King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thou 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"You are to make a basin of bronze, with a base of bronze, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
Berean Standard Bible:
“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it,
American Standard Version:
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, whereat to wash. And thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Thou shalt also make{H6213} a laver{H3595} of brass{H5178}, and his foot{H3653} also of brass{H5178}, to wash{H7364} withal: and thou shalt put{H5414} it between the tabernacle{H168} of the congregation{H4150} and the altar{H4196}, and thou shalt put{H5414} water{H4325} therein.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 40:7
- And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
Exodus 38:8
- 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.
2 Chronicles 4:14
- He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
2 Chronicles 4:15
- One sea, and twelve oxen under it.
1 Kings 7:38
- Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: [and] every laver was four cubits: [and] upon every one of the ten bases one laver.
Exodus 40:30
- And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash [withal].
Exodus 40:32
- When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 30:18
Exodus 30:18 is a part of the detailed instructions given by God to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle, which was to serve as the mobile worship center for the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. The verse specifies the creation of a laver, or basin, made of brass, along with its stand or base, also of brass. This laver was to be filled with water for the purpose of washing, serving as a place for the priests to cleanse their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle or approaching the altar to perform their sacred duties.
The laver's placement "between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar" was significant, symbolizing a transition point between the secular and the sacred, emphasizing the importance of ritual purity in the approach to God. The act of washing was both a practical measure to ensure cleanliness and a symbolic act representing spiritual cleansing and the removal of impurities before engaging in worship and sacrifice. This practice was rooted in the broader ancient Near Eastern context, where purification rituals were common, but it took on a unique theological significance for the Israelites as part of the divine law revealed to Moses.
In a broader thematic context, Exodus 30:18 underscores the holiness of God and the necessity for His people to prepare themselves to enter His presence through acts of purification. It reflects the meticulous nature of the worship protocols that God established for the Israelites, which were designed to create a distinct identity for them as a holy nation set apart for God's purposes. The verse also prefigures the Christian understanding of the need for spiritual cleansing through the waters of baptism, as taught in the New Testament.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H3595
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּיּוֹר
Transliteration: kîyôwr
Pronunciation: kee-yore'
Description: or כִּיֹּר; from the same as כּוּר; properly, something round (as excavated or bored), i.e. a chafing-dish forcoals or a caldron forcooking; hence (from similarity of form) a washbowl; also (for the same reason) a pulpit or platform; hearth, laver, pan, scaffold. - Strong's Number: H5178
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְחֹשֶׁת
Transliteration: nᵉchôsheth
Pronunciation: nekh-o'-sheth
Description: for נְחוּשָׁה; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver); brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel. - Strong's Number: H3653
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֵּן
Transliteration: kên
Pronunciation: kane
Description: the same as כֵּן, used as a noun; a stand, i.e. pedestal or station; base, estate, foot, office, place, well. - Strong's Number: H7364
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחַץ
Transliteration: râchats
Pronunciation: raw-khats'
Description: a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self). - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent. - Strong's Number: H4150
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹעֵד
Transliteration: môwʻêd
Pronunciation: mo-ade'
Description: or מֹעֵד; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from יָעַד; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally ayear; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand); appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed). - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).