Gr. luchnos, “a lamp,” not a candle such as we use today. Ancient lamps consisted of a clay or metal bowl often in the shape of a saucer, with the wick floating in the oil and its lighted portion resting on the side of the dish or projecting through a special orifice. Compare similar statements in Mark 4:21 and Luke 8:16; 11:33.

 Gr. modios, a grain measure containing about .25 bu. (8.75 liters). It was often used at home as a flour bin. Christ spoke of the “bushel” because in the average home of that day there was usually only one in the room. It was commonly made of earthenware. As a nation the Jews were effectively hiding their light (cf. Isa. 60:1) under “a bushel”; Jesus pointed out that the light entrusted to them belonged to all men. See Vol. IV, pp. 26-30.

 Gr. luchnia, “lampstand.” In the homes of the common people this was usually a low earthenware stand. At other times a shelf on the stone or wooden center post supporting the roof served as a convenient stand for the lamp (see Ex. 25:31; Heb. 9:2; Rev. 1:12; 11:4; etc.).

 All the members of a household may benefit from a lamp set properly on its lampstand. In a similar way it was God’s design that the entire human family should benefit from the light of truth God had entrusted to the descendants of Abraham (see Gen. 12:3; Deut. 4:6; Isa. 60:1-3; etc.; see also Vol. IV, pp. 28-30). Compare also the “candle” used in searching for the lost coin (see on Luke 15:8).