Exodus 29:4 kjv
And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
Exodus 29:4 nkjv
"And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water.
Exodus 29:4 niv
Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
Exodus 29:4 esv
You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
Exodus 29:4 nlt
"Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water.
Exodus 29 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 8:6 | "Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water." | Describes the actual washing in the ritual. |
| Ex 30:17-21 | "You shall make a bronze laver...for washing." | Instructions for the laver used for ritual washing. |
| Num 8:6-7 | "Cleanse them, present a water of purification..." | Purification ritual for Levites. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?...He who has clean hands and a pure heart." | Spiritual requirement for drawing near to God. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean..." | Call for spiritual purification. |
| Ezek 36:25 | "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean." | Prophecy of spiritual cleansing and regeneration. |
| Zec 13:1 | "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." | Foreshadows ultimate cleansing from sin. |
| John 13:10 | "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean." | Jesus teaching about spiritual cleanliness and fellowship. |
| Acts 22:16 | "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." | Baptism as a sign of spiritual cleansing. |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | "But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified..." | Believers' cleansing and setting apart in Christ. |
| Eph 5:26 | "that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word," | Christ's purification of the church. |
| Tit 3:5 | "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit," | Salvation as a spiritual washing and renewal. |
| Heb 10:22 | "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." | Confidence to approach God through Christ's purification. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as a royal priesthood, drawing parallel to priestly consecration. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." | Applies the concept of priesthood to all believers. |
| Rev 1:5 | "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," | Ultimate spiritual cleansing by Christ's sacrifice. |
| Ex 19:10-11 | "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes." | Preparation for meeting God at Sinai. |
| Ex 40:6-7 | "And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle...You shall set the laver between the tabernacle..." | Location of altar and laver, emphasizing purpose of proximity. |
| Lev 21:10 | "He who is the high priest...shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes..." | Requirements for the High Priest's purity and decorum. |
| Heb 7:23-28 | Describes the perpetual and perfect priesthood of Christ. | Contrast with the temporary Aaronic priesthood requiring repeated purification. |
| Heb 9:11-14 | "but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." | Christ's superior, once-for-all purification for believers. |
Exodus 29 verses
Exodus 29 4 Meaning
Exodus 29:4 details the initial step in the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons into the priestly office. It prescribes their bringing to the entrance of the Tabernacle of Meeting, where they are to be ceremonially washed with water. This action symbolizes their purification from common defilement and their preparation to enter into sacred service before the presence of God.
Exodus 29 4 Context
Exodus chapter 29 outlines God's precise instructions for the inauguration of the Aaronic priesthood. This consecration ceremony, detailed over seven days, transforms Aaron and his sons from common men into sacred office bearers responsible for mediating between God and the Israelite nation. The rituals described, including washing, clothing, anointing, and offering sacrifices, were vital for establishing the legitimate and divinely sanctioned authority of the priesthood. Verse 4 specifies the very first step of this elaborate ritual: a ceremonial cleansing at the entrance of the Tabernacle, signifying their purification and fitness to approach the holy God. This act follows the completion of the Tabernacle's construction instructions in earlier chapters, indicating a transition from the physical structure to those who would serve within it.
Exodus 29 4 Word analysis
- Then you shall bring: This phrase emphasizes the divine directive given to Moses, highlighting that this consecration is not a human initiative but a commandment from God Himself, underscoring its authoritative and non-negotiable nature.
- Aaron and his sons: Refers to Aaron, who would become the High Priest, and his direct male descendants, who would serve as priests. This marks the divine establishment of the hereditary Aaronic priesthood for Israel.
- to the door of the tabernacle of meeting (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - ohel mo'ed):
- Ohel (אֹהֶל) means "tent" or "dwelling."
- Mo'ed (מוֹעֵד) means "appointed place," "appointed time," or "meeting."
- This phrase refers to the precise entrance of the portable sanctuary where God had appointed to meet with His people. Standing at the "door" signifies a transitional, liminal space—on the threshold between the ordinary world and the sacred domain where God's presence dwelt. It emphasizes regulated access to God.
- wash them (רָחַץ - rachatz):
- This Hebrew verb means "to rinse," "to wash," or "to bathe." In this context of consecration, it implies a thorough, ceremonial cleansing of the whole body, rather than just hands or feet (as might be the case with later priestly duties at the laver). It is an act of purification.
- This washing is distinct from physical hygiene; it's a symbolic act commanded by God, rendering the priests ceremonially clean for their holy service.
- with water (מַיִם - mayim): The simplest, most common, yet purest element available. The use of plain water underscores that the efficacy of the cleansing ritual lies in God's command and not in any mystical properties of the water itself or additional ingredients often used in pagan purification rites. It symbolizes purity and preparation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting": This command signifies an invitation and an injunction for proximity to God's presence, yet one that must be strictly governed. It defines the specific, sacred location for the beginning of their priestly initiation. The divine summons to this specific threshold highlights the controlled and hallowed access required for those who serve God.
- "wash them with water": This complete phrase highlights the absolute necessity of ritual purity before drawing near to God for service. This initial purification removes common defilement, setting the priests apart and making them ritually fit to proceed with further sacred acts. It emphasizes that physical and ceremonial readiness is a foundational requirement for all divine appointment and ministry in the Old Covenant.
Exodus 29 4 Bonus section
The precise placement "at the door of the tabernacle" for the washing underscores that purity is necessary even before entering the consecrated space, emphasizing a boundary that must be respected and a preparation that must occur. This concept of purification before entry into God's presence resonates throughout the entirety of Scripture, culminating in the spiritual washing that occurs through regeneration in Christ (Tit 3:5), allowing believers to now access God's holiest presence not through a tent, but through the perfect sacrifice of Christ (Heb 10:19-22).
Exodus 29 4 Commentary
Exodus 29:4 lays the fundamental principle that purity is prerequisite to divine service. The commanded washing of Aaron and his sons, positioned precisely at the door of the Tabernacle, establishes that even divinely appointed individuals must be ritually cleansed before engaging in sacred duties or approaching God's holy dwelling. This act was more than a symbolic gesture; it represented a separation from the uncleanness of the world and a preparation for a consecrated state. It foreshadows the later regular washings required at the laver and illustrates the consistent biblical demand for purity—both external and internal—before God. Ultimately, this ancient ritual points forward to the perfect cleansing provided by Jesus Christ, whose atoning sacrifice purifies His people from all sin, making them a "royal priesthood" able to draw near to God with confidence and offer spiritual sacrifices. It teaches that access to God always necessitates cleansing, first by shadow and type, then perfectly by the Savior.