Exodus 25:37 kjv
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exodus 25:37 nkjv
You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.
Exodus 25:37 niv
"Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.
Exodus 25:37 esv
You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.
Exodus 25:37 nlt
Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward.
Exodus 25 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex. 27:20-21 | "You shall further command the sons of Israel... olive oil ... for the light..." | Menorah needs pure oil to perpetually burn. |
| Ex. 30:7-8 | "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it ... when he trims the lamps..." | Daily priestly duties with lamps and incense. |
| Ex. 40:24-25 | "He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting ... and lit the lamps..." | Fulfillment of the divine command to light. |
| Lev. 24:1-4 | "You shall command the sons of Israel that they bring... oil for the light..." | Sustaining the perpetual light in the sanctuary. |
| Num. 8:1-4 | "Speak to Aaron ... 'When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light..." | Detailed instruction for the arrangement and lighting of lamps. |
| Zech. 4:2-10 | "What do you see?' I said, 'I see a lampstand all of gold... with seven lamps...'" | Vision of the menorah with seven lamps, signifying God's Spirit. |
| Ps. 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's word as spiritual guidance and illumination. |
| Prov. 6:23 | "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light..." | Divine wisdom as moral and spiritual light. |
| Isa. 9:2 | "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light..." | Prophecy of the Messiah bringing light to humanity. |
| Isa. 60:1-3 | "Arise, shine; for your light has come... the glory of the LORD has risen upon you." | God's glory illuminating His people, attracting nations. |
| Matt. 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before men..." | Disciples of Christ called to be light to others. |
| Jn. 1:4-9 | "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness..." | Jesus is the true, life-giving Light. |
| Jn. 8:12 | "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world...'" | Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate source of light. |
| Jn. 9:5 | "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." | Jesus' presence illuminates human existence. |
| Eph. 5:8-9 | "For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord..." | Believers are transformed into light in Christ. |
| 1 Pet. 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race... so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..." | Believers' calling to proclaim God's light. |
| Heb. 9:2 | "For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand..." | Menorah's presence in the Holy Place, establishing typological link. |
| Rev. 1:4 | "...from the seven Spirits who are before His throne..." | Sevenfold Spirit of God, echoing "seven lamps." |
| Rev. 1:12-20 | "And I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of Man..." | Lampstands representing churches, overseen by Christ. |
| Rev. 4:5 | "Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne..." | Seven Spirits of God (or God's Spirit in its fullness) before the throne. |
| Rev. 21:23-24 | "And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb." | Heavenly Jerusalem lit by God's glory and the Lamb. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 37 Meaning
Exodus 25:37 instructs Moses regarding the seven lamps of the menorah, the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle. It specifies that these lamps, designed to be integral to the menorah, must be positioned to cast their light directly forward, illuminating the immediate space within the Holy Place. This divine directive underscores the functional purpose of the menorah as a constant source of illumination in a place representing God's dwelling, a light that is both literal and symbolic of divine presence, revelation, and the guiding truth emanating from God.
Exodus 25 37 Context
Exodus 25:37 is situated within the detailed divine instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 25-31). This particular verse focuses on the Menorah, or golden lampstand, which was to be placed in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, opposite the Table of Showbread. The instructions are meticulous, emphasizing precise divine specifications for every aspect, down to the number of lamps and their orientation. This detail underscores that the Tabernacle was not merely a structure but a holy sanctuary, a direct representation of God's presence among His people, where every element served a symbolic and functional purpose in facilitating worship and maintaining a sacred relationship with Yahweh. It contrasts sharply with the polytheistic practices and arbitrary idol worship prevalent among surrounding cultures, where deities often represented natural forces like the sun, reinforcing Yahweh as the one true, self-sustaining source of light and truth.
Exodus 25 37 Word analysis
- Then you shall make (וְעָשִׂיתָ, v'asita): A direct divine command to Moses, implying craftsmanship guided by specific heavenly design. It underscores God's meticulous care in instructing the Tabernacle's construction.
- its lamps (אֶת-נֵרֹתֶיהָ, et-neroteha): "Lamps" (נֵר, ner, plural nerot) refers to the individual lights, which would have been small oil vessels with wicks. In biblical culture, lamps provided essential light, making them metaphors for life, truth, and guidance. They functioned by consuming oil, which itself often symbolized the Holy Spirit or divine anointing.
- seven (שִׁבְעָה, shiv'ah): This number is highly significant in the Bible, representing completeness, perfection, divine fullness, and sacredness. It resonates with the seven days of creation, God's Spirit in its sevenfold aspects (Isa. 11:2; Rev. 1:4), and the totality of divine purpose or manifestation. The seven lamps collectively provide full illumination.
- in number (מספר, mispar): Explicitly states the precise count, removing any ambiguity.
- and they shall mount (וְהֶעֱלָה, vehe'elah): From the verb עָלָה, 'alah, meaning "to go up, ascend, bring up." It suggests not just placing, but setting them up to function, to kindle or cause them to ascend in operation, thereby giving light. It implies the intentional action required to activate the light source.
- its lamps (אֶת-נֵרֹתֶיהָ, et-neroteha): Repetition emphasizes the importance of these specific lamps.
- so that they give light (וְהֵאִיר, vehe'ir): From the verb אוֹר, 'or, "to be light, shine." The verb used is in the Hiphil stem, which denotes causation—they are to cause light to appear or illuminate. This is the explicit purpose: active, directed illumination.
- directly in front of it (אֶל-פְּנֵי מְנוֹרָה, el-penei menorah): Literally, "to the face of the lampstand." This phrase indicates a precise orientation. The light was to emanate forward, illuminating the immediate space within the Holy Place, particularly the area facing the priests as they performed their duties. This suggests focused light for the service of God and revelation within the sanctuary.
Exodus 25 37 Bonus section
The Menorah, including its lamps, was a self-contained source of light within the otherwise dark Holy Place. It did not rely on external light but rather its internal burning oil. This symbolizes that true spiritual illumination originates from God alone and His Spirit (often symbolized by oil), not from human wisdom or external philosophies. The placement "directly in front" meant the light would illuminate the Table of Showbread and potentially the Altar of Incense from a specific angle, ensuring that the activities associated with communion (showbread) and worship (incense) were performed under God's clear light. This direct focus could also subtly counter pagan sun worship by emphasizing that the true light source was contained within the divine sanctuary, a holy, prescribed light distinct from naturalistic, uncontrollable celestial bodies.
Exodus 25 37 Commentary
Exodus 25:37 precisely defines the operation of the menorah, a crucial artifact in the Tabernacle. The command to create seven lamps emphasizes biblical numerology of completion and divine perfection, signifying that the light provided within the Tabernacle was whole, adequate, and divinely ordained. These lamps, when lit, were to cast their illumination "directly in front of it," highlighting a specific and purposeful direction for the light, signifying God's direct revelation and presence in the Holy Place, and for the benefit of priestly service. This was not mere decorative light, but functional light essential for the daily ministry, illustrating that God's presence (represented by the Menorah) actively illuminated the path for His priests and, by extension, His people. It foreshadows Jesus, who declared Himself "the Light of the World," providing clarity and direction. Practically, believers are to be "light in the Lord" (Eph. 5:8), strategically positioned to illuminate truth to the world around them.