Luke 8:16 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.
Luke 8:16 nkjv
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
Luke 8:16 niv
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
Luke 8:16 esv
"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
Luke 8:16 nlt
"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.
Luke 8 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 5:14 | "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." | Disciples as light, not meant to be concealed. |
| Mt 5:15 | "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." | Direct synoptic parallel, identical teaching. |
| Mk 4:21 | He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?" | Direct synoptic parallel, reinforcing the principle. |
| Lk 8:17 | For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought out into the open. | Imminent revelation; what is taught will be made known. |
| Lk 11:33 | "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl, but on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light." | Similar teaching on not hiding the light. |
| Jn 1:9 | The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. | Jesus as the ultimate light-giver. |
| Jn 3:19 | This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. | Confrontation between light (truth) and darkness (sin). |
| Jn 8:12 | When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." | Jesus identifies Himself as the source of true light. |
| Jn 12:46 | I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. | Purpose of Jesus' coming: to dispel darkness. |
| Phil 2:15 | ...so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky... | Believers are to shine light in the world. |
| Eph 5:8 | For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light... | Believers transformed into light. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. | Believers called to proclaim God's light. |
| Prov 4:18 | The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. | Growing in truth leads to increasing clarity. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. | God's word as a guide and source of light. |
| Isa 60:1 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." | Prophecy of God's people shining His glory. |
| Matt 10:27 | "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs." | Mandate to openly proclaim the gospel. |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. | God's initiative in bringing spiritual light. |
| Acts 13:47 | For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’" | Disciples chosen to spread the gospel broadly. |
| Rom 13:12 | The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. | Urgency of living in light in preparation for Christ's return. |
| Heb 10:24-25 | And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. | Importance of visible Christian living and fellowship. |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 16 Meaning
This verse states a clear principle: revelation is for illumination, not for concealment. A lamp, which is a source of light, is intended to be seen and to provide light to an entire house, not to be hidden or obscured. In the context of Jesus' teaching, it signifies that the spiritual truth of the Kingdom of God, understood by His disciples, is not to be kept private or for personal benefit alone, but is to be openly proclaimed so that others may see and understand.
Luke 8 16 Context
Luke 8:16 follows directly after Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower and His emphasis on "hearing" the word (Luke 8:4-15). Jesus warns about superficial hearing (path, rocky soil, thorns) and highlights the "good soil" where the word is heard, retained, and bears fruit. Immediately after this, Jesus speaks about the lamp. This verse implies that the understanding of the Kingdom's mysteries, like the good seed producing a crop, is not given to be hidden but to be fruitful through its display. The historical context reflects a typical Jewish household where a lamp (often an oil lamp) was the primary source of light, placed strategically to illuminate the whole room, usually on a stand in the center.
Luke 8 16 Word analysis
- No one: Indicates a universal truth or principle, challenging any thought that might run contrary to it.
- lights (Greek: haptei, from hapto): To kindle, ignite. Signifies purposeful action in bringing forth illumination.
- a lamp (Greek: lychnos): An oil lamp, providing practical light for a household. Symbolically represents divine truth, the teaching of Christ, the gospel, or the disciples who bear this truth.
- and hides it (Greek: kalypto): To cover, conceal, hide. Implies deliberate action to keep something from being seen or known.
- in a jar (Greek: skeuei from skeuos): A vessel, container, or utensil, often of clay. It suggests an attempt to restrict or contain the light's natural diffusion.
- or puts it under (Greek: hypo tēn): Placement underneath, implying concealment or suppression.
- a bed (Greek: klinēn from klinē): A couch or bed, a place of rest or private life. This indicates that the light is not meant only for private, unseen spaces, but for public display.
- Instead: Marks a strong contrast to the previous, unacceptable actions.
- he puts it (Greek: tithēsin): To place, put, set. Refers to the expected, proper action for a lamp.
- on a stand (Greek: lychnian): A lampstand, specifically designed to elevate the lamp so its light can spread efficiently and effectively.
- so that (Greek: hina): A purpose clause, showing the ultimate goal or intention.
- those who come in (Greek: tous eisporeuomenous): People entering the dwelling. Represents the world, those outside who are yet to encounter the light of the gospel.
- can see the light: The desired outcome—the truth and glory of God being revealed and visible to all. The purpose of receiving divine illumination is its effective broadcast.
- "No one lights a lamp": Emphasizes the inherent purpose of light; it's illogical and contrary to its very nature to hide it once lit. This principle undergirds all subsequent actions.
- "hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed": These phrases represent deliberate concealment or placement in positions where the lamp's light would be suppressed, rendering it useless for its intended purpose. "Jar" suggests containment, "bed" suggests privacy or obscurity.
- "he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light": This outlines the appropriate and purposeful placement. The lampstand elevates the light, making it visible and beneficial to everyone in the house, symbolizing the broad proclamation and manifestation of truth.
Luke 8 16 Bonus section
This verse can be seen as an immediate application or consequence of the "good soil" producing a crop (Luke 8:15). If the word takes root and grows, its fruit (the life changed by the gospel, the understanding of God's mysteries) should manifest outwardly, shining as a light rather than being hidden. It also implicitly highlights a potential temptation for those who grasp spiritual truths: the desire to keep such insights for oneself, fearing rejection, or preferring spiritual elitism. Jesus' teaching directly refutes such tendencies, asserting that God's truth is given for the benefit of all humanity.
Luke 8 16 Commentary
Luke 8:16 delivers a fundamental principle about the nature of divine revelation and discipleship: truth, once received, is meant for disclosure, not for retention. Just as a physical lamp serves no purpose if hidden, so too the spiritual understanding of God's Kingdom, imparted by Jesus, is not for private hoarding. This understanding is the "light" given to disciples (represented as those who understand the mysteries of the Kingdom, Luke 8:10), which must then be positioned on a "stand" (public witness, lived-out faith, proclamation of the gospel) so that "those who come in" (all people) can "see the light." This verse thus challenges the disciples to be active, visible participants in spreading the divine truth, preventing spiritual knowledge from becoming mere intellectual assent or private mysticism.