Matthew 5 · Verse 15

Matthew 5:15

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.

Matthew 5:15, King James Version

Matthew 5:15 in other translations

BSB	Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
WEB	Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
ASV	Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.
YLT	nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it shineth to all those in the house;
DARBY	Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house.
BBE	And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house.
Webster	Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a close vessel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to all that are in the house.

What does Matthew 5:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 5:13-16

13-16. 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…

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 15. Neither do men light a candle, etc. 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 men 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 others. It is not to be concealed, but suffered to show itself, and to shed light on a surrounding wicked world.

A bushel. Greek, a measure containing nearly a peck. It denotes anything, here, that might conceal the light.

(1) "bushel" or, "The word, in the original, signifieth a measuring containing about a pint less than a peck."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel - A bushel μοδιος: - 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 5:13-16

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…

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Matthew 5:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐδὲoudeNorG3761

καίουσινkaiousindo they lightG2545

λύχνονluchnona lampG3088

καὶkaiandG2532

τιθέασινtitheasinputG5087

αὐτὸνautonitG846

ὑπὸhupounderG5259

τὸνton<the>G3588

μόδιονmodiona basketG3426

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐπὶepiuponG1909

τὴνtēntheG3588

λυχνίαν,luchnianlampstand,G3087

καὶkaiandG2532

λάμπειlampeiit shinesG2989

πᾶσινpasinfor allG3956

τοῖςtoisthoseG3588

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēatheG3588

οἰκίᾳ.oikiahouse.G3614

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 5:15

Luke 11:33
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Mark 4:21
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Luke 8:16
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.
Numbers 8:2
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
Exodus 25:37
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

do.
Mr 4:21; Lu 8:16; 11:33
a bushel."A measure containing about a pint less than a peck."
it giveth.
Ex 25:37; Nu 8:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:15
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.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Read all of Matthew 5

Matthew 5:15 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Ni se enciende una lámpara y se pone debajo de un almud, mas sobre el candelero, y alumbra á todos los que están en casa.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Aussi n’allume-t-on pas une lampe pour la mettre ensuite sous le boisseau, mais sur le pied de lampe; et elle luit pour tous ceux qui sont dans la maison.
German Elberfelder 1871	Man zündet auch nicht eine Lampe an und setzt sie unter den Scheffel sondern auf das Lampengestell, und sie leuchtet allen, die im Hause sind.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	neque accendunt lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt.