Exodus 40:7 kjv
And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
Exodus 40:7 nkjv
And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
Exodus 40:7 niv
place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it.
Exodus 40:7 esv
and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
Exodus 40:7 nlt
Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water.
Exodus 40 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:17-21 | "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying... thou shalt also make a laver of brass... thou shalt put water therein. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat... lest they die..." | Origin, purpose, and severe consequence for omission. |
| Ex 38:8 | "...he made the laver of brass... of the lookingglasses of the women..." | Materials and origin of the laver. |
| Ex 40:30-32 | "And he set the laver between the tent... and the altar, and put water therein, to wash withal... they washed... as the LORD commanded Moses." | Fulfillment of the instruction and its purpose. |
| Lev 8:6 | "And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water." | Priestly consecration involves washing. |
| Ps 26:6 | "I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD." | Symbolic washing as a mark of purity before God. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes..." | Call for moral and spiritual cleansing. |
| Ezek 36:25 | "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." | Prophecy of future spiritual purification. |
| Zec 13:1 | "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David... for sin and for uncleanness." | Foreshadows ultimate cleansing from sin. |
| Jn 13:8-10 | "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet... If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me... He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet..." | Spiritual purification by Christ, daily need for cleansing. |
| Jn 15:3 | "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." | Cleansing through the Word of God. |
| Eph 5:25-26 | "...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word..." | Christ's cleansing of the Church. |
| Tit 3:5 | "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..." | Spiritual rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. |
| Heb 9:10 | "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." | Old Covenant washings were temporary and typical. |
| Heb 10:10-14 | "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all... He, having offered one sacrifice for sins forever..." | Fulfillment of the altar's atonement. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... 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." | Access to God and New Covenant cleansing. |
| Jas 1:21 | "...receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." | The Word's purifying power. |
| 1 Pet 1:16 | "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." | Divine standard for approaching God. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." | Continual cleansing through Christ's blood. |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." | Spiritual transformation and cleansing in Christ. |
| Heb 12:14 | "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" | Necessity of holiness for fellowship with God. |
| Rom 5:1-2 | "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand..." | Justification and access through Christ. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." | Bold access in the New Covenant. |
Exodus 40 verses
Exodus 40 7 Meaning
Exodus 40:7 specifies the exact placement of the bronze laver within the Tabernacle courtyard: between the altar of burnt offering and the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. This strategic positioning was critical, establishing a necessary order for the priests to purify themselves with water after offering sacrifices but before entering the Tabernacle to minister before the Lord. It signifies a divine requirement for spiritual cleansing, following atonement through blood, as a prerequisite for drawing near to God's holy presence.
Exodus 40 7 Context
Exodus chapter 40 marks the culmination of the detailed instructions given by God to Moses regarding the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Ex 25-39). This chapter describes the actual erection of the Tabernacle and the placement of all its components exactly as commanded. Verse 7 specifically deals with one of the final pieces of outer court furniture, the laver, and its precise location. This setup sequence (altar first, then laver, then Tabernacle) highlights the divinely ordained pathway for Israelite priests to approach God. Historically, the completion of the Tabernacle signaled God's readiness to dwell among His people, fulfilling His covenant promise and establishing the physical center of worship for the nation of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. It underlined the need for atonement, purification, and careful adherence to God's commands for a holy God to dwell among an unholy people.
Exodus 40 7 Word analysis
- And thou shalt set: A direct divine command to Moses, emphasizing obedience and precision in constructing and arranging the Tabernacle. This is not a suggestion but a requirement.
- the laver: Hebrew: כִּיּוֹר (kiyyor). A large bronze basin, specifically designed for ritual washing. Its significance is rooted in the requirement for priestly purification before ministering in the holy presence of God. Made of bronze (Ex 30:18), it often symbolized strength and judgment, contrasting with the more precious materials of the holy place. The fact that it was made from the mirrors of the worshipping women (Ex 38:8) symbolically suggests self-reflection and putting away pride before God.
- between: The spatial positioning is crucial. It creates an intermediate, necessary step. This isn't just about having a laver but where it is positioned in the process of approach.
- the tent of the congregation: Hebrew: אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ohel mo'ed), literally "tent of meeting" or "tent of appointment." This is the sacred dwelling place of God's manifest presence, where He would meet with Moses and commune with His people. It comprises the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Approaching it signifies drawing near to God's very presence.
- and the altar: Hebrew: מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeakh). This refers to the altar of burnt offering in the outer court, made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze (Ex 27:1-8). This was where animal sacrifices were made for atonement for sins, symbolizing justification by blood. It was the first point of interaction when entering the Tabernacle courtyard.
- and shalt put water therein: The specific content required for the laver to fulfill its function. Without water, it is merely an object; with water, it becomes an instrument of cleansing, essential for the priestly ritual washing. This highlights the indispensable nature of spiritual cleansing by the Word of God (water representing Word, Eph 5:26) or Holy Spirit.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "set the laver between the tent... and the altar": This phrase establishes a critical process and pathway. One enters the Tabernacle court, first encounters the Altar (for atonement/justification through blood sacrifice), then proceeds to the Laver (for purification/sanctification by water), and then can approach the Tent of Meeting (for communion with a holy God). This ordered progression is highly symbolic of the believer's journey: salvation through Christ's sacrifice, followed by sanctification, enabling access to God.
- "and shalt put water therein": This detail emphasizes that the laver's purpose is not merely symbolic, but practical and active. It's a place for physical washing that carries profound spiritual meaning. The command for water reinforces the idea that cleansing is an ongoing, practical necessity for those who minister to God.
Exodus 40 7 Bonus section
The laver, being made from the bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the Tabernacle entrance (Ex 38:8), adds another layer of symbolic richness. It implied that those who would draw near to God must first look into themselves, see their impurities, and recognize the need for cleansing. This prefigures the New Testament concept of the Word of God acting like a mirror, revealing our true state before God and prompting us to seek spiritual purification (Jas 1:23-25). The bronze itself, durable and resistant to corrosion, speaks to the unchanging nature of God's requirement for holiness and the steadfastness of His provision for cleansing. This structure also illustrates the two aspects of our redemption: first, being "washed from sin by His blood" (justification, linked to the Altar), and second, the ongoing "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" and cleansing by the Word (sanctification, linked to the Laver).
Exodus 40 7 Commentary
Exodus 40:7 encapsulates a profound theological truth foundational to drawing near to a holy God. The laver's strategic placement between the brazen altar and the Tabernacle entrance mandates an essential sequence: first atonement by blood (Altar), then purification by water (Laver), and only then access to God's presence (Tent of Meeting). This foreshadows the New Covenant reality where justification by faith in Christ's shed blood on the cross is followed by sanctification—a progressive work of spiritual cleansing and transformation (often symbolized by water, the Word, and the Spirit) that enables fellowship with God. The omission of the washing step resulted in death, signifying the severity of God's holiness and the necessity of personal purity for His service. It also reminds us that while Christ's sacrifice provides immediate justification, a continued walk of repentance and cleansing by the Word and Spirit is necessary for ongoing communion.
Examples:
- Like a surgeon scrubbing before an operation, priests had to be cleansed for sacred service.
- A Christian confesses sin (1 Jn 1:9), being cleansed by Christ's blood and Word, before fellowshipping with God.
- The placement signifies that forgiveness precedes cleansing, and cleansing precedes intimate fellowship.