What is the significance of the lampstand in the Bible?
Answered from the commentary of L. M. Grant, Leslie M. Grant, Edward Dennett and 7 others
The lampstand signifies Christ, the Sustainer and bearer of God’s testimony, and the light is divine truth given in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the tabernacle it lit the holy place, so the priests could see the holy things and serve there; its light also fell on the lampstand itself, revealing Christ’s beauty, and on the table and altar. But the authors differ on the emphasis: most present it as Christ sustaining testimony for God, while some understand it chiefly as the Spirit’s light in the divine circle for the saints. In Revelation, the separate lampstands signify the churches in their responsibility to bear light in the world during Christ’s absence, under His scrutiny; their testimony may fail, and the lampstand may be removed.
Verses: Exodus 25:31, Exodus 25:32, Exodus 25:33, Exodus 25:34, Exodus 25:35, Exodus 25:36, Exodus 25:37, Exodus 25:38, Exodus 25:39, Exodus 25:40, Exodus 26:35, Exodus 27:20, Exodus 27:21, Exodus 37:17, Exodus 37:18, Exodus 37:19, Exodus 37:20, Exodus 37:21, Exodus 37:22, Exodus 37:23, Exodus 37:24, Leviticus 24:1, Leviticus 24:2, Leviticus 24:3, Leviticus 24:4, Numbers 8:1, Numbers 8:2, Numbers 8:3, Numbers 8:4, 1 Kings 7:49, 2 Chronicles 4:7, Zechariah 4:1, Zechariah 4:2, Zechariah 4:3, Zechariah 4:4, Zechariah 4:5, Zechariah 4:6, Zechariah 4:7, Zechariah 4:8, Zechariah 4:9, Zechariah 4:10, Zechariah 4:11, Zechariah 4:12, Zechariah 4:13, Zechariah 4:14, Matthew 5:14, Matthew 5:15, Matthew 5:16, Revelation 1:12, Revelation 1:13, Revelation 1:14, Revelation 1:15, Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 1:19, Revelation 1:20, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 11:3, Revelation 11:4
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
The lampstand was placed on the left side of the sanctuary as one entered. This was made of one piece of beaten gold (v. 31). The lampstand is distinct from the light, for it is really the light-bearer, and speaks of Christ as the Sustainer of all testimony for God. Light is the very nature of God: “God is light” (1 John 1:5), therefore the humanity of Christ (the acacia wood) is not involved in this at all, but only pure gold. As the eternal Son of God He sustains all testimony for God.
The lampstand was made of one piece of pure gold, of a talent weight - about 130 pounds. The lampstand was to bear the light of the seven lamps, therefore is typical of Christ as the Sustainer of the testimony (the light) of God. No wood is found here, for light is altogether divine. “God is light” (1 John1:5). The lampstand stood on the left side as one entered the outer sanctuary.
The lampstand speaks of Christ in whom all the golden glory of God is manifested. It is He who is the Sustainer of all true testimony for God, of which the light speaks. In the tabernacle the lamps were to be lit so “that they give light in front of it” (the lampstand). The light was not simply to light up the room, but for the display of the lampstand itself, just as the light of God is focused upon the Lord Jesus, the Sustainer of God's testimony.
The seven lamps, one at the top of the stem and those at the ends of the six branches, were to be arranged in such a way as to give light that would draw attention to the lampstand itself. It would also shed light on the table of showbread and on the golden incense altar. Thus the light of God shines primarily upon Christ Himself, whether as the Sustainer of the Light, whether as the Sustainer of fellowship, or as the Sustainer of worship, of which the golden altar speaks. He is revealed in all His beauty. Besides this, however, He is the Revealer: He shines for the blessing of others.
In the Temple there were TEN GOLDEN LAMP-STANDS, with their SEVENTY LAMPS. The word is generally rendered "candlestick," but the word "candle" never occurs in the sacred Scriptures, neither in the Hebrew nor in the Greek; it is always "lamp" and "lampstand." The LAMPSTAND is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ as the centre, source, and subject of testimony in the power of the Holy Ghost. The CENTRE SHAFT is typical of His own personal ministry; the BRANCHES of ministry in the Church by the evangelist, pastor, teacher. The candle is self-sufficient and self-continuing; you have only to light it, and it burns from beginning to end. Not so the lamp, which is dependent on the OIL, typical of the HOLY SPIRIT. There lies the difference between that ministry which is in the words which the Holy Ghost teaches, and that ministry which is the result of man's wisdom and intellect. Real ministry is dependent on the presence and power of the HOLY SPIRIT, who has come to testify of Jesus, to take of the things of Christ in the glory of the Father, and reveal them to us, and to show us things to come. In Rev. 21:23, we read, "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light [lamp] thereof." Christ is not only the centre and source and subject of truth in the present time, but He will continue to be so throughout eternity; light in the glory tenfold; in beauty, splendour, and truth revealed, there we shall bask in His full light.
