Exodus 37:23

And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, [of] pure gold.

And he made {H6213} his seven {H7651} lamps {H5216}, and his snuffers {H4457}, and his snuffdishes {H4289}, of pure {H2889} gold {H2091}.

He made its seven lamps, its tongs and its trays of pure gold.

He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold.

And he made the lamps thereof, seven, and the snuffers thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, of pure gold.

Commentary

Exodus 37:23 continues the detailed account of the Tabernacle's construction, specifically focusing on the components of the golden lampstand (menorah), crafted by Bezalel and his skilled artisans according to God's precise instructions.

Context

This verse is situated within the latter part of the book of Exodus, which meticulously describes the building of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. After receiving the divine blueprints on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:31-40), Moses commanded the people to bring their offerings, and Bezalel, filled with the Spirit of God for craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-5), led the work. Verse 23 specifically describes the accessories necessary for the menorah to function properly: its seven lamps, the snuffers, and the snuffdishes, all made of the same precious material.

Key Themes

  • Divine Precision and Purity: The repeated emphasis on "pure gold" for all parts of the menorah and its accessories highlights the sanctity and value God placed on every element of His dwelling place. This speaks to the absolute purity required in divine service.
  • Light and God's Presence: The primary purpose of the lamps was to provide continuous light within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 24:1-4). This light symbolized God's constant presence, His guidance, and His revelation to His people in what would otherwise be a dark chamber.
  • Meticulous Stewardship: The inclusion of "snuffers" and "snuffdishes" shows that even the maintenance tools for the sacred objects were commanded by God and crafted with the same high standard of purity. This indicates the importance of diligent care and stewardship in serving God, ensuring the light remained bright and unobstructed.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "pure gold" is zahab tahor (ةַהַזַּב טַהּוֶר), emphasizing its unalloyed quality, signifying value, holiness, and permanence. The "lamps" (Hebrew: nerot) were the vessels for oil and wicks, designed to hold the light. The "snuffers" (Hebrew: malqachayim) were tongs used to trim the wicks, and the "snuffdishes" (Hebrew: machtot) were trays to collect the burnt remnants. These seemingly minor details underscore God's concern for order, cleanliness, and the proper function of everything associated with His worship.

Practical Application

This verse, though describing ancient Tabernacle construction, offers timeless principles. It reminds believers of the importance of diligence and purity in their service to God. Just as the lamps needed constant maintenance to provide clear light, so too must believers diligently maintain their spiritual lives to shine brightly for Christ (Matthew 5:14). Every aspect of our lives, even the "snuffers" and "snuffdishes" of daily tasks, can be consecrated to God and performed with excellence, reflecting our devotion to the One who is the true Light of the World.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 5:5

    And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals 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 1:12

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

  • 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:

  • 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 4:5

    And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
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