Luke 8:16
in Luke 8No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Luke 8
Commentary
17 notes on this verseScripture does not say this about a tangible lamp but about a comprehensible one. One does not "light" the lamp and conceal it "with a vessel" or put it "under a bed, but on the lamp stand" within himself. The vessels of the house are the powers of the soul. The bed is the body. "Those who go in" are those who hear the teacher.…He calls the holy church a "lamp stand."
This site's exposition
No one lights a lamp
on Luke 8:16-18
Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen closes the discourse begun at the parable and names hearing as the deciding act. Whoever has will be given more, the law the four soils already picture.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
(de Quaest. Ev. lib. ii. q. 12.) Or else in these words He typically sets forth the boldness of preaching, that no one should, through fear of fleshly ills, conceal the light of knowledge. For under the names of vessel and bed, he represents the flesh, but of that of lantern, the word, which whosoever keeps hid through fear of the troubles of the flesh, sets the flesh itself before the manifestation of the truth, and by it he as it were covers the word, who fears to preach it. But he places a candle upon a candlestick who so submits his body to the service of God, that the preaching of the truth stands highest in his estimation, the service of the body lowest.
But he who would adapt his lantern to the more perfect disciples of Christ, must persuade us by those things which were spoken of John, for he was a burning and a shining light. (John 5:35.) It becomes not him then who lights the light of reason in his soul to hide it under a bed where men sleep, nor under any vessel, for he who does this provides not for those who enter the house for whom the candle is prepared, but they must set it upon a candlestick, that is, the whole Church.
As if He said, As a lantern is lighted that it should give light, not that it should be covered under a bushel or a bed, so also the secrets of the kingdom of heaven when uttered in parables, although hid from those who are strangers to the faith, will not however to all men appear obscure.
Now, for whatever reason He threatens the "deprivation," it will not be the work of a god who knows not how to threaten, because incapable of anger. I am, moreover, astonished when he says that "a candle is not usually hidden," who had hidden himself-a greater and more needful light-during so long a time; and when he promises that "everything shall be brought out of its secrecy and made manifest," who hitherto has kept his god in obscurity, waiting (I suppose) until Marcion be born.
For what purpose, except that malice may have no access at all to you, or that you may be an example and testimony to the evil? Else, what is (that): "Let your works shine? " Why, moreover, does the Lord call us the light of the world; why has He compared us to a city built upon a mountain; if we do not shine in (the midst of) darkness, and stand eminent amid them who are sunk down? If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel, you must necessarily be left quite in darkness, and be run against by many.
10 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Hom. 15. in Matt.) By these words he leads them to diligence of life, teaching them to be strong as exposed to the view of all men, and fighting in the world as on a stage. As if he said, Think not that we dwell in a small part of the world, for ye will be known of all men, since it cannot be that so great virtue should lie hid.
The Medieval Church4 voices
No one lighting a lamp etc. After the Apostles have been instructed for the understanding of the parable, here secondly they are invited to the communication of doctrine, to which the Apostles are invited in four ways: first, by the fittingness of a general example; …
No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed; instead, they put it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. Because he had previously said to the apostles, "To you it has …
Having before said to His Apostles, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables; He now shows that by them at length must the same mystery be revealed also to others, saying, No man when he hath lighted a candle covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it tender a bed.
(Quæst. in Script. 63.) Or perhaps the Lord calls Himself a light shining to all who inhabit the house, that is, the world, since He is by nature God, but by the dispensation made flesh. And so like the light of the lamp He abides in the vessel of the flesh by means of the soul as the light in the vessel of the lamp by means of the flame. But by the candlestick he describes the Church over which the divine word shines, illuminating the house as it were by the rays of truth. But under the similitude of a vessel or bed he referred to the observance of the law, under which the word will not be contained.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
No man, when he hath lighted a candle,....
