Hebrew Word Study – Lamp – Nor – נִיר Nun Yod Resh
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.”
Many people think that because I was a Hebrew teacher I would know all about Jewish customs and symbols. Oddly, I spend very little time studying their customs and practices. I am more interested in their relationship with God and how they express it. So I really spent very little time studying the Menorah. Until today, I was only vaguely aware that there are two different Menorahs, the Hanukkah Menorah which we see around Christmas time and then there is the Temple Menorah. The Hanukkah Menorah is the one we commonly see which has eight branches with a ninth in the center called the shamash or servant light. The Temple Menorah has seven candlesticks for the seven days of creation. Three candle sticks on either side of a center candle stick represent the seventh day of creation or the Sabbath.
The Menorah has always been the symbol of Judaism since early times. I read something thing interesting in the Talmud this morning in Manahot 28b and that it is forbidden to use the seven-lamp Menorah outside the temple, therefore the Hanukkah Menorah is given eight branches with a ninth in the center.
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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God revealed the specific design of the Menorah to Moses and described the construction in Exodus 25:31-40. The Temple Institute in Israel has already built a reproduction of the Menorah precisely as prescribed in Exodus and it is ready to be instantly lit with the completion of the construction of the third temple.
Candlestick is a misnomer. Candlestick in Hebrew is nir which simply means a lamp or burner. Candles were not used extensively in the Middle East until the time of the Romans. The Menorah was five and a half feet tall and stood on a stand. Here is what I found interesting in reading Jewish literature. Most translations are very loose with the words beh’aloteka hanerot from the root word alah. Some translations say when you mount up, set up the candlesticks, or light the candle sticks. Actually, the word beh’aloteka hanerot in noun form means the lamplighter but in its verbal form it literally means: “in your raising of the light.” Rashi teaches that the lamplighter must hold the flame to the wick until a fire arises out of its own accord. The Lubavitcher Rebbe says that this teaches that when one is teaching and influencing one’s fellow, the object should be to establish him or her as a self-sufficient luminary so they can sufficiently glow in their own accord.
Here is what struck me, you would literally render Numbers 8:2 as: “Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When in your rising of your light, the seven lamps shall give light over against the lamp burner.” I believe there is a buried message here for pastors and Christian workers. We often consider evangelism as sharing the four spiritual laws, getting a person to pray the sinner’s prayer, and then going on our way. Saying the sinner’s prayer is only holding the fire to their wick, we must be sure their wick is lit and burning on its own before we move on. This may take days, weeks, perhaps years of disciplining, and all the time our goal is to let that person go so they can light other lamps.
Pastors spend years and years holding their light to their congregation, never letting go, afraid they will leave the fold so they are always warning that they must stay close to his light lest they trip and fall. Yet, like the mother bird, like any parent, there comes a time that you must push the fold out of the nest, leave the nest or Menorah behind, and let them establish their own church, or fellowship so they can light the Menorah of others.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
This word study was so refreshing and enlightening. As disciples we can sit at the feet of our teachers and learn the word of God for many years. However, when it’s time to leave and light the Menorah of others it’s such a fight and a disappointment. Thank you sir for this teaching!!!!!!!
The seven branch menorah is a symbol of IAHsha Who is the light of the world. John 8:12 It also represents the seven spirits of our Heavenly Father IAH. Revelation 1:4-5 ; IsaIAH 11:2
On the other hand, the menorah is a traditions of men, which IAHsha Does NOT accept In His worship. Mark 6-8; Matthew 15:6b-9
It’s interesting how similar Hebrew and Arabic are. “Noor” in Arabic means “light.” I love the idea of assisting someone in “glowing” with their light. This needs to be taught more so that certain leaders in our Christian community can understand the importance of that
Thank you so much for every one of your teachings… true enrichment.
Always let the light shine bright , we go through these times and we build relationship to later find out how the Lord has built them up in ways they sometimes don’t see . Let us not neglect to pray each time they come to remembrance .
Good evening from South Africa.
Does that mean, having, or even lighting the Menorah in our homes are prohibited?
I would also love to know about Hebraic Roots in today’s world. There is so much we don’t know.
I have a very strong spiritual connection to the Hebrew roots. I have not studied Hebrew as such yet. Rather getting familiar with words.
Thank you for this lesson.
I’ve always felt that I can’t really understand the Bible if I don’t understand the people it was written about. All this information is free to everyone on line.
I am reading a book about the Rebbe ,but I really wish that I could bring even one person to know Jesus. I wish more people would teach about Him. The Bible prophecies are coming true and it’s more crucial today than ever before that we evangelize, however that doesn’t mean that we stay around and brow beat a person until they accept Jesus. We plant the seed like Jesus says in the parable of the farmer sowing seeds . It’s God who will make the seeds grow sadly for me I have trouble getting around to plant the seeds due to health problems.
Still I must say “Thanks Be To God “for all that He has done for me in close to my 82 years.
As allways THANK YOU BRO. ❤️🔥😘🫂
Agree Chaim, as in states in Matthew,”Make disciples!”
Generally speaking makes on wonder whether making disciples is a lost process. It is a process not a set and forget event.
Amazing. Too bad they do not understand this!!!
Teresa, what do you mean? Who is they? And what is it they do not understand?