II Chronicles 4:7 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 4:7 Commentary: Ten Lampstands of Gold
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Solomon placed ten gold lampstands in the temple, the meaning of the ordinance, and the symbolic message of growing light.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Solomon made ten gold lampstands, following the Mosaic ordinance, and placed them symmetrically in the temple to provide light and symbolize the growing revelation of God’s word.
- Key words: מְנֹרוֹת (menorot, lampstands), מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, ordinance/prescription), יָמִין (yamin, right/south), שְׂמֹאל (semol, left/north).
- Main debate: Whether the increase from one to ten is purely architectural (to light a larger space) or charged with symbolic meaning (the word’s light grows as darkness spreads). Most see both.
- Theological theme: God’s presence is constant, but the means of encountering his light expand. The temple fulfills and expands the tabernacle pattern.
- Best use: Preaching on God’s faithful guidance of worship through changing circumstances, or small-group study on continuity and growth in the Christian life.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He made ten gold lampstands according to their specifications and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He made the ten lamp stands of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand and five on the left.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he maketh the ten candlesticks of gold, according to their ordinance, and placeth in the temple, five on the right, and five on the left.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance respecting them, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand and five on the left.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he made ten golden candlesticks, according to the form which they were commanded to be made by: and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Hizo asimismo diez candeleros de oro según su forma, los cuales puso en el templo, cinco á la derecha, y cinco á la izquierda.
Fez também dez candelabros de ouro segundo sua forma, os quais pôs no templo, cinco à direita, e cinco à esquerda.
Il fit dix chandeliers d’ or, selon l’ ordonnance qui les concernait, et il les plaça dans le temple, cinq à droite et cinq à gauche.
Er machte auch zehn goldene Leuchter, wie sie sein sollten, und setzte sie in den Tempel, fünf zur Rechten und fünf zur Linken,
Hij maakte ook tien gouden kandelaren, naar hun wijze, en hij stelde ze in den tempel, vijf aan de rechterhand, en vijf aan de linkerhand.
E fece i dieci candelabri d’oro, conformemente alle norme che li concernevano, e li pose nel tempio, cinque a destra e cinque a sinistra.
Uczynił też świeczników złotych dziesięć na ten kształt, jako być miały, i postawił je w kościele, pięć po prawej a pięć po lewej stronie.
И сделал десять золотых светильников, как им быть надлежало, и поставил в храме, пять по правую сторону и пять по левую.
他又照所定的樣式 造 十個 金燈臺， 放 在殿裡：五個 在右邊，五個 在左邊；
And he made the ten gold supports for the lights, as directions had been given for them, and he put them in the Temple, five on the right side and five on the left.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 4:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the ten lampstands were made according to the ordinance, the Hebrew כְּמִשְׁפָּטָם (ke'mishpatam), meaning “according to their right” or “as prescribed.” Keil and Delitzsch stress that this refers to the Mosaic legislation for the tabernacle lampstand (Exodus 25:31, 40). Wesley and Matthew Henry echo that the form followed what God originally showed Moses. Barnes adds that “their form” is better understood as “after their manner,” pointing to the pattern rather than exact shape. On the increase from one to ten, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown cites Lightfoot’s view: the greater number was “a standing emblem … that the growing light of the word was necessary to counteract the growing darkness in the world.” All see the multiplication as fitting the temple’s greater glory while keeping continuity with the Mosaic sanctuary.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The ten golden lampstands were made in conformity with the Mosaic ordinance and placed symmetrically in the temple to provide light — fulfilling and expanding the tabernacle pattern without abandoning it.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for ten lampstands | The increase from one to ten reflects the temple’s larger size and greater splendor. | Some (Lightfoot via JFB) see a symbolic purpose: the growing light of the word to counter darkness. Others emphasize practical/architectural necessity without pressing the symbol. |
| Interpretation of 'according to the ordinance' | The phrase refers to the Mosaic prescription for the tabernacle lampstand (Exodus 25). | Barnes argues the phrase means 'after their manner' (general pattern), while Keil and Wesley insist on exact conformity to the written law. |
| Translation of 'right' and 'left' | The terms indicate the sides of the temple; the temple faced east, so right = south, left = north. | No significant debate; some translations keep 'right/left' (KJV, WEB) for dynamic equivalence, while others (BSB) use 'south/north' for clarity. |
| Theological significance of multiplied light | The lampstands symbolize God’s presence and the light of his word in worship. | Reformed commentators (Matthew Henry, Lightfoot) see typology of the gospel’s spreading light; others treat it as part of the temple’s literal furnishing without allegory. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Solomon’s temple, built around 960 BC, was the permanent replacement for the portable tabernacle. The tabernacle had a single gold lampstand (menorah) with seven branches (Exodus 25:31). For the temple, Solomon made ten lampstands, placed symmetrically, five on the right and five on the left (1 Kings 7:49). The Hebrew terms for “right” (יָמִין, yamin) and “left” (שְׂמֹאל, semol) can also be translated “south” and “north” when the observer faces east, as the temple did. This is why the BSB reads “south side … north side.”
The increase from one to ten was not a deviation from God’s law; the Chronicler is careful to note that the lampstands were made according to the ordinance. The Mosaic pattern (Exodus 25:40) was still the standard, but the scale of the temple allowed for more. Architects and priests saw the multiplication as a natural expansion, the temple was larger and more splendid, requiring more light for the Holy Place.
