And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
Parallel translations
- WEB He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
- BSB He placed 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 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 40:7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
- Ezek 36:25Then 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.
- Exod 38:8And 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.
- Exod 30:18–21Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
- Heb 10:22Let 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.
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.