The Meaning of Numbers 8:2 Explained

Numbers 8:2

KJV: Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

YLT: 'Speak unto Aaron, and thou hast said unto him, In thy causing the lights to go up, over-against the face of the candlestick do the seven lights give light.'

Darby: Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

ASV: Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Speak  unto Aaron,  and say  unto him, When thou lightest  the lamps,  the seven  lamps  shall give light  over against  the candlestick. 

What does Numbers 8:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 8:1-13 - Lights In God's House Clean Workmen
It is strange to come on this paragraph about the candlestick amid the preparations for leaving Sinai. But typically it is appropriate, because the people of God are called, in their earthly pilgrimage, to shine as lights in the world.
The beaten work of gold is significant of persecution, and the one lump of gold indicates the essential unity of the Church. The Levites were symbolically cleansed by the water and the razor. This was required for those who were sprung from a stock so cruel, Genesis 49:7.
Next they were offered to God, i.e., Israel transferred to them the obligations of ministry, which up to this time had been performed by the firstborn. As the priest was wont to wave a portion of the sacrifice before God, so Aaron, Numbers 8:11. The counterpart of this is Acts 13:3. Missionaries, teachers and others who perform certain functions for us all, may be regarded as wave-offerings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 8

1  How the lamps are to be lighted
5  The consecration of the Levites
23  The age and time of their service

What do the individual words in Numbers 8:2 mean?

speak to Aaron and say to him when you arrange - the lamps over against the face of the lampstand shall give light seven the lamps
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־ אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־ הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־ מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת

דַּבֵּר֙  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אַהֲרֹ֔ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֑יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙  when  you  arrange 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַנֵּרֹ֔ת  the  lamps 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נִיר 
Sense: lamp.
אֶל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מוּל֙  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמֹואל 
Sense: front.
פְּנֵ֣י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה  of  the  lampstand 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְנׄורָה  
Sense: lamp stand.
יָאִ֖ירוּ  shall  give  light 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
שִׁבְעַ֥ת  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
הַנֵּרֽוֹת  the  lamps 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נִיר 
Sense: lamp.