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Lamps in the Bible

28 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.

In the tabernacle and temple

  • A lampstand of hammered gold, six branches with almond-blossom cupsExod 25:31–36
    The verses
    Exod 25:31–36Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. For the six branches that extend from the lampstand, a bud must be under the first pair of branches, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. The buds and branches are to be all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
  • Seven lamps, with gold wick trimmers and traysExod 25:37–38, Exod 37:23
    The verses
    Exod 25:37–38Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it. The wick trimmers and their trays must be of pure gold.
    Exod 37:23He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.
  • Made from a talent of pure goldExod 25:39, Exod 37:24
    The verses
    Exod 25:39The lampstand and all these utensils shall be made from a talent of pure gold.
    Exod 37:24He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.
  • Pure oil of pressed olives keeps the lamps burningExod 27:20, Lev 24:2
    The verses
    Exod 27:20And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
    Lev 24:2“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
  • Aaron tends the lamps from evening until morningExod 27:21, Lev 24:3–4
    The verses
    Exod 27:21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.
    Lev 24:3–4Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come. He shall tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.
  • Incense is burned when the lamps are tended, morning and twilightExod 30:7–8
    The verses
    Exod 30:7–8And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.
  • The lamps are set to light the area in front of the lampstandNum 8:2–3
    The verses
    Num 8:2–3“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’” And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps facing toward the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
  • The lampstand stands opposite the table, on the south sideExod 40:24–25
    The verses
    Exod 40:24–25He also placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
  • On the march it is covered with a blue clothNum 4:9
    The verses
    Num 4:9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.
  • Samuel lies down before the lamp of God goes out1 Sam 3:3
    The verses
    1 Sam 3:3Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.
  • Solomon makes ten gold lampstands, five on each side1 Kgs 7:49, 2 Chr 4:7
    The verses
    1 Kgs 7:49the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;
    2 Chr 4:7He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
  • The lamps of the gold lampstand are lit every evening2 Chr 13:11
    The verses
    2 Chr 13:11Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him.
  • Hezekiah: our fathers shut the temple porch and put out the lamps2 Chr 29:6–7
    The verses
    2 Chr 29:6–7For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel.
  • The Babylonians carry away the lampstandsJer 52:19
    The verses
    Jer 52:19The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.

At home

  • People set a lamp on a stand, not under a basket or a bedMatt 5:15, Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16, Luke 11:33
    The verses
    Matt 5:15Neither 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.
    Mark 4:21Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
    Luke 8:16No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
    Luke 11:33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
  • A woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house for a lost coinLuke 15:8
    The verses
    Luke 15:8Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
  • The capable wife’s lamp does not go out at nightProv 31:18
    The verses
    Prov 31:18She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
  • Writing appears on the palace wall near the lampstandDan 5:5
    The verses
    Dan 5:5At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,
  • Many lamps in the upper room at TroasActs 20:8
    The verses
    Acts 20:8Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
  • Ten virgins with lamps; five bring no extra oil (a parable)Matt 25:1–8
    The verses
    Matt 25:1–8“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

Sources

From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain