Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The angel addresses Zechariah immediately after waking him from sleep to prompt a vision report. Zechariah responds by describing the immediate visual details of the vision.
The words — The phrase מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה (mah atah ro'eh) translates literally as "what are you seeing?" and initiates the prophetic inquiry. The response וְהִנֵּה רָאִיתִי (ve-hinnêh râ'îtî) means "and behold, I saw," marking a direct visual confirmation.
The thread — Revelation 1:12 and Revelation 4:5 describe seven golden lampstands and seven torches before God’s throne, directly echoing the seven-lampstand vision. Matthew 5:14 later applies the lampstand imagery to believers as light-bearers.
Why it lands — The text demands a precise accounting of what is seen rather than a subjective interpretation. Readers must observe the vision’s exact components before drawing theological conclusions.
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
King James Version
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Cross-references
- Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.
- Revelation 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
- Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
- 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.
- Jeremiah 52:19 The captain of the guard also took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and drink offering bowls—anything made of pure gold or fine silver.
- Zechariah 5:2 “What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
- Exodus 37:17 Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.
- Exodus 40:24 He also placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle
- 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;
- 1 Chronicles 28:15 the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;