Symbolically, the number ten often represents completeness in Scripture. The lampstands’ light recalled Israel’s call to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6). Matthew Henry observes that David “often speaks with much affection both of the house of the Lord and of the courts of our God,” and the abundant gold and light inside the temple pointed to the glory of God’s presence. The Chronicler’s account, written after the exile, reminded a returned community that God’s word and worship had not changed, only grown fuller.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for II Chronicles 4:7. The verse is consistent across the Masoretic Text and the ancient versions (Septuagint, Vulgate). The main difference among English translations is whether to render the directional terms as “right/left” or “south/north,” but this is a matter of interpretation, not textual variation. The verse is textually stable.
Reception History
Christian interpreters have long seen in the ten lampstands a symbol of the growing light of God’s word. John Lightfoot (17th century), cited by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, argued that the multiplication was “a standing emblem … that the growing light of the word was necessary to counteract the growing darkness in the world.” Matthew Henry applied the passage to his own day, noting that “the grace of the gospel” was shadowed by these furnishings. In Reformed and evangelical traditions, the lampstand imagery connects to Christ as the light of the world (John 8:12) and the church as the lampstand bearing witness (Revelation 1:20). Jewish reception focuses on the menorah as the enduring symbol of Israel’s covenantal light, though the temple’s ten lampstands are less commented on than the single seven-branched menorah of the tabernacle. Throughout church history, the verse has been used to encourage faithfulness to God’s revealed pattern while embracing the expanding scope of his mission.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Light multiplied: God’s revelation does not diminish; it expands. The temple’s ten lampstands show that the light of God’s word grows brighter as his people grow in understanding need.
- Pattern preserved: The lampstands were made “according to the ordinance.” Creativity and expansion happen within the bounds of God’s revealed will.
- Placement with purpose: Five on each side, symmetry and order reflect God’s character. Worship is neither chaotic nor random.
Five-point outline
- Gold: The material speaks of value and purity, worship costs us something.
- Ten: The number of completeness, the temple’s light was sufficient for the whole house.
- Ordinance: Worship is not left to human invention; it follows divine prescription.
- Placement: Right and left, south and north, the light reaches every direction, no corner is left in shadow.
- Continuity: The same God who gave the tabernacle pattern now fills the temple with even more light. His presence is not less, but more, in the new covenant context.
Illustration hooks
- Think of a home where, as children grow, more lamps are added to keep the whole house bright. The ten lampstands are like that: the Father keeps adding light as his family expands.
- A church that outgrows its building doesn’t discard the old message, it adds more seating, more Bibles, more classes, while keeping the same gospel. The temple expanded the instrument without altering the instruction.
- When a city lights more street lamps, it’s because the darkness seems to grow. Lightfoot’s point: the increasing light of the word is given to counteract the world’s growing darkness.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did the temple need ten lampstands when the tabernacle only had one? What does that say about God’s expectations for worship?
- If God’s word is enough, why add more? Does multiplying the means of light suggest the original was insufficient?
- How does the arrangement (five on each side) speak to the order and beauty of worship today?
Leading a Discussion
In II Chronicles 4:7, Solomon’s ten gold lampstands stand in the temple as both a practical provision for light and a powerful symbol. The passage connects the temple directly to the Mosaic tabernacle, showing that even in a grander setting, God’s instructions still guide the shape of worship. As you discuss, consider how God’s word has been both preserved and expanded in your own life and community.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about the lampstands from the verse, their number, material, location, and the phrase “according to the ordinance”?
- The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) means “ordinance” or “prescribed rule.” Why do you think the Chronicler emphasizes this detail?
- Compare the single lampstand of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31) with the ten in the temple. What does the increase suggest about God’s relationship with his people over time?
- Lightfoot (quoted in Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) said the ten lampstands were “a standing emblem that the growing light of the word was necessary to counteract the growing darkness in the world.” Does that resonate with our time? Why or why not?
- The lampstands were placed five on each side. What does this symmetry tell us about the nature of worship and order in God’s house?
- In what ways does your church or personal life “multiply” the light of God’s word without changing its essential pattern?
- How can we, like Solomon, be faithful to the pattern God has given while also expanding to meet the needs of our context?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 25:31 | “You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. The lamp stand shall be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. |
| Exodus 25:40 | See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain. |
| I Kings 7:49 | and the lamp stands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; |
| I Chronicles 28:12 | and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; |
| I Chronicles 28:15 | by weight also for the lamp stands of gold, and for its lamps, of gold, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps; and for the lamp stands of silver, by weight for every lamp stand and for its lamps, according to the use of every lamp stand; |
| I Chronicles 28:19 | “All this”, David said, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.” |
| Zechariah 4:2 | He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; |
| Zechariah 4:3 | and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that "according to their form" does not refer to the shape of the candlesticks. He argues it means "after their manner" or prescribed custom, and the candlesticks were simply made following the pattern of Moses' original.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that the ten golden candlesticks were made exactly according to their prescribed form, not as an innovation. Their symmetrical placement, five on each side, demonstrates the careful order and obedience required in the Temple worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the ten candlesticks as more than decoration. Their increased number was a deliberate lesson: as the world's darkness grows, the light of God's word must also increase to counter it.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the verses describing the ten lampstands, ten tables, and basins in 2 Chronicles were likely part of the original 1 Kings account but dropped out over time, since both passages end with the same concluding statement. They also clarify that the hundred basins were wine flagons for drink offerings, not blood basins.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights that the Chronicler's temple account is distinguished by its unbroken, orderly description and its focus on the symbolic significance of details, such as the specific location on Mount Moriah and the cherubim's posture facing the main hall rather than each other as in the tabernacle. He notes the Chronicler omits material found in Kings to keep attention on the temple's sacred meaning.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry reads these temple furnishings as typological symbols, each one foreshadowing the grace of the gospel with Christ as the ultimate reality. He notes that David's deep affection for God's house and courts reflects a love not for the physical objects but for the spiritual truths they pictured.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Their form - The old form which God prescribed to Moses.