A small clay container filled with oil and a wick used as a source of light.
About Lamp
Israelite lamps developed from those in general use among the Canaanites in the second millennium BC. Their shape was similar to a shell or saucer with a lip. Lamps of stone, metal, and shells were used, although the majority were made of pottery. A multitude of clay lamps, fashioned in a variety of designs, have been excavated in Palestine.
The clay bowl was fashioned first, and the rim was folded over to help contain the oil. A spout was pinched in place at one end, into which the wick would be placed. When the clay had dried, the lamp would be fired to a dull brown shade. Gradually a style with an increasingly sharply pinched lip was developed. The wick was generally made of flax (Is 42:3, kjv), although an old piece of linen cloth was sometimes used. Salt could be added to the wick for a brighter flame, and frequently extra wicks were used. This led to the development of multispouted lamps like those found at Tell Dotha from 1200 BC.
Key References
Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
the 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;
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.
All Scripture References (50)
Exodus (9)
Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
And 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 lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;
He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.
the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;
Then bring in the table and set out its arrangement; bring in the lampstand as well, and set up its lamps.
and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Leviticus (2)
“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
He shall tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.
Numbers (3)
They 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.
“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.
1 Samuel (1)
Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.
2 Samuel (2)
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”
For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.
1 Kings (3)
the 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;
I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong.
2 Kings (1)
Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.
1 Chronicles (1)
the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
2 Chronicles (5)
the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;
the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold;
Every 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.
Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.
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.
Job (3)
The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out.
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
Psalms (3)
For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.
Proverbs (7)
For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
Jeremiah (1)
Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
Zephaniah (1)
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
Zechariah (1)
“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
Matthew (6)
A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
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.
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.’
Acts (1)
Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.