English Standard Version
Revelation 1:12
12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
Revelation 1:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- New International Version (NIV)I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
- New Living Translation (NLT)When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands.
Context of Revelation 1:12
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Read all of Revelation 1Revelation 1:12 word by word
Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα βλέπειν τὴν φωνὴν ἥτις ἐλάλει μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. καὶ ἐπιστρέψας εἶδον ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- I turnedἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
- to seeβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- the voiceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
- thatὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- spakeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- I sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- sevenἑπτάhepta · sevenG2033
- candlesticksλυχνίαluchnia · lampstandG3087
- ·χρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
Cross-references for Revelation 1:12
- Ezekiel 43:5the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
- Micah 6:9The voice of the Lord cries to the city— and it is sound wisdom to fear your name: "Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!
- Revelation 1:13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
- Revelation 2:1"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- Exodus 25:37You 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.
- Zechariah 4:2And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
Commentaries on Revelation 1:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12And I turned For he had heard the voice behind him. To see the voice; i.e., the person from whom the voice came. Seven golden candlesticks - ̔ · Seven golden lamps. It is absurd to say, a golden silver, or brazen candlestick. These seven lamps represented the seven Churches, in which the light of God was continually shining, and the love of God continually burning. And they are here represented as golden, to show how precious they were in the sight of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me - He naturally turned round to see who it was that spake to him in this solitary and desolate place, where he thought himself to be alone. To see the “voice” here means to see the “person” who spake. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks - These were the “first” things that met his eye. This must have been in “vision,” of course, and the meaning is, that there “seemed” to be there seven such…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and hold it forth to others. They are golden candlesticks; they should be precious and pure; not only the ministers, but the members of the churches; their light should so shine before men, as to engage others to give glory to God. And the apostle saw as though of the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in the midst of the golden candlesticks. He is with his churches always, to the end of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12I turned to see the voice that was speaking: This refers to the loud voice in Revelation 1:10. seven gold lampstands: The lighted menorah was a symbol of God's presence among his people (Exodus 27:21; Leviticus 24:1–4) and his all-seeing eyes in the world (Zechariah 4:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. see the voice--that is, ascertain whence the voice came; to see who was it from whom the voice proceeded. that--Greek, "of what kind it was which." The voice is that of God the Father, as at Christ's baptism and transfiguration, so here in presenting Christ as our High Priest. spake--The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers read, "was speaking." being--"having turned." seven ... candlesticks--"lamp-stands" [Kelly]. The stand holding the lamp. In…Read the comment
Topics related to Revelation 1:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Revelation 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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