There is a common mistake many gentiles make concerning the MENORAH.
Contrary to popular assumption, the 7-branched MENORAH is NEVER lighted in an observant Jewish household.
Keep in mind that a 7-branched MENORAH is a special implement ONLY to be used in the Temple.
However, the Temple hasn’t existed for over 1900 years.
So while the 7-branched MENORAH serves as a poignant reminder of the Temple both past and future, the truth is most Jewish homes today don’t even have a 7-branched MENORAH.
However, there is a 9-branched MENORAH.
It isn’t mentioned in the Bible and emerged a little over a century before Yeshua.
The 9-branched MENORAH was created to celebrate one of the major Jewish holidays known as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights.
However, you might know it better by the name HANUKKAH.
There is some interesting history behind this holiday that I think many Christians are not familiar with.
However, if you’re a regular member at a Messianic Congregation, no doubt you have had the privilege of celebrating this holiday.
In a nutshell, HANUKKAH commemorates Judas the Maccabees’ victorious rebellion against Antiochus Epiphanies which resulted in the taking back and purifying of the Temple.
Epiphanies was a cruel and capricious puppet governor for Rome who ruled over the Holy Land in about 175 BC.
He did not take kindly to the Jews.
He attempted to outlaw Jewish religious rites and traditions kept by observant Jews and ordered the worship of Zeus (the sun-god) as the supreme god.
Things took a serious turn for the worse when Epiphanies went into the Temple, removed many of the valuable items, and erected a statue of himself in the form of Zeus inside the Holy of Holies of all places.
But the final straw that broke the camel’s back was when he sacrificed a pig to this statue!
He boiled the un-kosher meat and poured its broth all over the Temple Torah Scrolls.
Well, as you can imagine, the Jewish people just about lost their minds and a group of rebels was formed to battle against Epiphanies.
The Jewish rebels took the Temple back, but because many of the priests had been slaughtered, there wasn’t a sufficient supply of consecrated olive oil to keep the MENORAH lamps burning for more than one day.
However, according to historical legend, this is when an amazing miracle occurred.
Apparently that mere one-day supply of oil continued to burn for 8 days!
So the 8 branches of this special MENORAH represent this supposed 8-day miracle.
And the 9th branch is used to light the other eight branches.
As a result of this tale, observant Jewish homes do have a 9-branched MENORAH and this is what they light during the HANUKKAH season which also lasts 8 days and incidentally takes place during that time of year the Christian church has chosen to celebrate the birth of Yeshua.
Having said all that, I predict in the not too distance future when the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, the 7-branched MENORAH is going to make a big-time comeback.
The original wilderness tabernacle MENORAH and its 7 lamps which were to be kept burning at all times foreshadow Yeshua, the one who proclaimed Himself the “light of the world”.
Note that we are given a sober warning in Scripture that we will have our MENORAHs taken away from us if we do not adhere to Yeshua, our first love.
The great spiritual takeaway for today is this.
As believers, the very reason we are on this planet is to be light to a world seeped in darkness.
If we’re not serving as God’s light to a dark world, then we’re like MENORAHs without any oil.
We’re just taking up space.
We are supposed to keep the lamps in our tabernacles (these fleshly vessels we currently reside in) burning day and night.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids
who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
Five of them were foolish and five were sensible.
The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil.”
-Matthew 25:1-3
When Yeshua spoke again to the people,
he said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
-John 8:12
“You are light for the world.
A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Likewise, when people light a lamp,
they don’t cover it with a bowl
but put it on a lampstand,
so that it shines for everyone in the house.
In the same way,
let your light shine before people,
so that they may see the good things you do
and praise your Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:14-16
“To the angel of the Messianic Community in Ephesus, write:
‘Here is the message from the one
who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks among the seven gold menorahs:
“I know what you have been doing,
how hard you have worked,
how you have persevered,
and how you can’t stand wicked people;
so you tested those who call themselves emissaries but aren’t
— and you found them to be liars.
You are persevering,
and you have suffered for my sake without growing weary.
But I have this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Therefore, remember where you were before you fell,
turn from this sin,
and do what you used to do before.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your menorah from its place
— if you don’t turn from your sin!
