Exodus 37:17 kjv
And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:
Exodus 37:17 nkjv
He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece.
Exodus 37:17 niv
They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.
Exodus 37:17 esv
He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it.
Exodus 37:17 nlt
Then Bezalel made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. He made the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece ? the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals.
Exodus 37 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:31 | “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold... beaten work shall be made...” | God's initial command for the lampstand |
| Ex 31:1-5 | “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill... to devise artistic designs...” | Divine enablement for craftsmanship |
| Lev 24:3-4 | “outside the veil of the testimony... order the lamps before the Lord...” | Purpose of the lampstand's light in the Tabernacle |
| Num 8:4 | “And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold...” | Reinforces the "beaten work" instruction |
| 1 Kin 7:49 | “and the lampstands of pure gold... according to the prescribed arrangement...” | Temple's lampstands mirroring Tabernacle |
| Zech 4:2-3 | “I see a lampstand all of gold... with its seven lamps on it...” | Prophetic vision of a golden lampstand |
| Matt 5:14 | “You are the light of the world...” | Believers as light |
| John 1:4-5 | “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” | Jesus as the true light |
| John 8:12 | “I am the light of the world.” | Jesus's declaration as ultimate light |
| Eph 5:8 | “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord...” | Spiritual transformation to light |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | “He called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” | Believers' calling to proclaim God's light |
| Rev 1:12 | “and turning I saw seven golden lampstands...” | Lampstands representing churches |
| Rev 1:20 | “the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” | Direct interpretation of lampstands |
| Rev 4:5 | “Before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.” | Lampstand/light linked to Spirit of God |
| Rev 21:23 | “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” | Ultimate divine light in New Jerusalem |
| Ps 119:105 | “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” | God's Word as spiritual light |
| Prov 6:23 | “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light...” | Divine wisdom as guiding light |
| Isa 9:2 | “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...” | Prophecy of Christ as a great light |
| Num 17:8 | “the rod of Aaron... had sprouted and put forth blossoms...” | Almond blossom motif/life |
| Heb 8:5 | “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” | Tabernacle items as heavenly patterns |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | “that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” | Principle of unity echoed in 'one piece' construction |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” | Christ as the singular foundation for belief |
Exodus 37 verses
Exodus 37 17 Meaning
Exodus 37:17 describes the meticulous craftsmanship of the golden lampstand (menorah), specifying that it was made of pure gold, beaten out of a single piece. This unified construction encompassed its base, shaft, decorative cups, calyxes, and flowers, all seamlessly integrated. The verse highlights the precious material and the intricate method, ensuring its divine origin and symbolic purity as a source of light in the Tabernacle's holy place.
Exodus 37 17 Context
Exodus chapter 37 focuses on the meticulous execution of the Tabernacle furnishings, exactly as God had commanded Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25-27). Specifically, verse 17 is part of the description of Bezalel's construction of the lampstand, a vital piece of furniture located in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. This sacred space served as God's earthly dwelling place among His people, Israel, representing His tangible presence and accessible holiness. The detailed instructions for each item, down to their material and specific dimensions, emphasized God's desire for perfect worship and order, in stark contrast to the chaotic and crude idols of surrounding pagan cultures. The lampstand, by its precise design and function, also underscored God's self-sufficiency and the ordered nature of His revelation, providing continuous light without reliance on natural light, a veiled polemic against sun or moon deities.
Exodus 37 17 Word analysis
- He made: Refers to Bezalel, the chief artisan, supernaturally endowed with skill and understanding by the Spirit of God (Ex 31:1-5). This highlights that the craftsmanship was divinely inspired and enabled.
- lampstand: Hebrew: מְנֹרָה (menorah). This term designates a specific lighting fixture, crucial for illuminating the Holy Place. Beyond practical lighting, the menorah profoundly symbolized divine light, presence, revelation, and life within God's sanctuary.
