WG: Lampstand / Light Holders¶

Overview¶

The NT lampstand concept clusters around four Greek words describing the object, its light source, and its function. The group spans domestic metaphor (Synoptics), sanctuary furnishing (Hebrews), and apocalyptic symbol (Revelation).

Word Group Members¶

Strong's	Word	Transliteration	POS	Occurrences	Role in Concept	Library Entry
G3087	λυχνία	lychnia	feminine noun	11	The stand that holds the lamp	G3087-lychnia.md
G3088	λύχνος	lychnos	masculine noun	14	The portable lamp placed on the stand	TODO(need G3088 study)
G5457	φῶς	phos	neuter noun	59	Light itself — what the lampstand enables	G5457-phos.md
G2985	λαμπάς	lampas	feminine noun	9	Torch or lamp (often in eschatological contexts)	G2985-lampas.md

Relationships¶

Word Family / Root¶

G3087 λυχνία is derived from G3088 λύχνος — the stand (-ia suffix) from the lamp word
G2985 λαμπάς shares no etymological link but occupies the same semantic space in Louw-Nida 006.014

Co-occurrence (shared distinct verses)¶

Word A	Word B	Shared Verses	Typical Context
G3087 lychnia	G3088 lychnos	4x	Lamp placed on the lampstand (Mat 5, Mk 4, Lk 8, 11)
G3088 lychnos	G5457 phos	4x	Lamp as source of light
G3087 lychnia	G5457 phos	1x	Luk 8:16 — both in same verse
G3087 lychnia	G2985 lampas	0x	Do not co-occur
G3088 lychnos	G2985 lampas	0x	Do not co-occur

Shared Hebrew Sources (LXX bridge)¶

Hebrew	Strong's	→ G3087	→ G3088	→ G5457
נִיר (nîyr)	H5216	12x (20.15 PMI)	35x (32.38 PMI)	12x (14.85 PMI)
מְנוֹרָה (mᵉnôwrâh)	H4501	28x (32.20 PMI)	11x (19.51 PMI)	—
אוֹר (ʼôwr)	H216	—	5x (8.67 PMI)	90x (32.97 PMI)

H5216 (nîyr = lamp) bridges to both G3087 and G3088. H4501 (menorah) maps almost exclusively to G3087. H216 (ôwr = light) maps primarily to G5457 (phōs).

Roles in the Concept¶

Holder: λυχνία (G3087) — the stand that holds and elevates the lamp
Source: λύχνος (G3088) — the lamp/candle that burns
Output: φῶς (G5457) — the light emitted
Variant object: λαμπάς (G2985) — torch/lamp, particularly in the ten virgins parable and Revelation

Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together¶

Mat 5:15 — [G3087 + G3088] "light a candle (λύχνος) and put it on a candlestick (λυχνία)"
Luk 8:16 — [G3087 + G3088 + G5457] "lighted a candle (λύχνος)… sets it on a candlestick (λυχνία)… that they which enter in may see the light (φῶς)"
Rev 1:12–20 — [G3087] seven golden candlesticks = seven churches