Exodus 38:8 kjv
And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Exodus 38:8 nkjv
He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Exodus 38:8 niv
They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Exodus 38:8 esv
He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.
Exodus 38:8 nlt
Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
Exodus 38 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:17-21 | "You shall make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing..." | Command for the laver and its use by priests for purification to avoid death. |
| Ex 40:30-32 | "And he set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it..." | Moses follows the instruction to place and fill the laver for Aaron and his sons. |
| Lev 8:6 | "And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water." | Demonstrates the initial priestly cleansing ritual for consecration. |
| Num 4:23 | "From fifty years old and upward you shall stop serving the host and serve no more." | The word צָבָא (tsava), referring to military/levitical "service," implies dedicated commitment. |
| 1 Sam 2:22 | "...the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting." | Corroborates the presence of women dedicated to service at the Tabernacle entrance. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? ...He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Emphasizes the prerequisite of inner and outer purity for approaching God. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes..." | Call for spiritual cleansing from sin, echoing the need for purity before God. |
| Jn 13:8-10 | "Peter said to him, 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you...'" | Jesus highlights the essential spiritual cleansing necessary for fellowship with Him. |
| Eph 5:26 | "...that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..." | Christ cleanses the church, foreshadowed by ritual washing, through His Word. |
| Titus 3:5 | "...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration..." | The "washing of regeneration" in salvation through the Holy Spirit's renewal. |
| Heb 10:22 | "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." | Encourages believers to approach God, acknowledging Christ's ultimate purification. |
| 1 Pet 3:21 | "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection..." | Connects ceremonial washing to spiritual reality of baptism as an act of faith. |
| Ex 35:21-22 | "And everyone whose heart stirred him to come, and everyone whose spirit moved him...brought a contribution..." | General principle of willing and generous contributions for the Tabernacle. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | New Testament principle of cheerful, heartfelt giving, exemplified by the women's mirrors. |
| Phil 4:18 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | Sacrificial gifts as "acceptable and pleasing to God," similar to the mirror offering. |
| Ps 51:7 | "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." | Plea for spiritual cleansing, reflecting the need for ritual purity in OT worship. |
| Jas 4:8 | "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." | Emphasizes internal and external purity required for drawing near to God. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." | Christ's blood provides the ultimate cleansing, superseding ceremonial washing. |
| 1 Cor 13:12 | "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully..." | Implies the limitation of earthly mirrors/understanding, contrasting with ultimate truth. |
| Gen 32:26 | "Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”" | Mirrors given represent sacrificing self-image/desire to fully seek God's presence, echoing spiritual wrestling. |
| Lk 21:1-4 | "And he saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury...But a poor widow put in two small copper coins..." | Illustrates the principle of sacrificial giving from what one values, however small. |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 8 Meaning
Exodus 38:8 describes the construction of the bronze basin (laver) and its stand for the Tabernacle. This holy object was made from the polished bronze mirrors donated by the women who diligently served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Its purpose was for the ceremonial washing of the priests, signifying the vital need for purification before approaching God's holy presence and performing priestly duties. The origin of its material from personal items signifies willing and sacrificial devotion to God.
Exodus 38 8 Context
Exodus 38:8 is situated within the detailed account of the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, specifically after the description of the brazen altar and the court (Ex 38:1-7). Chapters 36-39 recount the fulfillment of God's earlier commands (Ex 25-31) regarding the sanctuary. The laver was essential for the priests' purification, being positioned between the altar of burnt offering (where atonement was made) and the entrance to the Holy Place (where God’s presence resided). Historically, bronze was a precious and utilitarian metal, and polished bronze mirrors were common personal items, particularly for women, signifying personal beauty and vanity. The use of these mirrors for a sacred washing basin represents a unique and profound act of communal sacrifice and dedication. This contrasts with practices of pagan worship that often focused on self-indulgence or material gain.
Exodus 38 8 Word analysis
- He made (וַיַּעַשׂ, vay-ya'as): Refers to Bezalel, the chief artisan, empowered by God's Spirit (Ex 31:3), emphasizing divine wisdom guiding the craftsmanship.
- bronze basin (הַכִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת, hak-kiy-yor nĕchoshet): The kiy-yor (laver) was not part of the tent structure but an external piece of furniture crucial for the ritual hygiene of the priests. Nĕchoshet (bronze/copper) was durable and associated with strength and divine judgment (e.g., brazen serpent in Num 21:9).
