nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Parallel translations
- WEB Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
- 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
- NLT No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
No one lights a lamp to hide it under a basket but sets it on a stand. It teaches that genuine faith is meant to be displayed, not concealed.
Overview
A lamp exists to give light to a whole house, not to be hidden. So the disciple's life of good works and witness is meant to shine openly for the benefit of others. The point is purposeful visibility, that the light God gives may illumine those around.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Luke 11:33“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light.
- Mark 4:21He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?
- Luke 8:16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.
- Num 8:2“Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lamp stand.’”
- Exod 25:37You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 5:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.