This page looks at candles and candle power in the Bible and elsewhere.

Here is a candlestick of 7 candles. What is it called?

Here is a candlestick of 9 candles. What is it called? How does it differ from the previous candlestick? What is the significance?

This is one candle.

• The Latin word "candela" ≈ "light, torch" and made from tallow or wax.

Note: The use of candles on birthday cakes appears to be a German custom.

The word "candle" can refer to the object or to the light emitted by the object.

The Latin word "lucernam" ≈ "lights" and is the basis of the name "Lucifer" as in "carrying light", but that is a story for another time.

The Latin word "candlelabrum" ≈ "candlelabrum" as used in English today.

Note: Wycliffe uses "lanterne" for the light which comes from Old French which comes from Latin which comes partly from a corruption of the Ancient Greek "λαμπτήρ" (lam-PTEER) ≈ "torch" which tends to get translated in the KJV (King James Version) as "candle".

The "proud" heart in the Greek LXX (Septuagint) is the modern Greek word "ύβρις" (EE-vrees) ≈ "hubris, insolence" from which comes the English word "hubris".

The Middle English word "alargyng" ≈ "enlarging" as in the "enlarging of the heart".

It is not clear how the KJV got "plowing". The "plowing" in the KJV appears to be "work" of the wicked, as in "plowing" or "tilling", is sin.

The Hebrew word "נר" (nur) ≈ "lamp" which, today, in addition, is a word for "candle"

The Hebrew word "לניר" ≈ "plow, furrow".

It appears that there were more than one way to interpret the Hebrew due to missing vowels, etc.

The seven candlesticks are an important part of Revelation.

Candles were common in Rome but not in Greece or Semitic countries.

• The modern Greek word "κηρός" (kee-ROS) ≈ "wax". It is found in the Bible, but not in regards to candles.
• The modern Greek word "κερί" (keh-REE) ≈ "wax, candle".

In Greece and other Semitic countries, oil lamps were common, not candles.

• The modern Greek word "λάμπα" (LAM-pa) ≈ "lamp" from which we get the English word "lamp".
• The modern Greek word "λυχνία" (leekh-NEE-a) ≈ "lamp, valve".
• The modern Greek word "φανός" (fa-NOS) ≈ "lamp, light, lantern".
• The modern Greek word "λίχνος" (LEEKH-nos) ≈ "lamp, small lamp".

Note: Candles do not work as well in very warm climates.

The word candle power is used to describe how much light is generated.

A "lumen" (symbol lm), is a measure of light. The term is from the Latin word "lumen" ≈ "light, opening".

In measurement terms, one "lux" is 1 "lumen" per square meter.

So instead of the "candlesticks" with candles, a more accurate depiction is to use oil lamps rather than candles.

So instead of a candle, there is a "vessels" holding oil as part of an "oil lamp".

The modern Greek word "αγγείο" (agh-EE-o) ≈ "vessel, pot, urn, vase" - especially in the ancient sense. The anatomical term in modern usage is that of a blood vessel.

The modern Greek word "αγγειοπλαστική" (agh-ee-o-pla-stee-KEE) ≈ "pottery, ceramics, angioplasty" which is the source of the English medical term "angioplasty".

The "oil" in ancient times was not the crude oil as petroleum of today, but olive oil.

The English word "oil" comes through French from the Latin word "oleum" ≈ "olive oil" which comes from the modern Greek word "έλαιον" (EH-leh-on) ≈ "olive oil".

Note that in the verse above, the KJV translates the Greek "olive oil" as just "oil". In English, "oil" meant olive oil until about the 13c., then it became any fatty substance (e.g., whale oil, etc.). The word petroleum did not become common until the 19c.

Sometimes you feel like your are one of them. Sometimes the other. The idea is that what goes around comes around. One should consider both sides.

But what about the 7 versus the 9 branch candlesticks?

• The 7 branch candlestick is the Jewish Menorah for the temple as described in Leviticus. For more on the 7 branch candlestick, see Design of the 7 branch candlestick



• The 9 branch candlestick is the Jewish Menorah for the rededication of the Temple, called Hanukkah or Chanukah. For more on the 9 branch candlestick, see Hanukkah and the 9 candles.

One time, I attended a Baptist Church for the first time. The topic had to do with candles and the pastor used a series of verses about candles to support his position.

Here is one of the verses he used, from Job, to support the points he wanted to make.


I forget the exact point he was making, but I immediately looked up the verse. At the beginning of the chapter was the following verse.

Bildad the Shuhite is one of the three friends of Job and detractors. It was not clear why he was using that verse from a detractor to support his position. Maybe he had not looked who was speaking, the context, etc.

One should always know the context of the verse one is using to support a Christian argument.

After the service, a few people welcomed me and mentioned with pride how their paster "preached from the Bible". I said something like, "Oh, that's nice".

On the lighter side, Bildad the Shuhite (i.e., "shoe height") is the "shortest" person in the Bible. He is much shorter than Nehemiah (i.e., "knee-high Miah").