Leviticus 24:2 kjv
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
Leviticus 24:2 nkjv
"Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.
Leviticus 24:2 niv
"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.
Leviticus 24:2 esv
"Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.
Leviticus 24:2 nlt
"Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
Leviticus 24 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 27:20-21 | Command the people of Israel that they bring... pure beaten olive oil... for a continually burning lamp... Aaron and his sons shall tend it... | Initial command for Tabernacle lamp's oil |
| Ex 30:7-8 | Aaron shall burn fragrant incense... when he trims the lamps in the morning and when he lights the lamps at twilight... | Priest's daily duty with the lamps |
| Lev 24:3-4 | Outside the veil... Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord continually. | Continuous burning; Aaron's role |
| Num 8:2-4 | Speak to Aaron and say to him, "When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand."... | Placement and direction of light |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word as spiritual illumination |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light... | Divine instruction as light |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | Christ as light to Gentiles |
| Matt 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others, so that they may see..." | Believers' role as light |
| Jn 1:4-9 | In Him was life, and the life was the light of men... The true Light, which enlightens every man... | Jesus Christ as the true light |
| Jn 8:12 | Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness..." | Jesus' self-declaration as light |
| Phil 2:15 | "...that you may be blameless... children of God without blemish... among whom you shine as lights in the world..." | Believers shining amidst darkness |
| Rev 1:12-20 | "...seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man... The seven lampstands are the seven churches." | Churches symbolized as lampstands |
| 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. | God's glory and Lamb as ultimate light |
| Zech 4:2-6 | "I see a lampstand of solid gold... two olive trees by it..." "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord. | Holy Spirit as source of power/oil |
| 1 Sam 3:3 | Now the lamp of God had not yet gone out... Samuel lay down... | Symbolic warning of spiritual decline |
| Ex 25:31-40 | Detailed instructions for the construction of the Menorah (lampstand). | Details of the vessel holding the light |
| Deut 8:8 | A land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees... | God's provision of olive oil in the land |
| Neh 10:39 | For the people of Israel... are to bring the tithe of grain, wine, and oil to the storehouses... | Community's contribution of oil |
| Heb 9:2 | For when a tent was prepared, the first section... the lampstand, the table, and the showbread. | NT confirmation of Holy Place items |
| Jn 9:5 | As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. | Jesus' transient presence as Light |
| Eph 5:8-9 | For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light... | Transformation of believers to light-bearers |
Leviticus 24 verses
Leviticus 24 2 Meaning
Leviticus 24:2 commands the Israelite community to provide pure, beaten olive oil specifically for the Tabernacle's lampstand, ensuring its continuous illumination. This ongoing provision highlights God's demand for perpetual worship and a constant divine presence within their midst.
Leviticus 24 2 Context
Leviticus 24 opens a distinct section following various purity laws and before specific legal judgments. Verses 1-9 deal with the Tabernacle's continuous services: the lighting of the lampstand (vv. 1-4) and the arrangement of the showbread (vv. 5-9). This placement within the Book of Leviticus underscores that the meticulous and regular maintenance of the Tabernacle's worship activities is foundational to Israel's holiness and their proper relationship with God, who dwells among them. The preceding chapters outline what defiles and what purifies, setting the stage for the practical, ongoing expression of God's presence and demands within the sacred space, starting with the constant light.
Leviticus 24 2 Word analysis
- Command (צַוֵּה, Tzavveh): This is a strong, authoritative imperative from God to Moses, indicating a non-negotiable and essential instruction for the entire community. It highlights divine will and the mandatory nature of this duty.
- Children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, B'nei Yisra'el): This specifies the recipients of the command – not just the priests, but the whole nation. It emphasizes that providing the resources for the sanctuary's perpetual light was a collective responsibility and act of communal worship, uniting them in service to God.
- Bring (יִקְחוּ, Yiq'hu): Means "they shall take" or "they shall bring." It denotes an active offering or contribution from the people, not a passive reception.
- Unto thee (אֵלֶיךָ, Eleicha): Refers to Moses, emphasizing that Moses is the immediate human recipient of this divine command and the one through whom the people are to act. It underscores Moses' intermediary role.
- Pure (זָךְ, Zakh): Signifies something unblemished, clean, without any impurity. This reflects the perfection and holiness required for anything presented for God's service in the Tabernacle.
- Oil olive (שֶׁמֶן זַיִת, Shemen Zayit): Specifically identifies the source as olive oil, a staple and vital resource in ancient Israel. Olive oil was not just practical for fuel but also culturally significant.
- Beaten (כָּתִית, Katit): Refers to oil produced by crushing the olives rather than pressing them, yielding the purest and clearest oil, often from the first pressing. It signifies the highest quality, free from sediment, embodying an offering of excellence to God.
- For the light (לַמָּאוֹר, LaMa'or): Ma'or refers to a "luminary" or a "light-bearer," indicating the specific purpose of the oil was to fuel the Tabernacle lampstand (Menorah) as the source of illumination in the Holy Place.
- To cause the lamps to burn (לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, L'ha'alot Ner): Literally, "to cause a lamp to ascend" or "to set up a lamp" in terms of lighting and maintaining its flame. It denotes the act of continually setting up or preparing the lamps so that they provide light.
- Continually (תָּמִיד, Tamid): Means "always," "perpetually," "regularly." It stresses that the light in the Tabernacle was never to go out, signifying God's unceasing presence, watchful eye, and unwavering covenant relationship with His people.
Leviticus 24 2 Bonus section
The consistent provision and burning of the oil for the Menorah in the Tabernacle, as detailed here, served several crucial purposes:
- Practical Illumination: The Holy Place of the Tabernacle had no windows, so the lampstand was the sole source of light, essential for the priests performing their duties.
- Symbolic of God's Presence: The unceasing light underscored God's constant presence among His people, a powerful symbol in a world often dominated by darkness and uncertainty.
- A Continuous Act of Worship: It was not a one-time offering but a perpetual duty, reinforcing the idea of a sustained relationship with God requiring ongoing dedication and resources from the community.
- A Polemic Against Idolatry: Unlike the inconsistent or often dark shrines of pagan gods, the constant, pure light in the Tabernacle highlighted the living God's enduring revelation and faithfulness, starkly contrasting Him with inert idols.
- Forecasting Christ and the Holy Spirit: The oil has often been understood as a type of the Holy Spirit, empowering and illuminating. The continuous light points forward to Jesus Christ, the never-fading light of the world, and the believers, who are to be sustained by the Holy Spirit to shine His light.
Leviticus 24 2 Commentary
Leviticus 24:2 is more than a simple instruction for lamp oil; it is a profound command rooted in Israel's theological identity and purpose. The provision of pure, beaten olive oil for continual light in the Tabernacle speaks to God's demand for unadulterated worship and an unceasing awareness of His holy presence. This ongoing service was a tangible demonstration of Israel's faithfulness and obedience, reflecting a covenant relationship that required active maintenance. The light itself symbolized God's revelatory presence, guidance, and truth amidst the spiritual darkness of the world. While the physical lamp burned in the Holy Place, it pointed to a greater spiritual reality: God is light (1 Jn 1:5), and He desires His people to walk in His light. The command also emphasizes community involvement; it was the "children of Israel," not solely the priests, who were responsible for supplying this vital element, signifying shared responsibility in supporting divine worship. In the New Covenant, this principle is spiritually fulfilled by Christ, the true Light of the World, and extended to believers who are called to be lights, reflecting His truth through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (symbolized by oil) in their lives.