Exodus 40:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

Complete Jewish Bible:

so that Moshe and Aharon and his sons could wash their hands and feet there -

Berean Standard Bible:

and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet.

American Standard Version:

And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} and Aaron^{H175} and his sons^{H1121} washed^{H7364} their hands^{H3027} and their feet^{H7272} thereat:

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Commentary for Exodus 40:31

Exodus 40:31 is part of the narrative that concludes the Book of Exodus, which details the story of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt and their journey towards the Promised Land. This verse specifically describes a moment within the intricate instructions given by God to Moses for the construction and consecration of the Tabernacle—a portable sanctuary that would serve as the locus of God's presence among the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness.

In the broader context, Moses is finalizing the assembly of the Tabernacle as commanded by God. The verse captures a ritual act of purification: Moses, Aaron (Moses' brother and the first High Priest of Israel), and Aaron's sons, who would also serve as priests, wash their hands and feet. This act of washing is symbolic of ritual purity, a recurring theme in the Torah, signifying the removal of impurity and readiness to serve in the sacred space of the Tabernacle. The water used for washing would likely have come from the bronze laver, a basin specifically designated for priestly ablutions (Exodus 30:18-21).

The historical context of this verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern practices of purification before entering sacred spaces or performing religious duties. The detailed attention to ritual cleanliness underscores the holiness of God and the importance of proper preparation before approaching the divine. This act of washing also prefigures the later, more developed priestly rituals that would be central to the religious life of Israel, particularly those carried out in the Temple of Jerusalem.

In summary, Exodus 40:31 captures a moment of ritual cleansing that is both a practical and symbolic act, emphasizing the necessity of purity when serving in God's sanctuary. It reflects the broader themes of obedience to divine instruction, the establishment of priestly roles, and the centrality of the Tabernacle as the focal point of Israel's worship during a formative period in their history as a nation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H175
   There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
   Pronunciation: a-har-one'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
4. 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).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7272
   There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֶגֶל
   Transliteration: regel
   Pronunciation: reh'-gel
   Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.