Revelation 1:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Complete Jewish Bible:

I turned around to see who was speaking to me; and when I had turned, I saw seven gold menorahs;

Berean Standard Bible:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,

American Standard Version:

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G2532} I turned^{G1994} to see^{G991} the voice^{G5456} that^{G3748} spake^{G2980} with^{G3326} me^{G1700}. And^{G2532} being turned^{G1994}, I saw^{G1492} seven^{G2033} golden^{G5552} candlesticks^{G3087};

Cross-References (KJV):

Zechariah 4:2

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:

Exodus 25:37

And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Revelation 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Revelation 2:1

¶ Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Revelation 1:13

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Ezekiel 43:5

So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

Ezekiel 43:6

And I heard [him] speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.

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Commentary for Revelation 1:12

Revelation 1:12 is a verse from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. The book is an apocalypse, a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, in which a revelation is mediated by an otherworldly being to a human recipient, disclosing a transcendent reality. This verse occurs within the inaugural vision of the book, where John, the author and narrator, hears a voice commanding him to write what he sees to the seven churches of Asia.

In the verse, John turns to see the source of the voice, and what he beholds is a symbolic vision of seven golden lampstands. These lampstands are later interpreted in Revelation 1:20 as representing the seven churches to which the book is addressed. The imagery of gold conveys purity and the divine nature of the message, while the number seven in Revelation often symbolizes completeness or perfection, suggesting that the message is universal and intended for the whole church.

Historically, this verse reflects the cultural and religious context of the late first century, where Christianity was spreading throughout the Roman Empire, and the churches in Asia Minor faced various challenges, including persecution, false teachings, and internal dissension. The vision of the golden lampstands serves to reassure these churches of Christ's presence among them (symbolized by the lampstands) and his oversight as the one who walks among them (as described in the subsequent verses).

The themes present in this verse include the divine revelation, the authority of Christ over the churches, the importance of listening to and heeding God's word, and the encouragement for the churches to remain faithful despite adversity. The vision is meant to comfort and strengthen the early Christian communities, reminding them of their connection to one another and to Christ, who is the ultimate source of their light and life.

*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: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G1994
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπιστρέφω
Transliteration: epistréphō
Pronunciation: ep-ee-stref'-o
Description: from ἐπί and στρέφω; to revert (literally, figuratively or morally):--come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn (about, again).
Strong's Number: G991
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: βλέπω
Transliteration: blépō
Pronunciation: blep'-o
Description: a primary verb; to look at (literally or figuratively):--behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. Compare ὀπτάνομαι.
Strong's Number: G5456
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φωνή
Transliteration: phōnḗ
Pronunciation: fo-nay'
Description: probably akin to φαίνω through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:--noise, sound, voice.
Strong's Number: G3748
There are 148 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅστις
Transliteration: hóstis
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: from ὅς and τὶς; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever). Compare ὅτι.
Strong's Number: G2980
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λαλέω
Transliteration: laléō
Pronunciation: lal-eh'-o
Description: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare λέγω.
Strong's Number: G3326
There are 445 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μετά
Transliteration: metá
Pronunciation: met-ah'
Description: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
Strong's Number: G1700
There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐμοῦ
Transliteration: emoû
Pronunciation: em-oo'
Description: a prolonged form of μόχθος; of me:--me, mine, my.
Strong's Number: G1492
There are 626 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἴδω
Transliteration: eídō
Pronunciation: i'-do
Description: a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent ὀπτάνομαι and ὁράω; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare ὀπτάνομαι.
Strong's Number: G2033
There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἑπτά
Transliteration: heptá
Pronunciation: hep-tah'
Description: a primary number; seven:--seven.
Strong's Number: G5552
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χρύσεος
Transliteration: chrýseos
Pronunciation: khroo'-seh-os
Description: from χρυσός; made of gold:--of gold, golden.
Strong's Number: G3087
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λυχνία
Transliteration: lychnía
Pronunciation: lookh-nee'-ah
Description: from λύχνος; a lamp-stand (literally or figuratively):--candlestick.

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