“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lamp stand.’”
- KJV Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
- NKJV “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ”
- NASB “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will provide light in the front of the lampstand.’ ”
- NLT “Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.”
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
Aaron is told to set the seven lamps so they shine in front of the lampstand. The arrangement directs light onto the holy place.
Overview
The golden lampstand (menorah) lit the holy place continually, its seven lamps focused forward to illumine worship before God (Exodus 25:31-37). Light symbolizes God's presence, truth, and guidance. This points to Christ, the light of the world, and to his people called to shine before others (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Exod 25:37Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
- 2 Pet 1:19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- Rev 1:20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- Exod 37:23He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.
- Exod 40:25and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Lev 24:1–2Then the LORD said to Moses,
- Matt 5:14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
- Rev 1:12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
- Lev 24:4He shall tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.
- John 1:9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
- Ps 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
- Rev 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God.
- Exod 37:18–19Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other.
- Isa 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 8:2 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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