-Revelations 2:1-5
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN EXODUS CHAPTER 26
The only resarvation I’ve got, is in regard, to not to use the Menorah – the 7 branch candelabra – but ratter use the Hanukiah- the 9 branch candelabra- because of what???
The ones whom came up with NOT to use the Menorah, are Rabbis whom don’t believe in Yeshua and rejected HIM outright! Why should WE as believers in Messiah Yeshua uphold any teaching/restriction of something G-D is established and Yeshua personified in HIS life and death.
The typo of the Menorah is used by Yeshua in Revelation for THE CHURCH as a unit of 7 candelabra. THE MENORAH is designed and established by G-D Himeself,NOT the Hanukiah.
Nothing is wrong with the reason we have the Hanukiah, unless, you substitute it for the real thing- THE MENORAH!!!
Hi there. Also received your comment on Facebook. As I said, I certainly wouldn’t disagree with you here. The purpose of the post was to point out the difference between the 7 and 9-branched Menorah. Not to promote the use of the 9-branched one. I don’t think Hanukkah is a Biblically ordained holiday.
The Bible tells us that Yeshua kept the feast of dedication what is referred to as Channukah/Hannukah.
Joh 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
Joh 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
This feast is to remind us to stay holy in G*d and never compromise our faith. Don’t mix pagan practices into our faith & worship. Don’t be celebrating X-mas or even Easter claiming you are worshiping G*d when this is the same issue that lead to the temple having to be rededicated. The true 3rd temple is in Heaven and we are to be mirrors of Christ as such are the pillars in the temple of G*d. I have no issues with having a 7 branch Menorah and lighting it upon the Sabbath as well as on Channukah as long as we acknowledge the meaning behind the Menorah in the first place. Its symbolic of the word of G*d that is 100% pure beaten gold. Just as the Meshach Yeshua was sinless and beaten for us and the Holy Spirit that is to be in us is poured out for us by Him thru His word in the Scriptures. Channukah was not set in the Tanakh but it was mentioned in the Brit Chadashah to remind of of history that we must not forget or we are doomed to repeat it just as Revelation in fact says many Christians will do so and become churches that are harlots as they compromised the faith.
I was raised in the congregational church in a small New England town. I remember in Sunday school we had a Menorah and learned about the old and new testaments. Over the years I’ve had many Jewish friends. Recently I started thinking about Israel. I was happy when president Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, where it belongs. I was wondering why some Menorahs have 7 branches and some have 9, I checked to see if there was a Synagogue near me but there isn’t. I went on line and found your website. Thank you for clearing up the question. I will follow the tradition and get or make a 9 branch Menorah, I think it is appropriate to save the 7 branch until the temple is rebuilt. I hope G-D will destroy the abomination on the temple mount soon. Since I am not Jewish this is only my opinion.
Thanks for sharing David. Be blessed and SHALOM!
As a believer in Yeshua, our redeemer and King, can we have a 7 branched menorah in our home? Do we have to wait till the temple is rebuilt and is it allowed to light it and when can we? I’m not Jewish with the exception of a trace of Ashkenazi Jewish that was found thru DNA.
The scriptures spoke about 7 lamp stands. Follow whats in the scripture not the doctrines of men.
Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. He went to the temple on the feast of dedication so my family celebrates it too. We use the traditional 9 light menorah. Since the Lord didn’t prescribe how to celebrate, but did give the festival authenticity, we tell our children that since we are gentiles we are the “wild branches grafted in” and as a symbol the 9 light menorah beautifully represents both Israel and the gentile bride.
In Zechariah 4:2-3 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
Then in Romans, Paul explains that some of the branches have been broken off and us gentile branches are grafted in.
Romans 11:17-18 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
So that’s how we do it. Not legalistic but also not missing the opportunity to celebrate our messiah with our family and show support for Israel!
Amen Shane!
As Christians we light a Menorah in our window at Christmas to show solidarity with Israel. Is this acceptable or is it seen as ‘appropriating culture’?
Thank you for you input
Hmm…tough question, but a good question.
I think it’s a good thing because you’re showing your solidarity with Israel.