Hanukkah, or the Festival of Light, is an important part of Jewish tradition. During this festive holiday, Jews around the world celebrate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, the word “Hanukkah” itself refers to the miracle of the single day’s worth of oil that miraculously burned for eight days. Hanukkah has been part of the Jewish tradition for hundreds of years, but many people don’t know how it is directly referenced in the Bible.
The name “Hanukkah” does not appear in the Bible; instead, it appears in extra-biblical writings such as the Talmudic and midrashim. The holiday, however, is referenced in the Bible under the name of the holiday on which it was celebrated: Chag ha’Urim, “Festival of Lights.” The festival is mentioned three times in the Bible—once in the book of Ezekiel, once in the book of Daniel, and once in the Mishna.Ezekiel 46:14
In Chapter 46, Verse 14 of the book of Ezekiel, we read that the Lord commanded the priests to move around the Temple courtyard, where they were to celebrate the Festival of Lights:
And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the Lord thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh…and Celebrate the festival of lights, as is commanded at its appointed time.
The Festival of Lights in Daniel
In the book of Daniel, the Festival of Lights is mentioned in connection with Passover. According to verses 11 and 27 of Chapter 10, after Daniel had been fasting for three weeks, “the time arrived for the Festival of Lights.”
The Festival of Lights in the Mishna
The Mishna contains a parallel version of the commandment mentioned in Ezekiel. Here, the Festival of Lights is connected to Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles:
The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: When you enter the Land of Canaan, you shall celebrate the Festival of Lights…you shall celebrate the Festival of Lights for seven days.
Thus, we can see that although the name Hanukkah is not actually used anywhere in the Bible, the celebration is nonetheless mentioned three times. In Ezekiel, it is placed in the context of burnt offerings and sacrifices. In Daniel, it is placed in the context of Passover. And in the Mishna, it is placed in the context of Sukkot. Together, these references show that Hanukkah was an already established festival at the time the books of the Bible were written.
Celebrated for hundreds of years, the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, marks a special time of year for Jews around the world. Although the name Hanukkah does not appear in the Bible, its celebration is referencing three times—in the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Mishnah—showing that it has been part of Jewish tradition for a very long time.
Related Products:
- Where Is Hanukkah Mentioned In The Bible?
- Where In The Bible Is The Story Of Hanukkah?
- Where In The Bible Is Hanukkah?
- Where Is The Story Of Hanukkah In The Bible?
- Where In The Bible Is Hanukkah Mentioned?
- Where Is The Hanukkah Story In The Bible?
- What Is Hanukkah In The Bible?
- Where In The Bible Does It Talk About Hanukkah?
- Where Is Hanukkah In The Bible?
- What Is Hanukkah Called In French?
- Where In The Bible Did Jesus Celebrate Hanukkah?
- What Is The Candle Holder Called In Hanukkah?
- What Does The Bible Say About Hanukkah?
- What Is The Last Night Of Hanukkah Called?
- What Book Is Hanukkah In?
Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.