G2985 — λαμπάς (lampás)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G2985
Original: λαμπάς
Transliteration: lampás
Pronunciation: lam-pas
Part of Speech: Feminine noun
Root: Related to G2989 λάμπω (lampō) — to shine, to give light
Occurrences: 9 unique verses (9 tokens) across 4 books
First Occurrence: Mat 25:1 — "ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From G2989 (λάμπω); a "lamp" or flambeau: — lamp, light, torch.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain: 006014 — Lights and Light Holders
Broader category: 006 — Artifacts
Other words in subdomain: λυχνία (G3087), λύχνος (G3088), φανός (G5322), φῶς (G5457)

UBS Semantic Domains¶

[006] Artifacts — material light-bearing objects. Other words: ἀγγεῖον (G30), ἄγγος (G30), ἄγκιστρον (G44), ἄγκυρα (G45), ἀλάβαστρος (G211), ἀλόη (G250)

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Count	%
lamps	6	66.7%
a lamp	1	11.1%
lights	1	11.1%
torches	1	11.1%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Matthew	5	0.5
Revelation	2	0.5
John	1	0.1
Acts	1	0.1

Concentrated almost entirely in Matthew (ten virgins parable). The two Revelation uses carry an apocalyptic/heavenly register. John 18:3 and Acts 20:8 are isolated, literal uses.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Handheld Lamp for a Procession¶

Portable oil lamp carried by hand for going out to meet someone; requires oil to stay burning. - Mat 25:1 — "ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom" - Mat 25:3 — "they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them" - Mat 25:7 — "all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps"

2. Lamp Going Out / Requiring Fuel¶

The lamp's dependence on oil — burning out is the crisis in the parable. - Mat 25:4 — "the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps" - Mat 25:8 — "the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"

3. Military/Official Torch¶

A larger, brighter flambeau carried by soldiers for illumination or intimidation. - John 18:3 — "Judas then, having received a band of men…cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons" - Acts 20:8 — "there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together"

4. Heavenly / Apocalyptic Fire-Lamp¶

Burning lamp as a symbol of divine presence or a celestial phenomenon in vision. - Rev 4:5 — "there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God" - Rev 8:10 — "there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
λαμβάνω (lambánō)	G2983	4x	"took their lamps" — virgins taking lamps to go out
ἔλαιον (élaion)	G1637	3x	"oil… with their lamps" — lamp requires oil to burn
καίω (kaíō)	G2545	2x	"lamps burning / gone out" — fire of the lamp
μωρός (mōrós)	G3474	2x	"foolish" virgins who forgot oil
παρθένος (parthénos)	G3933	2x	"virgins" with lamps in the parable
φρόνιμος (phrónimos)	G5429	2x	"wise" virgins who brought oil

Word Family / Cognates¶

G2989 λάμπω (lampō) — verb root: to shine, give light
G2986 λαμπρός (lamprós) — bright, shining, splendid
G2987 λαμπρότης (lamprótēs) — brightness, brilliance
G2988 λαμπρῶς (lamprōs) — splendidly, sumptuously

Synonyms¶

Βαράκ (G913) — brightness/lightning-adjacent term surfaced by the relationship data
ἀστραπή (G796) — lightning or flash, sharing the bright-flame semantic field

Antonyms¶

No direct antonym entries were returned by search_relationships.py for G2985.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
λύχνος (lýchnos)	G3088	both "lamp" / "light"	λύχνος = small clay oil lamp, often on a stand (domestic); λαμπάς = larger portable torch or handheld lamp (procession/outdoor)
φανός (phanós)	G5322	both rendered "lantern" in some translations	φανός = enclosed lantern; λαμπάς = open flaming torch — both appear together in John 18:3
H5216 נִיר (nîyr)	H5216	both translated "lamps"	OT Hebrew lamp/light (often referring to a flame or candle in the temple/domestic context); G2985 is the NT Greek portable lamp/torch

Domain Neighbors (Louw-Nida 006014)¶

Strong's	Word	Occurrences	Primary KJV Translation	Key Difference
G3087	λυχνία	10	candlesticks, candlestick	The stand holding a lamp, not the lamp itself
G3088	λύχνος	11	a candle, light	Small domestic oil lamp; λαμπάς is the portable handheld torch
G5322	φανός	1	lanterns	Enclosed lantern; λαμπάς is an open torch/flambeau
G5457	φῶς	48	light, a light	Light itself (abstract or emitted); λαμπάς is the physical object producing it

Hebrew Source¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occurrences	PMI Score	Notes
לַפִּיד (lappîyd)	H3940	12	10.65	Primary — burning torch/lamp in theophanies (Gen 15:17, Exo 20:18, Dan 10:6)
אֵשׁ (ʼêsh)	H784	6	4.94	Fire — when the blazing quality is primary
בָּרָק (bârâq)	H1300	3	7.96	Lightning flash — the brilliance of the heavenly fire