And you shall make the seven lamps for it is literally “And you [singular] shall make its lamps, seven.” These were probably small bowl-shaped lamps made to hold the olive oil, with one part of the rim pinched to hold the wick. Scholars generally assume that they were not a part of the lampstand, and some even suggest that they were made of clay rather than of gold. Since the text does not indicate what material was used for the lamps, it is better to assume that these lamps were made of gold, if this must be made clear in the translation. (For a further discussion see 37.23-24.)

And the lamps shall be set up is literally “and he shall cause its lamps to go up.” Some ancient manuscripts have “and you [singular] shall cause its lamps to go up,” but the Hebrew may be read as in Revised Standard Version, or as “and one shall set up its lamps.” Good News Translation interprets this as “[you] set them up.” Others have “and [you] so set up the lamps” (New American Bible), “and [you] mount them” (Revised English Bible), or “and [you] set them up on it” (New International Version). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “the lamps shall be so mounted,” and Durham has “these lamps are to be elevated.” Contemporary English Version makes it explicit that one of the lamps will be at the top of the lampstand: “The lamp on the top and those at the end of each of its six branches must be….” One may also express this as “make seven lamps for the lampstand: one for the top and the others for the ends of its six branches. Set these up so that they shine toward the front of the lampstand.”

So as to give light upon the space in front of it is literally “and he [or, it] shall cause light [or, shine] upon the side of its face.” This means that the lampstand, with its seven lighted lamps, is to give light to the area in front of it, or the lamps themselves will give the light. Good News Translation is clear: “so that they shine toward the front.” This suggests that the lamps were to be mounted so that their wicks would point toward the front.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .