New Living Translation
Numbers 8:2
2“Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.”
Numbers 8:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
- New International Version (NIV)“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ”
Context of Numbers 8:2
1The Lord said to Moses, “Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.” 3So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 4The 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.
Read all of Numbers 8Numbers 8:2 word by word
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- unto Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, When thou lightestעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
- the lampsנֵרnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
- the sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- shall give lightאוֹר'ôr · to lightH215
- over againstמוּלmûl môl mô'l mûl · oppositeH4136
- over againstפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the candlestickמְנוֹרָהmenôrâh menôrâh · lampstandH4501
Cross-references for Numbers 8:2
- Exodus 25:37Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward.
- Exodus 37:18The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side.
- Exodus 40:25Then he lit the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded him.
- Leviticus 24:1The Lord said to Moses,
- Psalms 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
- Isaiah 8:20Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
- Matthew 5:14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
- John 1:9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
- 2 Peter 1:19Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
- Revelation 1:12When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands.
- Revelation 2:1“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
- Revelation 4:5From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
Commentaries on Numbers 8:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The seven lamps shall give light - The whole seven shall be lighted at one time, that seven may be ever burning.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-4Verses 1-4 The actual lighting of the lamps (compare the marginal references) was to be done to set forth symbolically the special presence which God had now Numbers 7:89 actually established among His people.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4These verses give specific instructions for placing the lampstand (Hebrew menorah) in the tabernacle. The lampstand (see Exodus 25:31–40). It was made with branches shaped like a stylized tree. The inside of the tabernacle had no windows, so it was dark. The light from the lampstand helped the priests carry out their duties.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Speak unto Aaron, &c.--The candlestick, which was made of one solid, massive piece of pure gold, with six lamps supported on as many branches, a seventh in the center surmounting the shaft itself (Ex 25:31; 37:17), and completed according to the pattern shown in the mount, was now to be lighted, when the other things in the sanctuary began to be applied to religious service. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of God, to light His house…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries