LAMPS AND BUSHELS. 'And Jesus said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under
a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?'"Mark 4:21. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/lamps and bushels.htm

What the Oil in the Lamps Means.
... Discourse VI."Agathe. Chapter IV."What the Oil in the Lamps Means. Now
they offered, in Leviticus, [2668] oil of this kind, "pure ...
/.../chapter iv what the oil in.htm

Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps
... V. HYMN FOR THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS. Blest Lord, Creator of the glowing
light, At Whose behest the hours successive move, The sun ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/v hymn for the lighting.htm

Oil for Lamps. Matthew xxv. 1-13.
... XXVI. OIL FOR LAMPS. MATTHEW xxv. 1-13. God's kingdom ... I.--- A Light is better
than a Lamp. All the ten took their lamps. Very likely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxvi oil for lamps matthew.htm

Like Silver Lamps in a Distant Shrine
... VII. CAROLS Carols 548. Like silver lamps in a distant shrine. PM ... William C. Dix,
1867. Like silver lamps in a distant shrine,. The stars are sparkling bright; ...
/.../carols 548 like silver lamps.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 35, "Let Your Loins be ...
... Sermon LVIII. On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 35, "Let your loins be girded
about, and your lamps burning; and be ye yourselves like," etc. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lviii on the words.htm

The Foolish virgins.
... of the East it is the custom for a man when he is married to bring home his bride
at night, and for his relatives and friends to go out with lamps and torches ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the foolish virgins.htm

Conclusion of Our Lord's Discourse. Parables of virgins and ...
... by two parables] shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten [probably the usual
number on such occasions] virgins, who took their lamps [small earthenware ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxv conclusion of our lords.htm

Thesaurus

Lamps (45 Occurrences)
...Lamps (45 Occurrences). Matthew 25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten
virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. ...
/l/lamps.htm - 19k

Lampstands (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:49 and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before
the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs ...
/l/lampstands.htm - 9k

Candlesticks (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:49 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five
on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs ...
/c/candlesticks.htm - 10k

Lampstand (38 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
/l/lampstand.htm - 24k

Snuffers (8 Occurrences)
... compare 2 Chronicles 4:22), the connection between the two utensils being indicated
by the fact that both are said to belong to the seven lamps, and were to be ...
/s/snuffers.htm - 11k

Snuffdishes (3 Occurrences)
... compare 2 Chronicles 4:22), the connection between the two utensils being indicated
by the fact that both are said to belong to the seven lamps, and were to be ...
/s/snuffdishes.htm - 9k

Lamp (45 Occurrences)
... (RV, "torches."). (3.) Domestic lamps (AV, "candles") were in common use among
the Hebrews (Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21, etc.). (4.) Lamps...
/l/lamp.htm - 28k

Lamp-stand (17 Occurrences)
... DBY). Exodus 35:14 and the lamp-stand for the light, and its utensils,
and its lamps, and the oil for the light; (DBY). Zechariah ...
/l/lamp-stand.htm - 11k

Tongs (6 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS WBS). Exodus 37:23 And he made the lamps thereof, seven, and the snuffers
thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, of pure gold. (See JPS). ...
/t/tongs.htm - 9k

Arrangement (18 Occurrences)
... Exodus 39:37 the pure candlestick, its lamps, the lamps of arrangement,
and all its vessels, and the oil for the light. (YLT NAS). ...
/a/arrangement.htm - 13k

Resources

What did the Law mean when it referred to a lasting ordinance? | GotQuestions.org

Will there be a partial rapture? | GotQuestions.org

What was olive oil a symbol of in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Lamps (45 Occurrences)

Matthew 25:1
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 25:3
Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 25:4
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 25:7
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 25:8
The foolish said to the wise,'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:35
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 18:3
So Judas, followed by the battalion and by a detachment of the Temple police sent by the High Priests and Pharisees, came there with torches and lamps and weapons.
(WEY YLT)

Acts 20:8
Now there were a good many lamps in the room upstairs where we all were,
(WEY YLT NAS NIV)

Revelation 1:12
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.
(Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 1:13
And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.
(Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 1:20
the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies.
(Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 2:1
"To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:
(Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 4:5
Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Revelation 11:4
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth.
(Root in WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:6
oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
(See RSV)

Exodus 25:37
You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 27:20
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.
(See NIV)

Exodus 27:21
In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
(See NIV)

Exodus 30:7
Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 30:8
When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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)

Exodus 37:23
He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, of pure gold.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV 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,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT 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.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 40:25
He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 24:2
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Leviticus 24:3
Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.
(See NIV)

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

Judges 7:16
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Judges 7:20
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
(KJV WBS YLT)

1 Kings 7:49
and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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 KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:20
and the lampstands with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:21
and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT 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.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:7
Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 41:19
Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 21:5
They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.
(See JPS)

Jeremiah 25:10
And I have destroyed from them the voice of rejoicing, and the voice of joy, voice of bridegroom and voice of bride, noise of millstones, and the light of lamps.
(YLT)

Daniel 10:6
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Zephaniah 1:12
It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, "Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil."
(WEB JPS ASV DBY 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;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Lamps

Lamps of a Succession of Heirs

Lamps of Glory of the Cherubim

Lamps of God's Guidance

Lamps of Graces of the Holy Spirit

Lamps of Ministers

Lamps of Omniscience of Christ

Lamps of Salvation of God

Lamps of Severe Judgments

Lamps of Spirit of Man

Lamps of the Word of God