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מְנוֹרָה

𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤓𐤄

mᵉnôwrâh

H4501 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Lampstand; a stand designed to hold one or more lamps, particularly for burning oil. In many contexts, מְנוֹרָה refers to a large multi-branched lampstand used in ritual, domestic, or architectural settings—the most prominent example being the seven-branched gold lampstand of the Israelite tabernacle and temple. The term can also designate any stand or structure for holding smaller oil lamps or possibly torches in other periods or uses.

Semantic Range

lampstand, stand for oil lamps, cultic multi-branched lampstand, domestic lampstand, torch stand; by extension, symbol of light or enlightenment

Root / Etymology

From the root נור (nur), meaning 'to shine' or 'to give light'; the word is a feminine noun form constructed with the mem-prefix (מְ–) and the feminine ending (–ָה), commonly indicating an instrument or means of action. Here, it signifies an object associated with producing or holding light. The root itself is not frequently attested as a verb in Biblical Hebrew but is presumed from related languages and derivative nouns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מְנוֹרָה appears in the Hebrew Bible primarily to describe the gold lampstand placed in the sanctuary of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31–40) and later the temple, serving as a prominent cultic furnishing in ritual lighting. In those contexts, it is intricately designed with seven branches and associated accessories. Later texts and the post-exilic period see its symbolic significance increase, especially in visual culture. The core sense remains a lampstand, but the term is also occasionally employed for more utilitarian lampstands in non-cultic, domestic, or architectural instances (e.g., 2 Kings 4:10) where the design and scale are less elaborate. In rabbinic and modern usage, מְנוֹרָה denotes various lampstands, most famously the Hanukkah menorah (which has nine branches), reflecting post-biblical developments. English Bible translations often narrow the sense to 'candlestick,' but מְנוֹרָה refers specifically to an oil lampstand, as candles were not in use in ancient Israelite contexts. The Septuagint renders the word as 'λυχνία' (lukhnia), which likewise indicates an oil lampstand. The association with 'the menorah' of Jewish tradition originates in the biblical seven-branched version but is expanded in Second Temple and later Jewish contexts. Contrast with נֵר (ner, H5216), which means 'lamp'—the object holding the oil and wick—whereas מְנוֹרָה is the stand or structure holding one or more lamps.

Translation Consistency

primary "lampstand" 41 occurrences

'Lampstand' is the most common and natural English rendering in the P2 data and accurately covers the full semantic range (the cultic seven‑branched fixture and ordinary stands for oil lamps). It is clearer to general readers than the transliterated 'menorah' and more idiomatic than 'light‑stand,' so it provides a consistent, natural base word for all forms of H4501.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"light-stand" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מְנֹרָה; feminine of מָנוֹר (in the original sense of נִיר); a chandelier; candlestick.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

נור (mᵉnôwrâh) — to shine, give light

Root נור to shine, give light
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8574 תַּנּוּר in the fire-oven

