Exodus 30:19

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

For Aaron {H175} and his sons {H1121} shall wash {H7364} their hands {H3027} and their feet {H7272} thereat:

Aharon and his sons will wash their hands and feet there

with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet.

And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

Commentary

Exodus 30:19 is part of God's detailed instructions for the construction and use of the Tabernacle, specifically focusing on the requirements for the priests, Aaron and his sons, before performing their sacred duties.

Context

This verse describes a crucial regulation concerning the brazen laver, a large basin placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar of burnt offering. The laver was filled with water, and its primary purpose was for the ceremonial washing of the priests. Before entering the Tent of Meeting or approaching the altar to minister, Aaron and his sons were commanded to wash their hands and feet at this laver. This act was not merely hygienic but deeply symbolic, emphasizing the absolute necessity of purity and preparation in the presence of a holy God. Failure to perform this washing would result in death, underscoring the gravity of their service and God's demand for holiness.

Key Themes

  • Purity and Holiness: The washing ritual underscores the paramount importance of holiness required for approaching God. The priests, representing the people before God, had to be ritually clean to perform their duties without defiling the sacred space or incurring divine wrath.
  • Preparation for Service: This verse highlights that ministry and worship are not to be undertaken casually. There is a necessary period of preparation, symbolizing inner cleansing and readiness to serve God according to His prescribed ways.
  • Reverence for God's Presence: The strict command for washing demonstrates profound reverence for God's holy presence within the Tabernacle. It taught the priests, and by extension the Israelites, that God is not to be trifled with, and His commands are to be obeyed meticulously.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb for "wash" here is rachatz (רָחַץ), which implies a thorough cleansing, not just a superficial rinse. This word is used throughout the Old Testament for various forms of ritual washing, often signifying purification from defilement. The specific mention of "hands and feet" is significant: the hands represent the work and actions performed by the priests, while the feet represent their walk and conduct. Thus, their entire active service and daily lives were to be purified before ministering to God.

Practical Application

While the physical Tabernacle and its rituals are no longer in effect for believers today (as Christ is our ultimate High Priest and sacrifice), the spiritual principles remain profoundly relevant:

  • Spiritual Cleansing: Just as the priests needed physical washing, believers today require spiritual cleansing. This is primarily accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
  • Preparation for Worship and Service: We are called to be a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This means we should approach God in worship and service with prepared hearts, confessing our sins and seeking to live lives pleasing to Him.
  • Ongoing Purity: The washing was a repeated act, not a one-time event. Similarly, our spiritual lives require ongoing repentance, confession, and reliance on the Holy Spirit for daily purification and guidance (Titus 3:5). Our actions and our walk should reflect the holiness of the God we serve.
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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 52:11 (5 votes)

    Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

  • Psalms 26:6 (4 votes)

    ¶ I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

  • Exodus 40:31 (4 votes)

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

  • Exodus 40:32 (4 votes)

    When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

  • Hebrews 10:22 (3 votes)

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9 (2 votes)

    ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11 (2 votes)

    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.