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מְנוֹרָה

𐤌𐤍𐤅𐤓𐤄

mᵉnôwrâh

H4501 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נור to shine, give light

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.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נור (n-w-r) — shine, give light, radiate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5135 נוּר fire
H8574 תַּנּוּר in the fire-oven

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4501-01 הַ/מְּנוֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand 18
H4501-05 מְנֹרָ֗ה menorah HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand 6
H4501-06 מְנֹרַ֖ת menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of 4
H4501-08 וּ/מְנוֹרָ֑ה umenorah HC/Ncfsa and-lampstand and light-stand 3
H4501-02 הַ֠/מְּנֹרוֹת hamenorot HTd/Ncfpa lampstands the lampstands 3
H4501-10 וּ/בַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה uvamenorah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-on the lampstand and on the lampstand 2
H4501-03 לִ/מְנוֹרָ֣ה limenorah HR/Ncfsa for-lampstand for a light-stand 1
H4501-12 וְ/לִ/מְנֹר֨וֹת velimenorot HC/R/Ncfpc and-for-lampstands and for light-stands of 1
H4501-11 וְ/הַ/מְּנֹרָ֣ה vehamenorah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the lampstand and the light-stand 1
H4501-09 וּ/מְנוֹרַ֨ת umenorat HC/Ncfsc and-lampstand and lampstand of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

42 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4501-06 Exodus 25:31 מְנֹרַ֖ת menorat HNcfsc lampstand lampstand of
H4501-01 Exodus 25:31 הַ/מְּנוֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand
H4501-05 Exodus 25:32 מְנֹרָ֗ה menorah HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand
H4501-05 Exodus 25:32 מְנֹרָ֔ה menorah-2 HNcfsa the lampstand light-bearing stand
H4501-01 Exodus 25:33 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand
H4501-10 Exodus 25:34 וּ/בַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה uvamenorah HC/Rd/Ncfsa and-on the lampstand and on the lampstand
H4501-01 Exodus 25:35 הַ/מְּנֹרָֽה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the-lampstand the light-stand
H4501-01 Exodus 26:35 הַ/מְּנֹרָה֙ hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa the lampstand the light-stand
H4501-01 Exodus 30:27 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֖ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand
H4501-01 Exodus 31:8 הַ/מְּנֹרָ֥ה hamenorah HTd/Ncfsa lampstand the light-stand
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