Revelation 1:12

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

Revelation 1:12 in Other Translations

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

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands.

12 I turned and saw the voice. I saw a gold menorah with seven branches,

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

12 I turned toward the voice which was talking to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lamp stands.

12 I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands,

12 I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.

Revelation 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 1:12

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me
The Complutensian edition reads, "and there I turned": and so the Arabic version; that is, to see who it was that spoke, from whom the voice came, and by whom it was uttered; see ( Exodus 20:18 ) ;

and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
which represented the seven churches, ( Revelation 1:20 ) ; in allusion to the seven lamps in the candlestick of the sanctuary, ( Exodus 25:37 ) ( Zechariah 4:2 ) ; compared to "candlesticks", for the use of them, which is to hold forth light; these have none of themselves, but what is put into them, and being put into them, they hold it forth; so the churches of Christ have no light of themselves, but what is put into them; and the light which is put into them, is not the mere light of nature, nor the law of Moses, but the Gospel of Christ; which dispels darkness, and is the means of enlightening sinners, and gives light to saints, by which they walk and work; and this light is put into the churches by Christ, whose the Gospel is, and who is himself come a light into the world; and being put here by him, it is held forth by them, especially by the ministers of it, who are the lights of the world, both by their ministry, and in their lives and conversations: and they are compared to "golden" candlesticks, because of their excellency, preciousness, and value, in the esteem of Christ; and for their brightness and purity in doctrine, discipline, and life; and for their splendour, glory, and beauty; and for their stability and duration; and though they are liable to corruption and taint, yet may be melted, refined, and purified as gold.

Revelation 1:12 In-Context

10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

Cross References

• 1. ver 20; Exodus 25:31-40; Zechariah 4:2; Revelation 2:1