2 Chronicles 4 20

2 Chronicles 4:20 kjv

Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

2 Chronicles 4:20 nkjv

the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in the prescribed manner in front of the inner sanctuary,

2 Chronicles 4:20 niv

the lampstands of pure gold with their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

2 Chronicles 4:20 esv

the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed;

2 Chronicles 4:20 nlt

the lampstands and their lamps of solid gold, to burn in front of the Most Holy Place as prescribed;

2 Chronicles 4 verses

2 Chronicles 4 20 Meaning

2 Chronicles 4:20 describes the pure gold lampstands and their lamps crafted for Solomon's Temple, which were to burn continually according to divine instruction within the Holy Place, specifically before the entrance to the Most Holy Place. This signifies the presence of divine light, purity, and adherence to God's commanded worship, representing God's ongoing revelation and illumination to His people.

2 Chronicles 4 20 Context

This verse is part of 2 Chronicles Chapter 4, which meticulously details the bronze and gold furnishings Solomon commissioned for the Temple in Jerusalem. Following the description of the bronze altar, the great bronze Sea, and ten bronze wheeled stands, the text shifts to the sacred gold objects located within the Temple's interior. Verse 20 focuses specifically on the golden lampstands, emphasizing their pure material and purpose to burn perpetually. The overarching historical context is the building and dedication of Solomon's magnificent Temple, a central hub for Israelite worship, signifying God's permanent presence among His people after the nomadic tabernacle period. The extensive and valuable furnishings underscore the immense honor and reverence given to God's dwelling place, adhering closely to the divine patterns revealed to Moses and David.

2 Chronicles 4 20 Word analysis

• And the lampstands (וְהַמְּנֹרוֹת, ve-ha-menorot):
  • Original Word: מְנוֹרָה (menorah), meaning "lampstand" or "candelabrum." The definite article "ha-" ("the") and plural ending "-ot" ("-s") denote specific, known items.
  • Significance: Unlike the single menorah in the Tabernacle (Ex 25:31), Solomon’s Temple had ten lampstands (2 Chr 4:7), five on each side. This multiplication signifies the Temple's increased grandeur and scale, reflecting God's abundant provision and glory. They symbolized the source of divine light and the ongoing presence of God within His dwelling.
• of pure gold (זָהָב סָגוּר, zahav sagur):
  • Original Words: זָהָב (zahav), "gold"; סָגוּר (sagur), "shut up," "compact," often implying refined or pure. It suggests unadulterated, finest quality gold.
  • Significance: Gold is the most precious and enduring metal, symbolizing divine glory, purity, holiness, and the enduring nature of God’s presence. It emphasizes the extraordinary value and sanctity of the objects used in God's service. The use of pure gold suggests that only the best is fit for God’s worship.
• and their lamps (וְנֵרוֹתֵיהֶם, ve-nerot-ehem):
  • Original Word: נֵר (ner), meaning "lamp," "light." The suffix "-ehem" means "their." These are the individual lamps that sat atop the lampstands.
  • Significance: While the lampstands hold the lamps, it is the lamps themselves that emit the light, enabled by oil (not mentioned here but understood from other texts, e.g., Ex 27:20). This highlights the functional aspect – not just an ornate structure, but an active source of illumination, essential for priestly duties within the sacred space.
• to burn (לְהַדְלִיק, le-hadliq):
  • Original Word: הִדְלִיק (hidliq), "to light," "to cause to burn." The prefix "le-" makes it infinitive ("to").
  • Significance: This verb specifies the purpose and active function of the lamps—to provide continuous light. It implies the regular, ritualistic tending by priests (Ex 27:21), symbolizing God's perpetual presence and the ongoing revelation of His truth.
• according to the ordinance (כַּמִּשְׁפָּט, ka-mishpat):
  • Original Words: כְּ (ka-), "according to," "as"; מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), "judgment," "rule," "ordinance," "statute."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes strict adherence to divine command and established ritual. It underlines the precise nature of Tabernacle/Temple worship, which was not arbitrary but designed and ordained by God. This underscores Israel’s responsibility to follow God’s will exactly, highlighting His sovereignty over the details of worship.
• before the inner sanctuary (לִפְנֵי הַדְּבִיר, lifnei ha-debir):
  • Original Words: לִפְנֵי (lifnei), "before," "in the presence of," "in front of"; דְּבִיר (debir), "inner sanctuary," referring to the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies.
  • Significance: This phrase defines the precise location of the lampstands within the Holy Place, just outside the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place. The light from these lamps would illuminate the Holy Place, and symbolically cast its glow towards the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. This signifies the presence of divine light emanating from God’s immediate presence, facilitating the priests' sacred service within the temple and allowing for holy worship in proximity to God’s manifested glory.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• The lampstands...of pure gold: This grouping highlights the material and quantity, denoting extreme sacredness, permanence, and majesty fitting for God’s dwelling. The proliferation from one to ten emphasizes an amplification of God's manifest glory.
• And their lamps to burn: This links the structure with its function. The lampstands were not merely decorative but purposeful: to hold the lamps that emitted light, vital for visibility and symbolizing God's active, perpetual presence and the ongoing performance of priestly duties.
• According to the ordinance before the inner sanctuary: This combination emphasizes precision in ritual and the holy location. Every detail of Temple service, including the placement and operation of these sacred items, was governed by divine instruction, performed in a designated sacred space reflecting God's accessible, yet ultimately transcendent, dwelling.

2 Chronicles 4 20 Bonus section

• The multiplication of lampstands from one (Tabernacle) to ten (Temple) in 2 Chronicles 4 signifies a deliberate increase in scale and grandeur, correlating with the enlarged, more permanent dwelling place for God, symbolizing an expanded manifestation of His light and glory. This is often seen as reflective of God's increasing glory and the scope of His revelation.
• The continual burning of these lamps, though dependent on priestly maintenance, reflects God's self-sustaining presence and light. The light was a practical necessity within the windowless Holy Place and a powerful symbol.
• The "pure gold" specified for these items contrasts sharply with the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, where idols were often made of wood overlaid with precious metals (or lesser materials). The very material emphasizes the incomparable, intrinsic worth and purity of the God of Israel.
• The daily ritual of maintaining the lamps taught Israel discipline, vigilance, and the enduring need for divine illumination in their lives. It was a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness and their duty to reflect His light.
• The detailed enumeration of Temple furnishings in Chronicles emphasizes the complete fulfillment of David's preparations and God's covenant promises, building upon the foundations laid by Moses.

2 Chronicles 4 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 4:20 focuses on the construction and placement of the ten pure gold lampstands and their associated lamps for Solomon's Temple. These artifacts, more numerous than the single lampstand of the Tabernacle, were exquisitely made of pure gold, signifying the unsurpassed holiness and grandeur appropriate for the divine dwelling. Their purpose was to continuously burn, providing light "according to the ordinance," indicating adherence to God’s specific instructions for Tabernacle/Temple service (echoing Exodus 27 and Leviticus 24). Situated "before the inner sanctuary," which is the Holy Place, their light was crucial for priestly functions and symbolically illuminated the path to God's Most Holy Presence. This constant light symbolized God's unwavering presence among His people, His guidance through His law and word, and His illumination of truth amidst darkness. This light ultimately foreshadows Christ, the true Light of the world (John 8:12), who embodies God's presence and perfectly illuminates the way to salvation, rendering the physical temple lights obsolete in the New Covenant era.