Numbers 8 4

Numbers 8:4 kjv

And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

Numbers 8:4 nkjv

Now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Numbers 8:4 niv

This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold?from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.

Numbers 8:4 esv

And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Numbers 8:4 nlt

The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the LORD had shown Moses.

Numbers 8 verses

Numbers 8 4 Meaning

Numbers 8:4 describes the meticulous construction of the menorah (lampstand), emphasizing its material, manufacturing method, and divine origin. It was made entirely of pure, beaten gold, with every component, from its central shaft to its intricate floral decorations, being hammered out of a single piece. The verse highlights that this specific and laborious workmanship was not arbitrary but precisely followed the detailed pattern that the LORD Himself had revealed to Moses. This underscores God’s demand for precise obedience in the execution of sacred items meant for His dwelling place, affirming that true worship and service must align with His specific instructions.

Numbers 8 4 Context

Numbers 8:4 is situated within the book of Numbers, which details Israel's wilderness journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land. Chapters 1-9 primarily focus on preparations for this journey, including the organization of the twelve tribes, the census, and the detailed instructions concerning the service and consecration of the Levites. Numbers 8, specifically, addresses the consecration of the Levites (vv. 5-26) and their service to the Tabernacle, alongside the renewed instructions for lighting the menorah (vv. 1-4).

This verse follows Numbers 7, which described the offerings for the dedication of the altar and Tabernacle by the tribal leaders. As the Tabernacle service is about to begin in full earnest, Numbers 8 re-emphasizes the purity, method, and divine source of the sacred objects and the personnel involved. The menorah's perfect construction is therefore critical as it provides the light in the Holy Place, signifying God's constant illuminating presence among His people, essential for worship. Historically and culturally, the ancient Near East often used precious metals and detailed craftsmanship for sacred objects, but Israel's unique emphasis was on precise divine instruction as opposed to human invention or local deities' forms. This verse thus pre-empts any deviation, establishing God's sovereignty over every aspect of His worship.

Numbers 8 4 Word analysis

• And this was the workmanship:

  • And: Hebrew "waw" (וְ) - Connects this description directly to the preceding command to Aaron regarding the lamps. It implies continuity and reiterates a foundational aspect.
  • this: Hebrew "zeh" (זֶה) - Points directly to the Menorah that is being described.
  • was the workmanship: Hebrew "ma'aseh" (מַעֲשֵׂה) - Means 'work,' 'deed,' 'product,' or 'creation.' It denotes the result of skilled craftsmanship or labor. Here, it stresses the intricate and deliberate act of making the lampstand. It's not just "made," but "a work," signifying careful art.
  • of the candlestick: Hebrew "menorah" (מְנוֹרָה) - Translates to 'lampstand' or 'candelabrum,' not just a single candle. It held multiple lamps that burned olive oil. This specific artifact was central to the light in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, symbolizing divine light and presence.

• even of beaten gold:

  • beaten gold: Hebrew "miqshah" (מִקְשָׁה) - Derived from a root meaning "to be hard" or "to be beaten hard." It signifies an object that is "beaten out" or "hammered work" from a single block or mass of metal. This method is distinct from casting or joining multiple pieces. It required immense skill, patience, and effort, symbolizing purity, singularity, and perhaps suffering in formation (as Christ was "beaten" for us). This process yields an object of seamless purity, reflecting divine perfection.

• unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work:

  • unto the shaft thereof: Hebrew "yarekh" (יָרֵךְ) - While often meaning 'thigh' or 'loins,' in the context of a lampstand, it refers to its central stem or shaft – the core support from which branches extended.
  • unto the flowers thereof: Hebrew "p'rakhim" (פְּרָחִים) - Refers to 'flowers,' 'blossoms,' or 'buds.' These were decorative elements resembling almond blossoms, described in Exod 25:33-34, representing life, growth, and divine beauty.
  • was beaten work: Repetition of "miqshah" (מִקְשָׁה) - Re-emphasizes that every single part, from the foundational shaft to the delicate floral adornments, was forged from the same continuous piece of gold by this hammering method. This underscores uniformity, singularity of material, and purity in all its details.

• according to the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so was the candlestick made.

  • according to the pattern: Hebrew "tavnit" (תַּבְנִית) - Refers to a 'pattern,' 'model,' 'blueprint,' or 'architectural plan.' It emphasizes that the design was not humanly conceived but divinely revealed and communicated, ensuring its perfection and authenticity. This underscores that sacred objects and worship are to conform strictly to God's standards.
  • which the LORD had shewed: Hebrew "her'ah" (הֶרְאָה) - Means 'to show,' 'to cause to see,' 'to appear.' It highlights the direct, personal revelation from YHWH to Moses. The design originated supernaturally.
  • the LORD: Hebrew "YHWH" (יְהוָה) - The Tetragrammaton, God's covenant name. It stresses that the ultimate authority and source of the divine blueprint is the sovereign, covenant-making God of Israel.
  • so was the candlestick made: Hebrew "ka'aseh" (כֵּן מַעֲשֶׂה) - Reinforces that the execution of the Menorah precisely matched the divine specification. The "so" signifies exact adherence to the divine pattern previously described. The workmanship reflected absolute conformity to God's command.

Numbers 8 4 Bonus section

The symbolism of the Menorah being of "beaten gold" carries deep Christological implications for some scholars, foreshadowing the Messiah. Just as the gold was hammered and refined, without any casting or joining, Christ's singular, pure nature and His intense suffering ("beaten") through Gethsemane and Calvary ultimately wrought redemption. His pure life and sacrificial work, akin to the laborious craftsmanship of the Menorah, perfected humanity's access to God's light and truth. Furthermore, the Menorah as the sole source of light in the Holy Place anticipates Jesus' declaration "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and also the role of believers as "light of the world" (Matt 5:14) through Christ, illuminated and empowered by God's Spirit. The concept of "beaten work" (miqshah) as opposed to casting (massekah) carries an implicit polemic against man-made idols (often cast images) versus divinely ordained sacred objects. While idols represent human efforts and fallen imaginations, the Menorah stands as a testament to God's precise and pure revelation, allowing no room for human addition or subtraction.

Numbers 8 4 Commentary

Numbers 8:4 serves as a crucial theological reminder within the divine instructions for Israel's worship. It underscores that all elements of the sacred Tabernacle, particularly the source of its light, must be created according to precise divine specification rather than human ingenuity or preference. The detailed description of the Menorah as "beaten gold" highlights its intrinsic purity, high value, and the intense, singular labor involved in its formation. This process from a single piece implies wholeness, perfection, and singularity of purpose, representing that which is set apart entirely for God. The repeated emphasis on the "pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses" establishes divine authority as the sole guide for proper worship and ministry. God dictates the form and function of His dwelling and its instruments, ensuring His holiness is upheld and human error or idolatry is precluded. Practically, this verse instills the principle of exact obedience in service to God; faithfulness is measured by adherence to His word and revealed will, not by human inventiveness or what seems "good" to us.