And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;
Parallel translations
- WEB and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold that was perfect gold;
- BSB the flowers, lamps, and tongs of gold—of purest gold;
- NKJV with the flowers and the lamps and the wick-trimmers of gold, of purest gold;
- NASB the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, that is, of purest gold;
- NLT the flower decorations, lamps, and tongs—all of the purest gold;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The decorative flowers, lamps, and tongs were all made of perfect, refined gold. The detail underscores the beauty and excellence devoted to God's worship.
Overview
Even the small accessories of the lampstands were crafted from the finest gold, described as 'perfect gold.' Such attention to ornamentation reflected the splendor appropriate to the dwelling place of God's name. The beauty of the sanctuary testified that God deserves the very best of human craft and devotion, foreshadowing the perfect and incorruptible worship found in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 25:31–40And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
- 2 Chr 4:5And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.
- 1 Kgs 6:35And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
- 1 Kgs 6:18And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
- Exod 37:20And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:
- 1 Kgs 6:29And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 4:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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