Ministers and Christians are to be lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. Their light must shine before men; they must not only be good, but do good. We must expect that what is now done in secret, and from unseen springs, will shortly be manifested and made known,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
These verses form a practical application of the famous parable of the sower. They are intended to nail and clench in our minds — the mighty lessons which that parable contains. They deserve the especial attention of all true-hearted hearers of the Gospel of Christ. We learn, firstly, from these verses — that spiritual knowledge ought to be diligently used. Our Lord tells us that spiritual knowledge is like a lighted candle — utterly useless, when covered with a bushel, or put under a bed.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
These verses form a practical application of the famous parable of the sower. They are intended to nail and clench in our minds — the mighty lessons which that parable contains. They deserve the especial attention of all true-hearted hearers of the Gospel of Christ. We learn, firstly, from these verses — that spiritual knowledge ought to be diligently used. Our Lord tells us that spiritual knowledge is like a lighted candle — utterly useless, when covered with a bushel, or put under a bed. It is only useful when set upon a candlestick, and placed where it can be made serviceable to the needs of men. When we hear this lesson, let us first think of OURSELVES. The Gospel which we possess was not given us only to be admired, talked of, and professed — but to be practiced . It was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, and memories, and tongues — but to be seen is our lives . Christianity is a talent committed to our charge, and one which brings with it great responsibility. We are not in darkness like the heathen. A glorious light is put before us. Let us take heed that we use it. While we have the light — let us walk in the light. (John 12:35.) But let us not only think of ourselves — let us also think of OTHERS. There are millions in the world who have no spiritual light at all. They are without God, without Christ, and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12.) Can we do nothing for them? There are thousands around us, in our own land, who are unconverted and dead in sins, seeing nothing and knowing nothing aright. Can we do nothing for them? These are questions to which every true Christian ought to find an answer. We should strive, in every way, to spread our religion. The highest form of selfishness, is that of the man who is content to go to Heaven alone.
Lighted a candle - This is a repetition of a part of our Lord’s sermon on the mount. See the notes on Mat 5:15; Mat 10:26; and on Mar 4:21, Mar 4:22.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οὐδεὶς | oudeis | No [one] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| λύχνον | luchnon | a lamp | G3088 → | 14 times |
| ἅψας | hapsas | having lighted | G681 → | 39 times |
| καλύπτει | kaluptei | covers | G2572 → | |
| αὐτὸν | auton | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| σκεύει | skeuei | with a vessel | G4632 → | |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ὑποκάτω | hupokato | under | G5270 → | |
| κλίνης | klines | a bed | G2825 → | 9 times |
| τίθησιν, | tithesin | puts [it], | G5087 → | 100 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| λυχνίας | luchnias | a lampstand | G3087 → | |
| τίθησιν | tithesin | puts [it] | G5087 → | 100 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰσπορευόμενοι | eisporeuomenoi | entering in | G1531 → | 18 times |
| βλέπωσιν | bleposin | may see | G991 → | 132 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φῶς. | phos | light. | G5457 → | 72 times |
ΟὐδεὶςNo [one]
oudeisG3762 →232 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
λύχνονa lamp
luchnonG3088 →14 times
ἅψαςhaving lighted
hapsasG681 →39 times
καλύπτειcovers
kalupteiG2572 →
αὐτὸνit
autonG846 →5565 times
σκεύειwith a vessel
skeueiG4632 →
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ὑποκάτωunder
hupokatoG5270 →
κλίνηςa bed
klinesG2825 →9 times
τίθησιν,puts [it],
tithesinG5087 →100 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
λυχνίαςa lampstand
luchniasG3087 →
τίθησινputs [it]
tithesinG5087 →100 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
εἰσπορευόμενοιentering in
eisporeuomenoiG1531 →18 times
βλέπωσινmay see
bleposinG991 →132 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
φῶς.light.
phosG5457 →72 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Ephesians 1:18
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
- Acts 20:32
And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
- Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Isaiah 42:7
to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.
- 1 Peter 2:9
Through
Luke 11:33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
it leads to
- Luke 8:16–17
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
- Mark 4:21–22
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
- Matthew 5:15–16
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.
- Luke 8:16–17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Luke
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 8; Eusebius of Caesarea, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Maximus the Confessor, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Origen of Alexandria, FRAGMENTS ON LUKE 120, 122; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV and Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book II.