Exodus 37:18 - There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side:

Generated Verse: Exodus 37:18

What does "Exodus 37:18" mean?


Exodus 37:18, describing the construction of the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle, means that the lampstand had a central stem with three branches extending from each side. This created a symmetrical structure with a total of seven lamps (the central stem counted as one).

Here's a breakdown:

"There were six branches going out of its sides:" This establishes the total number of branches that were extending outwards from the central shaft of the lampstand.
"three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side:" This clarifies the arrangement of the branches. They were evenly distributed, with three coming out of the left side and three coming out of the right side of the central stem.

Significance and Symbolism:

The lampstand itself is a rich symbol. Its seven lamps are often interpreted to represent:

The light of God: Illuminating the Holy Place in the Tabernacle.
The seven Spirits of God: As described in Revelation (Revelation 1:4, 4:5).
The completeness of God's presence and power.
Israel's mission to be a light to the nations.
The Church as the light of the world (in the New Testament).

The symmetrical arrangement of the branches likely emphasizes balance, harmony, and divine order.

In summary, the verse describes the physical structure of the golden lampstand, highlighting its symmetrical design with three branches emanating from each side of a central stem, resulting in a total of seven lamps. This structure holds significant symbolic weight.

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