King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Aharon did this: he lit its lamps so as to give light in front of the menorah, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.
Berean Standard Bible:
And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps facing toward the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
American Standard Version:
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof so as to give light in front of the candlestick, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Aaron{H175} did{H6213} so; he lighted{H5927} the lamps{H5216} thereof over against{H4136}{H6440} the candlestick{H4501}, as the LORD{H3068} commanded{H6680} Moses{H4872}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Numbers 8:3
3. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Instruction and Obedience:** The verse emphasizes the importance of following God's commands precisely. Aaron's act of lighting the lamps just as the Lord commanded Moses underscores the theme of obedience, which is central to the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch as a whole.
2. **The Role of Priesthood:** The action of Aaron lighting the lamps according to the divine command reflects the role of the priesthood in mediating the relationship between God and the Israelites. It highlights the priestly duties and the sanctity of the rituals performed in the Tabernacle.
3. **Light as a Symbol:** Lighting the lamps can be seen as a symbolic act representing enlightenment, guidance, and divine presence. The lamps in the Tabernacle would have provided physical light, but they also served as a metaphor for spiritual illumination and the guidance of God's law.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Numbers is set during the time of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. This period is characterized by the organization and regulation of the Israelite community, including the establishment of the priesthood and the detailed instructions for worship and ritual purity.
Numbers 8:3 specifically occurs within the context of setting up the Tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey. The lampstand (menorah) mentioned in the verse was one of the key furnishings of the Tabernacle, and its maintenance was a part of the daily rituals.
The command to light the lamps was part of a broader set of instructions given to Moses by God concerning the Tabernacle's construction and operation, as well as the consecration of the Levites for service. The historical context reflects the establishment of religious practices and the formation of Israel's national identity centered around worship and obedience to God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H175
There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
Pronunciation: a-har-one'
Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H5216
There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נִיר
Transliteration: nîyr
Pronunciation: neer
Description: or נִר; also נֵיר; or נֵר; or (feminine) נֵרָה; from a primitive root (see נִיר; נוּר) properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively); candle, lamp, light. - Strong's Number: H4136
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּל
Transliteration: mûwl
Pronunciation: mool
Description: or מוֹל; (Deuteronomy 1:1), or מוֹאל; (Nehemiah 12:38), or מֻל; (Numbers 22:5), from מוּל; properly, abrupt, i.e. a precipice; by implication, the front; used only adverbially (with prepositional prefix) opposite; (over) against, before, (fore-) front, from, (God-) ward, toward, with. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H4501
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְנוֹרָה
Transliteration: mᵉnôwrâh
Pronunciation: men-o-raw'
Description: or מְנֹרָה; feminine of מָנוֹר (in the original sense of נִיר); a chandelier; candlestick. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.