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4501-01 הַ/מְּנוֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand 18
H4501-05 מְנוֹרָ֥ה menorah HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand 6
H4501-06 מְנֹרַ֖ת menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of lampstand of 4
H4501-02 הַ֠/מְּנֹרוֹת hamenorot HTd/Ncfpa lampstands the lampstands the lampstands 3
H4501-08 וּ/מְנוֹרָ֖ה umenorah HC/Ncfsa and-lampstand and light-stand and lampstand 3
H4501-10 וּ/בַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה uvamenorah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-on the lampstand and on the lampstand and on the lampstand 2
H4501-03 לִ/מְנוֹרָ֣ה limenorah HR/Ncfsa for-lampstand for a light-stand for a lampstand 1
H4501-04 לִ/מְנֹר֣וֹת limenorot HR/Ncfpc for-the-lampstands for light-stands of for lampstands of 1
H4501-07 מְנֹר֧וֹת menorot HNcfpc lampstands lampstands of lampstands 1
H4501-09 וּ/מְנוֹרַ֨ת umenorat HC/Ncfsc and-lampstand and lampstand of and lampstand of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4501-06 Exodus 25:31 מְנֹרַ֖ת menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of lampstand of
H4501-01 Exodus 25:31 הַ/מְּנוֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-05 Exodus 25:32 מְנֹרָ֗ה menorah HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-05 Exodus 25:32 מְנֹרָ֔ה menorah-2 HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 25:33 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-10 Exodus 25:34 וּ/בַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה uvamenorah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-on the lampstand and on the lampstand and on the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 25:35 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the-lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 26:35 הַ/מְּנֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 30:27 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 31:8 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֥ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-06 Exodus 35:14 מְנֹרַ֧ת menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of lampstand of
H4501-01 Exodus 37:17 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 37:17 הַ/מְּנֹרָה֙ hamenorah-2 HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-05 Exodus 37:18 מְנֹרָ֗ה menorah HNcfsa of the lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-05 Exodus 37:18 מְנֹרָ֔ה menorah-2 HNcfsa of the lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 37:19 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the-menorah the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-10 Exodus 37:20 וּ/בַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה uvamenorah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-on-the-lampstand and on the lampstand and on the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 39:37 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֨ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 40:4 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֔ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 40:24 הַ/מְּנֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Leviticus 24:4 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֣ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-11 Numbers 3:31 וְ/הַ/מְּנֹרָ֣ה vehamenorah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the lampstand and the light-stand and the light-stand
H4501-06 Numbers 4:9 מְנֹרַ֤ת menorat HNcfsc the lampstand lampstand of lampstand of
H4501-01 Numbers 8:2 הַ/מְּנוֹרָ֔ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the-lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Numbers 8:3 הַ/מְּנוֹרָ֔ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Numbers 8:4 הַ/מְּנֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-01 Numbers 8:4 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah-2 HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-02 1 Kings 7:49 הַ֠/מְּנֹרוֹת hamenorot HTd/Ncfpa lampstands the lampstands the lampstands
H4501-08 2 Kings 4:10 וּ/מְנוֹרָ֑ה umenorah HC/Ncfsa and a lampstand and light-stand and lampstand
H4501-02 Jeremiah 52:19 הַ/מְּנֹר֗וֹת hamenorot HTd/Ncfpa lampstands the lampstands the lampstands
H4501-06 Zechariah 4:2 מְנוֹרַת֩ menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of lampstand of
H4501-01 Zechariah 4:11 הַ/מְּנוֹרָ֖ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa of the lampstand the light-stand the lampstand
H4501-04 1 Chronicles 28:15 לִ/מְנֹר֣וֹת limenorot HR/Ncfpc for-the-lampstands for light-stands of for lampstands of
H4501-05 1 Chronicles 28:15 מְנוֹרָ֥ה menorah HNcfsa lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-08 1 Chronicles 28:15 וּ/מְנוֹרָ֖ה umenorah HC/Ncfsa and-lampstand and light-stand and lampstand
H4501-12 1 Chronicles 28:15 וְ/לִ/מְנֹר֨וֹת velimenorot HC/R/Ncfpc and-for-lampstands and for light-stands of and for lampstands of
H4501-03 1 Chronicles 28:15 לִ/מְנוֹרָ֣ה limenorah HR/Ncfsa for-lampstand for a light-stand for a lampstand
H4501-05 1 Chronicles 28:15 מְנוֹרָ֥ה menorah-2 HNcfsa lampstand light-bearing stand lampstand
H4501-08 1 Chronicles 28:15 וּ/מְנוֹרָֽה umenorah-2 HC/Ncfsa and-lampstand and light-stand and lampstand
H4501-07 2 Chronicles 4:7 מְנֹר֧וֹת menorot HNcfpc lampstands lampstands of lampstands
H4501-02 2 Chronicles 4:20 הַ/מְּנֹר֞וֹת hamenorot HTd/Ncfpa lampstands the lampstands the lampstands
H4501-09 2 Chronicles 13:11 וּ/מְנוֹרַ֨ת umenorat HC/Ncfsc and-lampstand and lampstand of and lampstand of
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