⁷ He made ten gold lampstands^(A) according to the specifications^(B) for them and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.

The Lampstand^(A)

³¹ “Make a lampstand^(B) of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. ³² Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. ³³ Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. ³⁴ And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ³⁵ One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. ³⁶ The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.^(C)

³⁷ “Then make its seven lamps^(D) and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. ³⁸ Its wick trimmers and trays^(E) are to be of pure gold. ³⁹ A talent^[a] of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. ⁴⁰ See that you make them according to the pattern^(F) shown you on the mountain.

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am^(A) the light of the world.^(B) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”^(C)

¹² He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit^(A) had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.^(B)

²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(A) and of the seven golden lampstands^(B) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[a] of the seven churches,^(C) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(D)

⁵ They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(A) and shadow^(B) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(C) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^[a](D)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(A) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^{(B) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(C) that they may see your good deeds^(D) and glorify^(E) your Father in heaven.

¹¹ Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees^(A) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

¹² Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

¹³ He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

¹⁴ So he said, “These are the two who are anointed^(B) to^[a] serve the Lord of all the earth.”