Key Verse Spotlight
Exodus 27:20 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. "
Exodus 27:20
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
18 The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
19 All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
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We read about the lampstand in the previous chapter. Here, God gives a command to keep its lamps burning all the time, or else it would serve no purpose. Every lampstand should have a light that burns and shines, because a lampstand without a flame is like a well with no water or clouds with no rain.
First, the people were to supply the oil. In that sense, the Lord’s ministers were to receive their support from the people. More likely, though, the pure oil points to the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, which are given to all believers through Christ, the good olive tree, from whose fullness we receive (Zechariah 4:11-12). Without that gift, our light cannot shine before others.
Second, the priests were to light the lamps and care for them. This was part of their daily work, to keep the lamp burning always, day and night. In the same way, it is the work of ministers, by preaching and explaining Scripture, which is like a lamp, to give light to the church, God’s tent on earth, and to guide the spiritual priests in his service. This was to be a lasting rule, that the lamps of the Word should be kept burning as faithfully as the incense of prayer and praise is offered.
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From This Chapter
Exodus 27:1
"And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits."
Exodus 27:2
"And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass."
Exodus 27:3
"And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass."
Exodus 27:4
"And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners"
Exodus 27:5
"And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar."
Exodus 27:6
"And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass."
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