- of pure gold: Hebrew: זָהָב טָהוֹר (zahav tahor). Denotes absolute purity and preciousness. Gold, known for its incorruptibility and beauty, signifies the divine nature, glory, and holiness. Pure gold implies no admixture, underscoring God's perfect and unblemished character.
- beaten work: Hebrew: מִקְשָׁה (miqshah). This unique and arduous method involved hammering the entire structure from a single block of gold, rather than casting it or assembling pre-made parts. It symbolizes organic unity, endurance forged through intense process, and divine perfection without any joints or seams, implying an unbreakable, seamless reality.
- its base: Hebrew: יְרֵכָהּ (yerekhah). The foundational support from which the entire lampstand rises. Symbolically, a firm foundation for the divine light and presence.
- and its shaft: Hebrew: קָנָהּ (qanah). The central column or main trunk of the lampstand. It serves as the core from which all branches emanate, representing the central truth or figure (ultimately Christ) from which all spiritual light and life derive.
- its cups: Hebrew: גְבִיעֶיהָ (g'vi'eha). Decorative elements shaped like almond blossoms, mentioned in Ex 25:33. They signify beauty, spiritual life, and a distinct organic motif associated with life and fruitfulness.
- its calyxes: Hebrew: כַפְתּוֹרֶיהָ (khaftporeha). Bud-like protuberances or knobs. Part of the intricate floral design, adding to the beauty and natural imagery. They represent embryonic life, new beginnings, or unfolding divine plan.
- and its flowers: Hebrew: וּפְרָחֶיהָ (uphrakheha). Blossoms. The full, open, decorative flower-like components, signifying complete bloom, glory, and flourishing divine life. The entire design suggests an organic, living plant, hinting at the "Tree of Life."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He made a lampstand of pure gold, beaten work:" This phrase highlights the divine mandate for precise execution by divinely enabled craftsmen, using the most precious and enduring material. The 'beaten work' emphasizes the meticulous and difficult process, forming a single, seamless, perfect artifact, not simply assembled parts. This speaks to the unified and perfect nature of God's dwelling and ultimately His Church and Christ Himself as a single, coherent entity.
- "its base and its shaft, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were one piece with it." This part reiterates the structural integrity and organic unity achieved through the miqshah (beaten work) method. Every component, from the stable foundation (base and shaft) to the blossoming decorative elements, emanated from and was inseparable from the whole. This signifies that all aspects of divine revelation, the church, or the believer's life in Christ are organically connected and arise from one unified source. The imagery suggests life, growth, and beauty inherent in God's design.
Exodus 37 17 Bonus section
The single piece construction of the lampstand stands in stark contrast to idols often made of separate parts or even composite materials. This subtly underscores the unity and unmanufactured nature of the one true God, distinct from fragmented pagan deities. The specific instruction for "beaten work" for the lampstand (menorah) is also found in Numbers 8:4, uniquely specified for this piece of Tabernacle furniture and the two cherubim over the mercy seat (Ex 25:19). This emphasis reinforces its divine significance and intrinsic spiritual unity, differentiating it from items that could be cast or assembled. The lampstand’s seven lamps, and their precise instructions (Ex 25:37), suggest completeness and spiritual perfection, echoing the seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5).
Exodus 37 17 Commentary
Exodus 37:17 is a concise but profoundly symbolic verse detailing the lampstand's construction. Its creation from "pure gold" signifies holiness, divinity, and intrinsic value, reflecting the nature of God whom it represents. The method of "beaten work" (miqshah), hammered out of a single piece, speaks volumes: it was an arduous, intentional process, ensuring no joints or seams. This denotes ultimate unity, perfection, and endurance. Spiritually, this unified structure prefigures Christ, the singular source of divine light and truth, and the unity of His Church, formed into one body, all parts intrinsically connected to Him. The design, incorporating "cups, calyxes, and flowers," subtly evokes a tree-like form, reminiscent of the Tree of Life in Eden, symbolizing vitality, beauty, and life in God's presence. The lampstand provided essential light in the Holy Place, which had no natural light source, highlighting that spiritual illumination comes solely from God.