When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold 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;
- BSB Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
- 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;
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 4:2He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;
- Exod 25:37You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
- Rev 1:20the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
- Rev 1:13And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.
- Ezek 43:5–6The Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, Yahweh’s glory filled the house.
- Mic 6:9Yahweh’s voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed 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.