Numbers 8:2
New International Version
“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.’”

New Living Translation
“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.”

English Standard Version
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’”

King James Bible
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

New King James Version
“Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will provide light in the front of the lampstand.’”

NASB 1995
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand.’”

NASB 1977
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand.’”

Amplified Bible
“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up and light the lamps, the seven lamps will shine in front of the lampstand.’”

Christian Standard Bible
“Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.”

American Standard Version
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.

Contemporary English Version
"Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps on the lampstand so they shine toward the front."

English Revised Version
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should light up the area in front of it."

Good News Translation
"Tell Aaron that when he puts the seven lamps on the lampstand, he should place them so that the light shines toward the front."

International Standard Version
"Tell Aaron, 'When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will illuminate the area in front of the lamp stand.'"

Majority Standard Bible
?Speak to Aaron and tell him: ?When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.??

NET Bible
"Speak to Aaron and tell him, 'When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.'"

New Heart English Bible
"Speak to Aaron, and tell him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

World English Bible
“Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lamp stand.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Speak to Aaron, and you have said to him: In your causing the lights to go up, the seven lights give light toward the front of the face of the lampstand.”

Young's Literal Translation
'Speak unto Aaron, and thou hast said unto him, In thy causing the lights to go up, over-against the face of the candlestick do the seven lights give light.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Speak to Aaron, and say to him, In thy raising up of the lamps, to the front of the face of the chandelier shall the seven lamps enlighten.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seven lamps, let the candlestick be set up on the south side. Give orders therefore that the lamps look over against the north, towards the table of the leaves of proposition, over against that part shall they give light, towards which the candlestick looketh.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Speak to Aaron, and you shall say to him: When you place the seven lamps, let the lampstand be set up on the south side. Therefore, give this instruction: that the lamps should look out from the region opposite the north, toward the table of the bread of the presence; they shall give light opposite that area, toward the area that the lampstand faces.”

New American Bible
Speak to Aaron and say: “When you set up the menorah-lamps, have the seven lamps throw their light in front of the menorah.”

New Revised Standard Version
Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Speak with Ahron and say to him: ‘Whenever you shall light the lamp opposite the face of the lamp stand, seven lamps shall be giving light.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him: When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him, Whenever thou shalt set the lamps in order, the seven lamps shall give light opposite the candlestick.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Seven Lamps
1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’” 3And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps facing toward the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:37
Make seven lamps and set them up on the lampstand so that they illuminate the area in front of it.

Exodus 27:20-21
And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. / In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.

Leviticus 24:2-4
“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. / Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come. / He shall tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.

1 Kings 7:49
the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

2 Chronicles 4:20
the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;

Zechariah 4:2
“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.

Revelation 1:12-13
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, / and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 2:1
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Hebrews 9:2
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:4-5
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9
The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.


Treasury of Scripture

Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

Exodus 25:37
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Exodus 37:18,19,23
And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: …

Exodus 40:25
And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

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Numbers 8
1. How the lamps are to be lighted
5. The consecration of the Levites
23. The age and time of their service














Speak to Aaron
This phrase initiates a direct command from God to Moses, emphasizing the divine authority and the chain of communication established by God. In the Hebrew text, the word for "speak" is "דַּבֵּר" (daber), which is an imperative form, indicating a command. This highlights the importance of the message that follows. Aaron, as the high priest, holds a significant role in the spiritual leadership of Israel. His responsibilities include maintaining the sanctity and order of the tabernacle, which is central to Israel's worship and relationship with God. This command underscores the importance of Aaron's role and the need for precise adherence to God's instructions.

and tell him
The phrase "and tell him" serves as a reinforcement of the communication process. It is not merely a suggestion but a directive that must be conveyed accurately. The Hebrew word "וְאָמַרְתָּ" (ve'amarta) is used here, which means "and you shall say." This indicates that Moses is to relay God's words verbatim to Aaron, ensuring that the divine instructions are preserved without alteration. This reflects the seriousness with which God's commands are to be treated and the responsibility of those who are chosen to convey His words.

When you set up the seven lamps
The setting up of the seven lamps refers to the menorah, a critical element within the tabernacle. The Hebrew word for "set up" is "בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ" (beha'alotcha), which can also mean "when you light" or "when you elevate." This suggests not only the physical act of lighting the lamps but also a spiritual elevation, symbolizing enlightenment and the presence of God. The number seven is significant in biblical numerology, often representing completeness or perfection. The menorah, with its seven lamps, symbolizes the light of God shining upon His people, guiding them in truth and righteousness.

they are to light the area in front of the lampstand
This phrase describes the purpose and direction of the light from the menorah. The Hebrew word for "light" is "יָאִירוּ" (ya'iru), which means "to give light" or "to shine." The light is directed "in front of the lampstand," indicating that it is meant to illuminate the area before it, likely the table of showbread and the altar of incense. This illumination is symbolic of God's guidance and presence among His people. The lampstand itself, or menorah, is a representation of the tree of life, and its light signifies the life-giving presence of God. The careful instruction to light the area in front of the lampstand underscores the importance of God's light in guiding the worship and life of the Israelites.

VIII.

(2) When thou lightest the lamps.--Better, When thou settest up the lamps. (Comp. Exodus 25:37.) The golden candlestick was placed against the south wall of the Tabernacle, opposite to the table of shewbread, so that its seven branches were parallel to that wall, with its branches east and west, and consequently the seven lamps, one of which rested upon each of the seven branches, threw their light in front of the candlestick, i.e., towards the north wall, by which arrangement the furniture of the holy place was more effectually lighted than it would have been had the candlestick been placed facing the entrance, with its branches north and south.

Over against.--Or, in front of.

Verse 2. - When thou lightest the lamps. The command to light the lamps had been given generally ("they shall light the lamps thereof") in Exodus 25:37, and the care of them had been specially confided to Aaron and his sons ("from evening to morning") in Exodus 27:21. The actual lighting of the lamps for the first time by Moses is recorded in Exodus 40:25. In the face of these passages it is incredible that the lamps had not been regularly lighted by Aaron for more than a month before the offering of the princes. The seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. It is somewhat uncertain what this expression, here repeated from Exodus 25:37, means. The Targums give no explanation of it; the Septuagint merely renders verbally, κατὰ πρόσωπον τῆς λυχνίας φωτιοῦσιν; the Jewish expositors seem to have thought that the light was to be thrown inward towards the central shaft; most modern commentators, with more probability, understand it to mean that the lamps were to be so placed as to throw their light across the tabernacle towards the north side.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Speak
דַּבֵּר֙ (dab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֔ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

and tell him:
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

When you set up
בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ (bə·ha·‘ă·lō·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the seven
שִׁבְעַ֥ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

lamps,
הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ (han·nê·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5216: A lamp, light

they are to light [the area]
יָאִ֖ירוּ (yā·’î·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 215: To be or become light

in
אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

front
מוּל֙ (mūl)
Preposition
Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite

of the lampstand.”
הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה (ham·mə·nō·w·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4501: A chandelier


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OT Law: Numbers 8:2 Speak to Aaron and tell him 'When (Nu Num.)
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