- its bronze stand (וְאֵת-כַּנּוֹ נְחֹשֶׁת, və'et-kan-nōw nĕchoshet): The stand was essential for stability and elevation, completing the functional design for its use.
- from the mirrors (בְּמַרְאֹת, bə-mar'ōt): Mar'ōt are specifically hand mirrors, likely made of highly polished bronze or copper. This points to a tangible personal sacrifice by the women, giving up items of personal vanity for holy service. The material speaks of a transformation: items used for self-reflection were transformed into a vessel for purification before God.
- of the women who served (הַצֹּבְאוֹת, hats-tsō-ve'ōwt): This is a key term. The verb צָבָא (tsava) commonly means "to muster," "to serve (in a military sense)," or "to perform service." Its application to women in this context suggests an organized, dedicated, or "mustered" group providing regular service or attendance at the Tabernacle entrance. This implies a formal role for these women in the sanctuary’s early ministry, possibly assisting, praying, or being custodians, similar to how men were "mustered" for Levitical service. (e.g., Num 4:23, 8:24).
- at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, pe-takh ohel mo'ed): This specifies the precise location of their service, emphasizing their devotion directly related to the holy dwelling.
Words-group analysis:
- "bronze basin and its bronze stand": This phrase highlights the purpose of the laver for cleansing. Its bronze material reinforces its strength and capacity to endure the frequent use required for ritual purification. The "stand" further indicates its formal placement and stature as a piece of holy furniture.
- "from the mirrors of the women who served": This phrase details the unique origin of the laver's material. The donation of mirrors, highly valued personal items, underscores a profound act of sacrificial giving. The identification of the women as "those who served" highlights their consistent, dedicated involvement in the Tabernacle's activities, demonstrating an exemplary devotion. It implies their identity shifted from personal adornment to communal worship.
- "at the entrance to the tent of meeting": This group of words precisely situates the location of the women's service and the significance of the laver itself. Positioned at the threshold of God's dwelling, it signifies that access to God's presence, symbolized by the Tent of Meeting, necessitates prior purification, linking their selfless act directly to the foundational principle of holiness.
Exodus 38 8 Bonus section
- The term tsava (hats-tsō-ve'ōwt) used for these women strongly echoes its usage for men who "mustered for service" (e.g., the Levites in Num 4:3, 8:24). This implies that these women were not merely casual worshippers but had an established, recognized, and possibly organized role in the sacred precinct, dedicating specific efforts and time to Tabernacle ministry. This offers insight into early forms of female ministry within Israel.
- The transformation of reflective bronze (mirrors for self-image) into a washing basin (for purification to approach God) symbolically represents turning from self-absorption to God-centeredness and cleansing. It suggests that what once served the gaze of human pride can be consecrated to serve God's purposes of holiness and sanctification.
- The laver, placed between the altar of sacrifice and the holy place, underscores the progression in approaching God: atonement first, then purification. This structure anticipates the Christian experience of salvation through Christ's sacrifice, followed by ongoing sanctification by His Word and Spirit, as described in passages like Ephesians 5:26 and Hebrews 10:22.
- The absence of specific dimensions for the laver (unlike other Tabernacle articles) may imply that its form was less crucial than its function and the purity it facilitated, or perhaps that its dimensions would be determined by the available quantity of the unique and valuable donated materials.
Exodus 38 8 Commentary
Exodus 38:8 reveals profound theological and practical truths. The bronze laver served as an essential intermediary, ensuring priests were ritually clean before ministering in the Tabernacle. It signifies that God demands purity to approach Him, foreshadowing the need for spiritual cleansing. The choice of material—mirrors willingly donated by devout women—is deeply symbolic. Mirrors reflect self, vanity, and the fleeting nature of outward appearance. By sacrificing these, the women participated in creating an instrument for ritual cleansing, thereby exchanging self-glorification for God's glory. This demonstrates selfless devotion and a collective contribution to sacred purposes. The mention of "women who served" indicates an organized and recognized role for women in the Tabernacle's early ministry, reflecting their active, valued participation in Israelite worship. It exemplifies that genuine worship involves sacrifice of the self, transforming personal resources for God's kingdom and illustrating that the humblest offerings, given with a pure heart, are acceptable and transformative in His hands.