"a light, lamp, candle, etc., Mt. 5:15; Mk. 4:21; met. a lamp, as a figure of a distinguished teacher, Jn. 5:35"
Definition and meaning
a light, lamp, candle, etc., Mt. 5:15; Mk. 4:21; met. a lamp, as a figure of a distinguished teacher, Jn. 5:35
In the original Greek the word is written: λύχνος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of lychnos (G3088) across the King James Bible.
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.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
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Common questions
Strong's G3088 (lychnos) is a Greek word that means: a light, lamp, candle, etc., Mt. 5:15; Mk. 4:21; met. a lamp, as a figure of a distinguished teacher, Jn. 5:35 It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word lychnos (G3088) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3088 is lychnos, a Greek word defined as: a light, lamp, candle, etc., Mt. 5:15; Mk. 4:21; met. a lamp, as a figure of a distinguished teacher, Jn. 5:35. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
lychnos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.