Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
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.’”
- BSB “Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’”
- 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 25:37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
- 2 Pet 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- Ps 119:130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
- Rev 1:20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
- Exod 37:23And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.
- Exod 40:25And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
- Lev 24:1–2And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- Matt 5:14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
- Rev 1:12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- Lev 24:4He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
- John 1:9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
- Ps 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
- Rev 4:5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
- Exod 37:18–19And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
- Isa 8:20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.