We need the gain of all these things if we are to know what is involved. The lampstand gave its light inside the holy place; the only light that was inside. I do not think the lampstand has in view testimony in the world, but rather light in the circle where priestly activity is seen. It is light in relation to the holy things of God, and it is there for the saints of God, not exactly for the world. We need to move in the light shed by the Spirit in the divine circle if there is to be any response from our hearts for the pleasure of God.
"Speak unto Aaron." (v. 2.) The Lord is in the midst of the seven candlesticks in Rev. 1. The candlestick represents the Church by the power of the Spirit holding up the light - "holding forth the word of life." Gold is divine righteousness connected with or bearing upon what man is. It holds up the beauty and order of God's truth - holding forth truth to the world. "The seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick." The light manifested the candlestick, as well as everything else. So should it be now with the Church; not only should the light shine from it, but on it, showing what it is in the mind of God. "According to the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick," according, to the perfect mind of God.
"Speak unto Aaron." (v. 2.) The Lord is in the midst of the seven candlesticks in Rev. 1. The candlestick represents the Church by the power of the Spirit holding up the light - "holding forth the word of life." Gold is divine righteousness connected with or bearing upon what man is. It holds up the beauty and order of God's truth - holding forth truth to the world. "The seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick." The light manifested the candlestick, as well as everything else. So should it be now with the Church; not only should the light shine from it, but on it, showing what it is in the mind of God. "According to the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick," according, to the perfect mind of God.
THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK in the Tabernacle and Temple with its seven lamps is minutely described in Ex. 25:31-40: it is also called the 'pure candlestick.' It was situate in the holy place, and gave light over against the table of showbread. It might be thought from Ex. 27:20 that the lamps were to be kept alight always, but this does not appear to be the sense of 'burn always.' It should rather be read 'burn continuously,' that is, every evening, for in the next verse it adds 'from evening to morning;' and in Ex. 30:8 it distinctly says "when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even." In the morning they were allowed to go out. 1 Sam. 3:3: cf. also 2 Chr. 13:11. The candlestick was entirely of gold, signifying that which was divine in its nature, and was typical of Christ the true light, but to be reproduced in His people. Eph. 5:8. The number of the lamps (seven) is also indicative of divine perfection.
The tabernacle had only one golden lampstand, but the temple had ten, five of them being on each side of the outer sanctuary (v. 7). Each of these no doubt had seven branches. The lampstands speak of Christ as the Sustainer of testimony, and being ten reminds us that all the claims of the law are fulfilled in this One whose testimony is perfection, including His great sacrifice by which He has fulfilled the law on behalf of others.
Verses
- Exodus 25:31–4031And thou shalt make a lamp-stand of pure gold; [of] beaten work shall the lamp-stand be made its base and its shaft, its cups, its knobs, and its flowers shall be of the same. 32And six branches shall come out of the sides thereof — three branches of the lamp-stand out of one side thereof, and three branches of the lamp-stand out of the other side thereof; 33three cups shaped like almonds in the one branch, a knob and a flower and three cups shaped like almonds in the other branch, a knob and a flower so in the six branches that come out of the lamp-stand. 34And in the lamp-stand four cups shaped like almonds, its knobs and its flowers; 35and a knob under two branches of it, and [again] a knob under two branches of it, and [again] a knob under two branches of it, for the six branches that proceed out of the lamp-stand. 36Their knobs and their branches shall be of itself — all of one beaten work of pure gold. 37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof, and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may shine out before it; 38and the snuffers thereof, and the snuff-trays thereof, of pure gold. 39Of a talent of pure gold shall they make it, with all these utensils. 40And see that thou make [them] according to their pattern, which hath been shewn to thee in the mountain.