God’s Word Translation
Revelation 1:12
12I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands.
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning 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,
Context of Revelation 1:12
10I came under the Spirit’s power on the Lord’s day. I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, 11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands. 13There was someone like the Son of Man among the lamp stands. He was wearing a robe that reached his feet. He wore a gold belt around his waist. 14His head and his hair were white like wool—like snow. His eyes were like flames 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 and brought me into the inner courtyard. I saw the Lord’s glory fill the temple.
- Micah 6:9The voice of the Lord calls out to the city. (The fear of your name is wisdom.) “Listen, you tribe assembled in the city.
- Revelation 1:13There was someone like the Son of Man among the lamp stands. He was wearing a robe that reached his feet. He wore a gold belt around his waist.
- Revelation 2:1“To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says:
- Exodus 25:37“Make seven lamps, and set them on the lamp stand so that they light up ⌞the area⌟ in front of it.
- Zechariah 4:2He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on top and seven lamps on it. There are seven spouts for each lamp that is on 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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