Matthew 5:15

Matthew 5:15 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of Matthew 5:15

13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery]. 14“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:15 word by word

οὐδὲ καίουσιν λύχνον καὶ τιθέασιν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• lightκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
• a candleλύχνοςluchnos · lampG3088
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• putτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• a bushelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a bushelμόδιοςmodios · bucketG3426
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• a candlestickλυχνίαluchnia · lampstandG3087
• it giveth lightλάμπωlampō · to shineG2989
• unto allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614

Cross-references for Matthew 5:15

• Mark 4:21He said to them, “A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand?
• Luke 8:16“Now no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a container [to hide it], or puts it under a bed; instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
• Luke 11:33“No one lights a lamp and then puts it in a cellar nor under a basket [hiding the light], but [instead it is put] on the lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
• Exodus 25:37Then you shall make the lamps [of the lampstand] seven in number [with one lamp at the top of the shaft]. The priests shall set up its seven lamps so that they will light the space in front of it.
• Numbers 8:2“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up and light the lamps, the seven lamps will shine in front of the lampstand.’ ”

Commentaries on Matthew 5:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel - A bushel : - a measure both among the Greeks and Romans, containing a little more than a peck English. From some ancient writers we learn, that only those who had bad designs hid a candle under a bushel; that, in the dead of the night, when all were asleep, they might rise up, and have light at hand to help them to effect their horrid purposes of murder, etc. See Wetstein, Kypke, Wolf, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Neither do men light a candle … - The word rendered “candle” means any portable light, as a lamp, candle, lantern. Compare Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Luke 12:35. Jesus proceeded here to show them that the very reason why they were enlightened was that others might also see the light, and be benefited by it. When people light a candle, they do not conceal the light, but place it where it may be of use. So it is with religion. It is given that we may benefit…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-16Verses 13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-16The good actions of the disciples will positively impact the world, bringing glory to God. Jesus warns them not to do anything that could harm this positive influence.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. We have here the practical application of the foregoing principles to those disciples who sat listening to them, and to their successors in all time. Our Lord, though He began by pronouncing certain characters to be blessed--without express reference to any of His hearers--does not close the beatitudes without intimating that such characters were in existence, and that already they were before Him. Accordingly, from characters He comes to persons…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:15

• Agency
• Blindness
• Bushel
• Conscience
• Influence
• Instruction
• Measure
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Righteous
• Testimony
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Candle
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings