In biblical times, the wick was an essential component of lamps, which were a primary source of light in households and places of worship. The wick, typically made from flax or other fibrous materials, drew oil from the lamp's reservoir to sustain a flame. This simple yet vital element is mentioned in various contexts throughout Scripture, often symbolizing light, guidance, and the presence of God.

Symbolism and Usage in Scripture

The wick, though not frequently mentioned explicitly, is integral to the imagery of lamps and light in the Bible. In the ancient Near East, lamps were indispensable for daily life, and their light was often associated with knowledge, purity, and divine revelation. The maintenance of a lamp's wick was crucial, as a poorly trimmed wick could cause the lamp to smoke or extinguish.

In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the importance of maintaining one's lamp is underscored. The wise virgins took oil in jars along with their lamps, ensuring their wicks would remain lit when the bridegroom arrived. This parable emphasizes the necessity of spiritual preparedness and vigilance.

Isaiah 42:3, quoted in Matthew 12:20, uses the imagery of a wick to convey God's compassion and justice: "A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." Here, the smoldering wick represents those who are weak or faltering, and God's promise not to extinguish it highlights His mercy and patience.

Theological Implications

The wick's role in sustaining light serves as a metaphor for the believer's responsibility to maintain their spiritual life. Just as a wick must be trimmed and supplied with oil to burn brightly, Christians are called to nurture their faith through prayer, study of Scripture, and fellowship with other believers. The light of a well-tended lamp symbolizes the believer's witness to the world, reflecting the light of Christ.

In Revelation 1:12-13, the apostle John describes a vision of seven golden lampstands, among which stands "One like the Son of Man." These lampstands, representing the seven churches, are a reminder of the church's mission to be a light in a dark world. The wick, though not mentioned, is implicit in the function of these lampstands, underscoring the need for the church to remain steadfast and faithful.

Practical Considerations

In biblical times, the care of a lamp's wick was a daily task, requiring attention and diligence. The process of trimming the wick involved removing the charred portion to prevent smoke and ensure a clear, steady flame. This practice serves as an analogy for the believer's need to remove sin and distractions from their life to maintain a vibrant relationship with God.

The wick, though a small and often overlooked component, plays a crucial role in the biblical narrative of light and illumination. Its presence in Scripture invites reflection on the believer's call to be a light in the world, sustained by the oil of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God.1. (n.) Alt. of Wich.

2. (n.) A bundle of fibers, or a loosely twisted or braided cord, tape, or tube, usually made of soft spun cotton threads, which by capillary attraction draws up a steady supply of the oil in lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for illumination, in small successive portions, to be burned.

3. (v. i.) To strike a stone in an oblique direction.

2985. lampas -- a torch
... lamp, lantern. 2985 -- a hand-held "torch" (sometimes merely a clay vessel);
a that uses a wick saturated with oil. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2985.htm - 6k

3043. linon -- flax, linen
... Definition: flax, linen. Word Origin a prim. word Definition flax, linen
NASB Word Usage linen (1), wick (1). linen. Probably a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3043.htm - 6k

2885. kosmeo -- to order, arrange
... adorn, garnish, trim. From kosmos; to put in proper order, ie Decorate (literally
or figuratively); specially, to snuff (a wick) -- adorn, garnish, trim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2885.htm - 7k

6594. pishtah -- flax
... Word Origin from the same as pesheth Definition flax NASB Word Usage flax (2), wick
(2). ... Feminine of pishteh; flax; by implication, a wick -- flax, tow. ...
/hebrew/6594.htm - 6k

A Burning and Shining Lamp.
... There is a great distinction between shining and burning: shining is the light-giving,
the illuminating, that comes forth from the enkindled wick; but it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xiii a burning and shining.htm

Oil for Lamps. Matthew xxv. 1-13.
... Our Bibles, our Prayers, our Hymns, all these are channels of grace, as the lamp
and the wick are essential to the flame, but the lamp may not be lighted, or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxvi oil for lamps matthew.htm

The Mystery of the vision of Zechariah.
... by the Lord of the whole earth," signifying the two first-born virtues that are
waiting upon God, which, in His dwelling, supply around the wick, through the ...
/.../chapter vi the mystery of the.htm

Christ the Arrester of Incipient Evil and the Nourisher of ...
... 'Smoking flax,' on the other hand"by which, of course, is meant flax used
as a wick in an old-fashioned oil lamp"is partially lit. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/christ the arrester of incipient.htm

Treats of the Same Subject: Explains, by Some Delicately Drawn ...
... Union may be symbolized by two wax candles, the tips of which touch each other so
closely that there is but one light; or again, the wick, the wax, and the ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ii treats of the.htm

Dying Lamps
... fault, and so the light went out, and they were startled, when they awoke from their
slumber, to see how, instead of brilliant flame, there was smoking wick. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/dying lamps.htm

His General Character as a Theologian.
... But as when the flame has got hold of a wick one cannot dim its light by means of
the flame itself, but only by mixing water with the oil in the wick, so the ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter ii his general character as.htm

A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
... Man's like a candle in a candlestick, Made up of tallow and a little wick; And as
the candle when it is not lighted, So is he who is in his sins benighted. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a book for boys and.htm

Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down ...
... on Mount Sinai, the Mishnah proceeds, in the second chapter of the tractate on the
Sabbath, to discuss the substances of which respectively the wick and the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvii the ordinances and.htm

Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week-On the Mount of Olives ...
... occurs as Lampad and Lampadas. [5523] The lamp consisted of a round receptacle
for pitch or oil for the wick. This was placed in a ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii evening of the.htm

Wick (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wick (10 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). Isaiah 42:3 He
won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a dimly burning wick. ...
/w/wick.htm - 9k

Lamp (45 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a vessel
with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the ...
/l/lamp.htm - 28k

Flax (11 Occurrences)
... "A dimly burning wick will he not quench" (Isaiah 42:3); "They are quenched
as a wick" (Isaiah 43:17). The thought is perhaps of ...
/f/flax.htm - 13k

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

Wicked (476 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Having a wick; -- used chiefly in
composition; as, a two-wicked lamp. 2. (a.) Evil in principle ...
/w/wicked.htm - 37k

Quench (14 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 42:3 He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a dimly burning wick.
He will faithfully bring justice. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/q/quench.htm - 12k

Quenched (22 Occurrences)
... the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they
shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick): (WEB KJV JPS ...
/q/quenched.htm - 14k

Utterly (170 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still
smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory. (WEY). ...
/u/utterly.htm - 39k

Led (260 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:20 A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still
smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory. (WEY). ...
/l/led.htm - 36k

Waster (7 Occurrences)
... spendthrift; a prodigal. 2. (n.) An imperfection in the wick of a candle,
causing it to waste; -- called also a thief. 3. (n.) A ...
/w/waster.htm - 8k

What does it mean that “the smoking flax He will not quench” in Matthew 12:20? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that “a bruised reed He will not break” in Matthew 12:20? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins? | GotQuestions.org

Wick: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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