Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.
Parallel translations
- WEB There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side;
- KJV And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
- NKJV And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.
- NASB Six branches shall go out from its sides; three branches of the lampstand from its one side and three branches of the lampstand from its other side.
- NLT Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.
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 lampstand was to have six branches, three on each side of the central shaft. Its many branches spread the light fully across the holy place.
Overview
The six branches extending from the central shaft, together making seven lamps, gave the lampstand its distinctive form. This balanced design ensured abundant light within the sanctuary. The number seven often signifies fullness and completeness in Scripture. The radiant, unified lampstand displays the fullness of God's light, ultimately embodied in Christ and reflected through His church.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 25:32 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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