Exodus 27:20

And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses during the tabernacle construction instructions, immediately following the directive to craft bronze utensils. The command initiates the protocol for maintaining the sanctuary's perpetual light.

The words — The verb תְּצַוֶּה (te.tza.Veh) literally means "you will command," establishing a formal directive. The noun שֶׁ֣מֶן (She.men) translates to "oil," specifying the required substance for the sanctuary lamps.

The thread — The directive recurs in Leviticus 24:1 as a restated divine command and appears in Zechariah 4:11 through the vision of the lampstand and olive trees. Exodus 27:21 immediately follows by assigning Aaron and his sons the duty of tending the lamps.

Why it lands — The text requires the Israelites to supply refined olive oil and establishes a permanent ritual for continuous illumination in the sanctuary. It demands obedience to a specific material standard and a perpetual maintenance routine for sacred space.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַתָּ֞הve./'a.Tahand/ you תְּצַוֶּ֣ה׀te.tza.Vehyou will command אֶת־'et-<obj.>בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וְיִקְח֨וּve./yik.Chuso/ they may bring אֵלֶ֜יךָ'e.Lei./khato/ you שֶׁ֣מֶןShe.menoil of זַ֥יִתZa.yitolive זָ֛ךְzakhpure כָּתִ֖יתka.Titpressed לַמָּא֑וֹרla./ma.'orfor the/ light לְהַעֲלֹ֥תle./ha.'a.Lotto/ lift up נֵ֖רnera lamp תָּמִֽיד׃ta.Midcontinually

King James Version

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

Cross-references

Leviticus 24:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Zechariah 4:11 Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”
Exodus 39:37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;
Judges 9:9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
Exodus 25:31 Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.
Revelation 11:4 These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.