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Lamp

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A source of light, symbolizing wisdom, guidance, the presence of God, the enlightened mind, or the soul.

Detailed Definition
"Your word is a lamp to my feet," says the Psalmist. The lamp is a universal symbol of spiritual illumination, dispelling the darkness of ignorance. In poetry, a single lamp can represent the individual soul, a teacher, or the enduring flame of faith in a dark world. The oil in the lamp symbolizes the fuel of spiritual practice. Poets use the image of lighting a lamp to signify the act of prayer, meditation, or seeking wisdom, and the steady flame represents the unwavering presence of the divine.
Example
Example in poetry:
In biblical poetry, the Lamp is God’s word: “Your word is a Lamp to my feet”; In Diwali verse, Lamp (diya) symbolizes light over darkness: “Clay Lamp—hope flickers in oil and wick”; In Sufi poetry, the Lamp is the heart: “Polish your Lamp—let it hold the Beloved’s flame”; Contemporary poets use Lamp as guidance: “Grandmother’s Lamp—still burns in my memory’s hallway.”
Additional Notes
Lamps appear in parables (Matthew 25), Diwali celebrations, and Buddhist offerings; they symbolize wisdom dispelling ignorance; in poetry, the lamp often represents the soul, conscience, or poetic voice—fragile yet persistent, requiring tending, and casting light that reveals truth in darkness.
Also Known As
Oil Lamp Diya Lantern
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