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Oil lamps and candles
by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640


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

2. Candlesticks
Menorah - 7 branchHere is a candlestick of 7 candles. What is it called?

3. More candlesticks
Menorah - 9 branchHere is a candlestick of 9 candles. What is it called? How does it differ from the previous candlestick? What is the significance?

4. Candle
Candle
 
This is one candle.
How long, approximately, will a 3 inch candle burn?
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.

5. Matthew 5:15
Verse routeMatthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [kjv]
Verse routeουδε καιουσιν λυχνον και τιθεασιν αυτον υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν και λαμπει πασιν τοις εν τη οικια [gnt]
Verse routelucernamcandelabrum … [v]


6. Matthew 5:15
   Matthew 5:15 
 All 
KJV: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Greek: ουδε καιουσιν λυχνον και τιθεασιν αυτον υπο τον μοδιον αλλ επι την λυχνιαν και λαμπει πασιν τοις εν τη οικια
Latin: neque accendunt lucernam et ponunt eam sub modio sed super candelabrum ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt
Wessex: Ne hyo ne aleð heora leoht-faet. & hit under cype setteð. ac ofer candel-staef þaet hit onlihte eallen. þan þe on þam huse synde.
Wycliffe: ne me teendith not a lanterne, and puttith it vndur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyue liyt to alle that ben in the hous.
Tyndale: nether do men lyght a cadell and put it vnder a busshell but on a candelstick and it lighteth all that are in the house.

7. Latin
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.

8. Middle English
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.

9. Proverbs 21:4
Verse routeProverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. [kjv]
Verse routeμεγαλοφρων εφ υβρει θρασυκαρδιος λαμπτηρ δε ασεβων αμαρτια [lxx]


10. Proverbs 21:4
 All 
KJV: An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Hebrew: רום עינים ורחב לב נר רשעים חטאת׃
Greek: μεγαλοφρων εφ υβρει θρασυκαρδιος λαμπτηρ δε ασεβων αμαρτια
Latin: exaltatio oculorum et dilatatio cordis lucerna impiorum peccatum
Wycliffe: Enhaunsyng of iyen is alargyng of the herte; the lanterne of wickid men is synne.
Luther: Hoffärtige Augen und stolzer Mut und die Leuchte der Gottlosen ist Sünde.

11. Hebrew
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.

12. Proverbs 24:20
Verse routeProverbs 24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. [kjv]
Verse routeου γαρ μη γενηται εκγονα πονηρων λαμπτηρ δε ασεβων σβεσθησεται [lxx]


13. Proverbs 24:20
 All 
KJV: For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Hebrew: כי לא תהיה אחרית לרע נר רשעים ידעך׃
Greek: ου γαρ μη γενηται εκγονα πονηρων λαμπτηρ δε ασεβων σβεσθησεται
Latin: quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali et lucerna impiorum extinguetur
Wycliffe: For whi yuele men han not hope of thingis to comynge, and the lanterne of wickid men schal be quenchid.
Luther: denn der Böse hat nichts zu hoffen, und die Leuchte der Gottlosen wird verlöschen.

14. Revelation 1:20
Verse routeRevelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. [kjv]
Verse routeτο μυστηριον των επτα αστερων ους ειδες επι της δεξιας μου και τας επτα λυχνιας τας χρυσας οι επτα αστερες αγγελοι των επτα εκκλησιων εισιν και αι λυχνιαι ας ειδες αι επτα επτα εκκλησιαι εισιν [gnt]

The seven candlesticks are an important part of Revelation.

