📖 Biblical Definition
The menorah (מְנוֹרָה) is the seven-branched gold lampstand commanded for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24) and continued in Solomon’s and the second temple. Wrought of a single talent of pure beaten gold, it stood in the Holy Place opposite the table of showbread, and was kept burning continually by the priests (Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:1-4). It was the living picture of God’s undying light among His people — and a type Christ Himself takes up: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). The seven churches of Revelation are seen as seven golden candlesticks (Revelation 1:12, 20); Christ walks among them as the great High Priest tending the lamps.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The seven-branched golden candlestick of the tabernacle and Jewish temple.
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MENORAH (Heb. lampstand). The seven-branched candlestick described in Exodus 25, made of one beaten piece of pure gold, with seven oil-lamps mounted upon it.
It is the original referent behind the Greek lychnia rendered ‘candlestick’ in the New Testament; in Revelation 1, the risen Christ walks among seven such lampstands — the seven churches.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 25:31 — "And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made."
Exodus 27:20 — "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always."
Zechariah 4:2 — "I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon."
Revelation 1:20 — "The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Christians often misread the menorah as a Jewish-only artifact and miss its New Testament reuse: every faithful church is a menorah.
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Revelation 1 makes the connection unmistakable: the lampstands are the churches, and the risen Christ walks among them, trimming wicks. The menorah is not behind us; it is what every gathered congregation is supposed to be.
Lose the menorah image and you lose the picture of the Church as a continually burning, oil-fed witness in the dark of the world. Recover it, and you remember why the apostle says: be careful how you walk — the lampstand can be removed.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
The Hebrew word is a noun built from ner (lamp) with the prefix that means ‘place of’ — literally the place of the lamps.
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H4501 — מְנוֹרָה (menorah) — lampstand, candlestick.
H5216 — נֵר (ner) — the individual lamp; seven of these sat on the menorah.
Usage
"Every healthy church is a menorah — oil-fed, beaten gold, light in the Holy Place."
"Christ walks among the lampstands; that is how He pastors His church."
"The Spirit is the oil; the menorah is the Body."