20:8

there were many lamps: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as many is literally “a number of.” It probably implies more than the usual number of lamps for that size of room.

lamps: At that time, a “lamp” was a small clay bowl shaped for a wick on one side. People put oil in it. The oil burned and gave light.

Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use the type of lamp that people in your culture use inside a house. A type that burns oil or kerosene is a good option.

• Use a different type of light, such as a candle.

• Use a general word for lamp or light. You may want to describe it as using oil. For example:

⌊oil⌋ lamp/light

The word you use should allow a general meaning that can include the oil lamp of that time. The word should not refer only to a modern type of lamp, such as a pressurized lamp.

See how you translated the word “lamp” in Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21, or Luke 8:16.

the upper room: This refers to a room or part of the house that was built on top of the main part of the house. In some cultures this custom is not known. If that is true in your language, you may want to describe it. For example:

the room above in that house
-or-
a large room built on top of the main part of the house
-or-
in a house with an upper ⌊story⌋ and a lower ⌊story⌋ it was the upper ⌊story⌋

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