Exodus 40:31 kjv
And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
Exodus 40:31 nkjv
and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it.
Exodus 40:31 niv
and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet.
Exodus 40:31 esv
with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet.
Exodus 40:31 nlt
Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet.
Exodus 40 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:17-21 | The LORD said to Moses, "You shall also make a bronze laver… so that they may wash... When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water... lest they die." | Command to make and use the laver for priestly washing. |
| Lev 8:6 | Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. | Moses performs the initial cleansing at priestly ordination. |
| Lev 16:24 | He shall bathe his body in holy water... | Requirement for the high priest on the Day of Atonement. |
| Num 8:7 | ...you shall sprinkle the water of purification on them, and let them shave their whole body... | Ritual cleansing of Levites for their service. |
| Ps 26:6 | I wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O LORD. | Symbolic purification, connecting clean hands to worship. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your deeds..." | Prophetic call to internal, spiritual purification. |
| Jer 2:22 | "For though you wash yourself with soda and use much soap, yet your guilt is stained before me," declares the Lord GOD. | Highlights the inadequacy of external washing without internal change. |
| Ezek 36:25 | "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses..." | God's promise of internal, spiritual cleansing in the new covenant. |
| John 13:8-10 | Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."... "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet..." | Christ's teaching on spiritual cleansing and the ongoing need for sanctification. |
| Acts 22:16 | "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name." | New Covenant washing representing the cleansing from sin. |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | ...but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. | Believers' past spiritual cleansing and transformation. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word... | Christ cleanses the Church through the Word of God. |
| 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 and renewal of the Holy Spirit... | Salvation described as a "washing of regeneration." |
| Heb 9:10 | ...which deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. | OT rituals, including washings, were temporary types pointing to Christ. |
| 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. | Spiritual cleansing enabling boldness to approach God in the New Covenant. |
| 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. | Call to both external action and internal purity for spiritual drawing near. |
| 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... | Explains the spiritual reality of baptism beyond mere physical washing. |
| 1 John 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. | The ongoing cleansing from sin through Christ's blood for believers. |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | Provision for continuous cleansing and restoration after sin. |
| Rev 7:14 | "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." | Ultimate, perfected spiritual cleansing in God's presence. |
Exodus 40 verses
Exodus 40 31 Meaning
Exodus 40:31 records the precise obedience of Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons to God's command regarding their ritual purification before engaging in Tabernacle service. It specifically states that they used the bronze laver (as mentioned in verse 30) to wash their hands and feet. This act symbolized and ensured the necessary ceremonial cleanness required for those approaching the holy God in priestly duties, highlighting the divine standard of purity essential for ministry within His dwelling place.
Exodus 40 31 Context
Exodus chapter 40 concludes the detailed instructions and narrative surrounding the construction and dedication of the Tabernacle. Following God's precise blueprint given throughout Exodus, Moses faithfully erects and furnishes every part of the sanctuary. Verses 17-33 specifically detail the setting up of the inner sanctuary, the holy place, and the courtyard, culminating in the placement and functioning of each item. Verse 31, nestled between the description of placing the bronze laver (v. 30) and the final acts of priestly service before the cloud of glory descends (vv. 32-34), underscores the critical requirement of purification for those ministering before a holy God. This act of washing was not merely hygienic; it was a mandatory ceremonial cleansing, a prerequisite for access and service, deeply rooted in the concept of divine holiness and human unworthiness without proper purification. This strict protocol served as a polemic against the often-unregulated and sometimes morally corrupt practices of pagan worship, emphasizing the distinct nature of the God of Israel.
Exodus 40 31 Word analysis
- For Moses: As the appointed leader and prophet, Moses received and transmitted God's commands. His action here signifies adherence to divine instruction and sets the precedent for all priestly service, confirming the law's fulfillment.
- and Aaron: The first High Priest, divinely chosen. His participation establishes the necessary protocol for the Aaronic priesthood, marking the beginning of their official consecrated ministry.
- and his sons: The priestly lineage, indicating the generational continuation of the sacred ministry. Their washing signifies that all who serve in the priesthood, regardless of their position, must undergo this cleansing.
- washed (Hebrew: רָחַץ - rakhatz): This verb means "to wash, bathe, cleanse." In this context, it signifies a ceremonial purification, not merely hygienic washing. It was a required act to symbolize and impart ritual cleanness, a prerequisite for entering holy space or engaging in sacred duties.
- their hands (Hebrew: יָדַיִם - yadayim): The dual form "two hands" is used. Hands symbolize action, work, and service. Washing them implies cleansing of all that the priests would perform or handle in their ministry, ensuring their work was pure and acceptable before God.
- and their feet (Hebrew: רַגְלַיִם - raglayim): The dual form "two feet" is used. Feet symbolize one's walk, path, or conduct. Washing them represents the purification of their entire journey and approach to God, ensuring their conduct was sanctified when stepping into God's presence.
- from it: This refers to the bronze laver (mentioned in the preceding verse, Ex 40:30), which God had commanded to be made and filled with water specifically for this purpose. It emphasizes that the purification was to be performed not just with any water, but from the divinely ordained vessel and by the specified means.
- Moses and Aaron and his sons: This grouping represents the collective body responsible for the priestly administration and adherence to divine law. Their unified act of washing demonstrates corporate submission to God's demands for ritual purity in ministry.
- washed their hands and their feet: This specific, limited washing (not a full body bath, which was required in other contexts like ordination or Atonement Day) indicates the daily, practical purification needed for active, ongoing ministry. It speaks to the constant need for readiness and sanctification in service. It was insufficient to cleanse from true defilement but essential for permitted ritual service.
- from it: This phrase connects the act directly to the divinely prescribed means of purification – the bronze laver. It underscores the principle that approach to God must always be on His terms and through the means He provides.
Exodus 40 31 Bonus section
The bronze laver, from which they washed, was positioned between the Tent of Meeting and the altar in the Tabernacle courtyard. This placement visually depicted that cleansing was necessary after sacrifice at the altar (if coming from that direction) and before entering the Holy Place or continuing priestly duties. It signified that all acts of worship and service to God must be preceded by purification. This concept of regular cleansing for ministry finds resonance in the daily spiritual maintenance of a believer – not a "one-time wash" for salvation, but a continual cleansing from the defilement of the world through the Word and confession of sins to maintain fellowship and effectiveness in serving God (cf. John 13:10, 1 John 1:9). The laver, though a simple basin of water, profoundly represented the constant need for personal purification for all who would serve a holy God.
Exodus 40 31 Commentary
Exodus 40:31 concisely highlights a fundamental principle of Old Covenant worship: the absolute necessity of ritual purity for those ministering before God. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washing their hands and feet from the laver before every service was not a suggestion but a divine command, enforced by the penalty of death (Ex 30:21). This underscores that the holy God cannot be approached casually or carelessly; His majesty demands specific preparation. The washing symbolized the cleansing of both actions (hands) and conduct (feet), preparing them for service within a sacred space. This physical cleansing served as a tangible reminder of the spiritual purity required. While an external rite, it pointed to the internal holiness that God truly desired. In the New Covenant, this act finds its spiritual fulfillment in the blood of Christ, who cleanses us from all sin, and the ongoing sanctification by His Word, enabling all believers (the new priesthood, 1 Pet 2:9) to draw near to God not by ritualistic washings, but by faith and transformed hearts.