He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
Parallel translations
- KJV And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
- BSB He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing;
- ESV He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing,
- NKJV He set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing;
- NASB He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing.
- NLT Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and filled it with water for washing. Cleansing was required for those who would serve before God.
Overview
The bronze basin stood between the altar of sacrifice and the entrance to the Holy Place, holding water for the priests' ritual washing. Its location taught that those who approach God must be cleansed as well as covered by sacrifice. This points to the cleansing believers receive in Christ, who washes His people and fits them to serve God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Exod 40:7You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
- Ezek 36:25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
- Exod 38:8He made the basin of brass, and its base of brass, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
- Exod 30:18–21“You shall also make a basin of brass, and its base of brass, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.
- Heb 10:22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 40:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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