Exodus 25:31
ESV
"You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
NIV
"Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.
NASB
Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand, its base and its shaft, are to be made of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
CSB
"You are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold. It is to be made of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals.
NLT
Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece — the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals.
KJV
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
NKJV
“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.
What does Exodus 25:31 mean?
The Hebrew word used for this object is menorāh. This seven-headed candelabra is a familiar symbol of Judaism in the world today. God will provide detailed instructions for this ornate item in the next few verses (Exodus 25:32–36). The menorah is one of several items built as part of the Lord's sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9). Others are the ark (Exodus 25:10–11), the table (Exodus 25:23–24), and two altars (Exodus 27:1–8; 30:1–10).The word "gold" refers to a precious metal mined from earth. The term also refers to an element: one of the basic substances in chemistry. In common use, "pure gold" is different from elemental gold. When it is mined, gold is usually blended with other metals such as copper or silver. These are "alloys," and they give the metal more strength. Most jewelry today, for instance, is "14 karat," or about 50% elemental gold. This sacred lampstand is not made of unalloyed, elemental gold, but it is made of solid metal. Other objects in the sanctuary are made of wood covered in a thin layer of gold.
"Hammered" work means that the lampstand is formed by bending, beating, and shaping the metal. This is a different process than pouring melted gold into a mold or cutting pieces into shape. The menorah is intricate, with multiple elements. Most of these correspond to parts of a flower. A skilled craftsman would form the elements separately (Exodus 31:1–11), then solder or braze them to make a single permanent piece.
The lampstand is large, using about thirty-four kilograms, or seventy-five pounds, of metal for the lampstand and its utensils.
