Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
Parallel translations
- WEB I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands.
- KJV And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- NKJV Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
- NASB Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands;
- NLT When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands.
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
Turning toward the voice, John sees seven golden lampstands. It matters because these lampstands picture the churches among whom Christ is present.
Overview
John turns and beholds seven golden lampstands, later identified as the seven churches. The imagery recalls the lampstand of the tabernacle and Zechariah's vision, signifying God's people as light-bearers. The vision prepares for the central figure who walks among them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Zech 4:2“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
- Exod 25:37Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
- 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.
- Rev 1:13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.
- Ezek 43:5–6Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
- Mic 6:9The voice of the LORD calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 1:12 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 Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.