15. Revelation 1:20
 All 
KJV: The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Greek: το μυστηριον των επτα αστερων ων ους ειδες επι της δεξιας μου και τας επτα λυχνιας τας χρυσας οι επτα αστερες αγγελοι των επτα εκκλησιων εισιν και αι επτα λυχνιαι ας ειδεςαι επτα επτα εκκλησιαι εισιν
Latin: sacramentum septem stellarum quas vidisti in dextera mea et septem candelabra aurea septem stellae angeli sunt septem ecclesiarum et candelabra septem septem ecclesiae sunt
Wycliffe: The sacrament of the seuene sterris, which thou seiyest in my riyt hond, and the seuene goldun candelstikis; the seuene sterris ben aungels of the seuene chirchis, and the seuene candelstikis ben seuene chirchis.
Tyndale: and ye mystery of the vii. starres which thou sawest in my ryght honde and the vii. golden candelstyckes. The vii. stares are the messengers of the vii. congregacios: And the vii. candlestyckes which thou sawest are the vii. congregacions.
Luther: das Geheimnis der sieben Sterne, die du gesehen hast in meiner rechten Hand, und die sieben güldenen Leuchter. Die sieben Sterne sind Engel der sieben Gemeinden, und die sieben Leuchter, die du gesehen hast, sind sieben Gemeinden.

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

17. Lamps
In Greece and other Semitic countries, oil lamps were common, not candles. Note: Candles do not work as well in very warm climates.

18. Measurement
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.

19. Candlesticks
Menorah - 7 lampsSo instead of the "candlesticks" with candles, a more accurate depiction is to use oil lamps rather than candles.

20. Matthew 25:4
Verse routeMatthew 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. [kjv]
Verse routeαι δε φρονιμοι ελαβον ελαιον εν τοις αγγειοις μετα των λαμπαδων αυτων εαυτων [gnt]


21. Matthew 25:4
   Matthew 25:4 
 All 
KJV: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Greek: αι δε φρονιμοι ελαβον ελαιον εν τοις αγγειοιςαυτων μετα των λαμπαδων αυτωνεαυτων
Wessex: Ða gleawe namen ele on heora leoht-faten.
Wycliffe: but the prudent token oile in her vessels with the laumpis.
Tyndale: But ye wyse tooke oyle wt the in their vesselles wt their lampes also.
Luther: Die klugen aber nahmen Öl in ihren Gefäßen samt ihren Lampen.

22. Vessels
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".

23. Oil
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.

24. Early bird and the worm
Have you heard that "the early bird gets the worm"? From the other side, it might be said that "the early worm gets eaten by the bird".
The full saying is "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!".

That is, the first mouse gets eaten by the cat. A Biblical parody of this (source unknown) is "Blessed is the second mouse for he shall inherit the cheese."
Verse routeMatthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [kjv]

Information sign More: Matthew 7:3-23 A splitting feat of how the swine flew on pearls at a wide gait

25. The bug

A country music song by Mary-Chapin Carpenter called "The Bug" has a catchy tune and two contrasted lyrics.

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug ...

Sometimes you're the Louisville slugger, babe, sometimes you're the ball.
Sometimes it all comes together, babe, sometimes you're gonna lose it all.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hW_maN0eSs. (as of 2023-03-15)

Information sign More: Matthew 7:3-23 A splitting feat of how the swine flew on pearls at a wide gait
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.

Menorah - 9 lampsBut what about the 7 versus the 9 branch candlesticks?

26. Difference

27. Job 18:6
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.

Verse routeJob 18:6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. [kjv]
Verse routeτο φως αυτου σκοτος εν διαιτη ο δε λυχνος επ αυτω σβεσθησεται [lxx]

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.

28. Job 18:6
   Job 18:6 
 All 
KJV: The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
Hebrew: אור חשך באהלו ונרו עליו ידעך׃
Greek: το φως αυτου σκοτος εν διαιτη ο δε λυχνος επ αυτω σβεσθησεται
Latin: lux obtenebrescet in tabernaculo illius et lucerna quae super eum est extinguetur
Luther: Das Licht wird finster werden in seiner Hütte und seine Leuchte über ihm verlöschen.

29. Job 18:1
Verse routeJob 18:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, [kjv]
Verse routeυπολαβων δε βαλδαδ ο σαυχιτης λεγει [lxx]

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").

30. Job 18:1
   Job 18:1 
 All 
KJV: Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Hebrew: ויען בלדד השחי ויאמר׃
Greek: υπολαβων δε βαλδαδ ο σαυχιτης λεγει

31. End of page

by RS  admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640