Revelation 1:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →John turns toward the voice and sees seven golden lampstands.
What Does Revelation 1:12 Mean?
John responds to the voice by turning to see who is speaking. What first meets his eyes is not a face but a setting: seven golden candlesticks, or lampstands, standing in array. The scene recalls the lamps that once burned in the place of worship, kept ever lit before God.
The meaning of these lampstands will be given at the end of the chapter, but already the image speaks. Gold suggests worth and glory; light suggests witness in a dark world. John turns expecting a person and finds instead the place where that person walks among His people. The vision is being built piece by piece, drawing the reader's gaze inward toward the One who stands in the midst.
Revelation 1:12 in the Original Language
lychnia (λυχνία), 'candlestick' -- a lampstand that holds up a light so it can shine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 1:12
What does Revelation 1:12 mean?
John turns toward the voice and sees seven golden lampstands.