Exodus 37:18 kjv
And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
Exodus 37:18 nkjv
And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.
Exodus 37:18 niv
Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand?three on one side and three on the other.
Exodus 37:18 esv
And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;
Exodus 37:18 nlt
The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.
Exodus 37 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:31-36 | "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of beaten work... Its knops, its flowers shall be of one piece with it." | Initial divine instructions for menorah design. |
| Ex 31:3-5 | "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God... to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze." | Divine enablement for craftsmanship. |
| Ex 39:43 | "So Moses did all that the LORD had commanded him... and Moses blessed them." | God's commands followed precisely. |
| Heb 8:5 | "who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed... when he was about to make the tabernacle." | Earthly patterns of heavenly realities. |
| Heb 9:23 | "Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified... but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices." | Heavenly forms foreshadowed by earthly copies. |
| 1 Kgs 6:20-22 | "The inner sanctuary he overlaid with pure gold... and overlaid the altar of cedar with gold." | Temple construction, use of pure gold. |
| Rev 1:12-13 | "I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man." | Vision of Christ among the lampstands (churches). |
| Rev 1:20 | "The seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." | Lampstands representing the Church. |
| Isa 40:19-20 | "A workman casts an image... and a goldsmith overspreads it with gold... One who is too poor... chooses wood that will not rot..." | Contrast with idolatrous, flawed craftsmanship. |
| Jer 10:3-5 | "For the customs of the peoples are futile... It is a tree which is cut from the forest... fixed with nails and hammers... they cannot speak." | Further contrast to man-made idols. |
| Deut 32:4 | "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice..." | God's perfect and unified work. |
| Ps 19:7 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." | God's perfect law, analogous to His perfect design. |
| Mal 3:3 | "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver... and purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver." | Gold's purity through refinement, spiritual parallel. |
| Job 23:10 | "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." | Purity after testing. |
| Eph 4:4-6 | "There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all." | Emphasis on spiritual unity in the Church. |
| 1 Cor 12:12 | "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members... are one body, so also is Christ." | Organic unity within the body of Christ. |
| Jn 17:21-23 | "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us." | Christ's prayer for believer's unity. |
| Zec 4:2 | "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it..." | Prophetic vision of a complete, unified lampstand. |
| Hag 2:8 | "‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts." | God's ownership and provision of resources. |
| 1 Pet 1:7 | "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes... may be found to praise, honor, and glory." | Value of refined faith over perishing gold. |
| Mt 5:14 | "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." | Believers as spiritual light bearers. |
| Jn 8:12 | "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness...’" | Christ as the ultimate source of light. |
Exodus 37 verses
Exodus 37 18 Meaning
Exodus 37:18 describes the integral nature of the knops and branches of the golden lampstand (menorah), stating they were of the same unified piece as the lampstand itself. This entire structure was crafted as one continuous "beaten work" (Hebrew: miqshāh) from pure gold, signifying divine origin, unblemished purity, perfect unity, and meticulous divine craftsmanship without any separation or joining of parts. It emphasizes the wholeness and uncorrupted quality of God’s dwelling place and its furnishings.
Exodus 37 18 Context
Exodus 37 is situated within the narrative of the tabernacle's construction, following the detailed divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25-31). This chapter specifically details Bezaleel's fulfillment of God's commands in making the sacred furniture for the Tent of Meeting, which was to serve as the earthly dwelling place of God among His people, Israel. The context highlights the precise execution of a divine blueprint for worship and the tangible presence of God. Historically, Israel had just been liberated from Egyptian bondage and was entering a covenant relationship with God. The elaborate design of the tabernacle and its components, including the lampstand, provided a stark contrast to the polytheistic and idol-worshipping practices of surrounding nations, establishing a unique and holy system of worship centered on the one true God.
Exodus 37 18 Word analysis
- Their knops (גְבִיעֵהֶם gĕbîʿêhem): Literally, "their cups" or "bowls." This term refers to the ornamental calyx-like enlargements, bud-like shapes, or blossoms on the lampstand's shaft and branches. They were integral parts of the artistic design, emphasizing the beauty and organic, natural-like elements divinely incorporated.
- and their branches (וְקָנֹתֵיהֶם vəqānōthêhem): Refers to the arms or stems extending from the central shaft of the lampstand. Qāneh (singular) generally means "reed" or "stalk," denoting straight, slender supports. There were six branches, three on each side, symmetrical to the central shaft.
- were of the same (מִמֶּנָּה mimmennah): This phrase translates to "from it," specifically from the lampstand itself, referring to the shaft from which the branches sprouted. It stresses that these elements were not added on but were contiguous with the main structure.
- all of it (כֻּלֹּה kullōh): "The whole of it" or "entirety of it." Reinforces the comprehensive and unified nature of the entire piece, from the shaft to the branches and their embellishments.
- one beaten work (מִקְשָׁה אַחַת miqshāh aḥath):
- Miqshāh is derived from the root qāshah, "to be hard," implying "beaten out," "hammered work." It signifies that the lampstand was fashioned from a single, solid ingot of gold, meticulously hammered and chiselled into its complex form. This process required immense skill, strength, and patience.
- Aḥath means "one" or "a single unit." The "one beaten work" emphasizes its monolithic creation – no separate parts were cast and then joined or welded together. This points to absolute integrity, purity, and an unbroken design, symbolizing the unity of God and His perfect, seamless plan.
- of pure gold (זָהָב טָהוֹר zāhāv ṭāhôr):
- Zāhāv is "gold."
- Ṭāhôr means "pure," "clean," "undefiled," refined of all impurities. It speaks to the intrinsic value and incorruptible nature of the material. Symbolically, this pure gold signifies the divine nature, holiness, preciousness, and imperishability. It also suggests that God's work, plan, and presence are unadulterated and of the highest quality. The absence of alloy highlights divine perfection and lack of compromise.
Exodus 37 18 Bonus section
The concept of "beaten work" (miqshah) holds significant symbolic weight. It suggests the laborious and often forceful process required to bring forth something of perfect form and unity from raw material. The Menorah, created through repeated hammering, might metaphorically point towards the refining and shaping experiences God's people undergo, or even more profoundly, the suffering of the Messiah—hammered, as it were, by human iniquity, to bring forth perfect salvation and light. The single piece construction also speaks to the idea of an unbroken connection to the divine source and purpose. The very high value placed on "pure gold" was not just material but also reflected in ancient cultures' perception of durability and incorruptibility, mirroring divine attributes. The absence of joins or welding implied a divine integrity and an internal cohesion for a structure meant to emanate God’s light.
Exodus 37 18 Commentary
Exodus 37:18 offers a critical detail about the menorah’s construction: its absolute unity and purity. The description "one beaten work of pure gold" highlights a craftsmanship that defies separation, illustrating that all its intricate components—shaft, branches, knops, and flowers—originated from a single mass of refined gold. This monolithic creation from miqshah signifies an undivided perfection and seamless design directly commanded by God. The "pure gold" symbolizes divine essence, incorruptibility, and holiness, distinguishing God's chosen worship from any human-made, often impure, religious practices of the surrounding cultures. This intricate and integrated design mirrors the singular and perfect nature of God Himself, who is without division or blemish.