Exodus 38:8

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And he made H6213 the laver H3595 of brass H5178, and the foot H3653 of it of brass H5178, of the lookingglasses H4759 of the women assembling H6633, which assembled H6633 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150.
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Complete Jewish Bible
He made the basin of bronze with its base of bronze from the mirrors of the women serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
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Berean Standard Bible
Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
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American Standard Version
And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, of the mirrors of the ministering women that ministered at the door of the tent of meeting.
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World English Bible Messianic
He 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.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Also he made the Lauer of brasse, and the foote of it of brasse of the glasses of the women that did assemble and came together at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
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Young's Literal Translation
And he maketh the laver of brass, and its base of brass, with the looking-glasses of the women assembling, who have assembled at the opening of the tent of meeting.
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See also
Luke 2:371 Samuel 2:22Exodus 40:71 Timothy 5:5Titus 3:5Titus 3:6Psalms 26:6
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The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses
The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses View full PDF
Building Plan: The Tabernacle
Building Plan: The Tabernacle View full PDF

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In the KJVVerse 2,642 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Exodus 38:8 meticulously details the construction of the bronze laver and its accompanying stand, uniquely fashioned from the polished metal mirrors generously donated by women who faithfully assembled and served at the entrance of the Tabernacle of the congregation. This verse not only highlights the precise execution of God's architectural plans for His sacred dwelling but also profoundly underscores the personal sacrifice, communal devotion, and inclusive participation that characterized the building of the Tabernacle, transforming instruments of personal vanity into vessels for divine service and essential priestly purification.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed within the latter portion of the Book of Exodus, specifically within the detailed account of the Tabernacle's construction (chapters 35-40). Following the initial call for freewill offerings in Exodus 35 and the divine appointment of skilled artisans like Bezalel and Oholiab, these chapters meticulously describe the actual fabrication of each Tabernacle component. The laver, as first commanded in Exodus 30:18-21, was a crucial piece of furniture positioned between the altar of burnt offering and the entrance to the Holy Place. Its primary function was to provide water for the priests to wash their hands and feet, a mandatory ritual purification before they ministered in the Tabernacle. This placement and function underscore the absolute necessity of purity for those who would approach and serve a holy God, forming a vital step in the prescribed worship sequence.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, mirrors were not made of glass but were highly polished discs of bronze or copper, often intricately decorated and considered valuable personal possessions, especially for women. They were symbols of beauty, status, and self-adornment. The act of these women donating such prized items for the Tabernacle's construction speaks volumes about their deep commitment and willingness to sacrifice for the worship of Yahweh. The phrase "women assembling... at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" suggests a dedicated group, possibly involved in prayer, worship, or specific service roles associated with the sacred space, even before its full completion. This indicates an active and recognized role for women in the spiritual life of the Israelite community, contributing not only materially but also through their devotional presence and service. This echoes other biblical instances where women played significant roles in supporting spiritual endeavors, such as the women who ministered to Jesus in Luke 8:2-3.
  • Key Themes: Exodus 38:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of sacrificial giving and wholehearted devotion, demonstrating that true worship involves relinquishing personal treasures for God's glory. The transformation of objects of vanity into instruments of purification profoundly illustrates the theme of consecration and holiness, emphasizing that all aspects of life, even personal possessions, can be redeemed and dedicated to sacred purposes. The verse also underscores the theme of inclusive participation in God's work, showcasing that every member of the community, regardless of social standing or gender, has a vital and valued role to play in the building and maintenance of God's dwelling place. This communal effort is central to the establishment of Israel as God's holy nation, set apart for His purposes, a concept woven throughout the Law and prophetic literature, such as in Leviticus 11:44.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Laver (Hebrew, kîyôwr', H3595): This term (H3595) refers to a basin or washing vessel. Derived from a root suggesting something round or excavated, it denotes a vessel designed for cleansing. In the Tabernacle context, its purpose for ritual ablutions underscores the absolute necessity of purity for those who would approach and serve a holy God. Its construction from mirrors adds a profound layer of symbolic meaning to its function, transforming instruments of self-reflection into a means of communal purification.
  • Lookingglasses (Hebrew, marʼâh', H4759): This word (H4759), the feminine form of a term for "vision" or "sight," literally means "mirror" or "speculum." These were highly polished metal surfaces used for personal reflection and adornment. The transformation of these objects, previously used for personal vanity, into a basin for priestly purification is a powerful symbol of consecration and the redirection of personal resources towards divine service. It signifies a profound shift from self-focus to God-focus, where personal beauty is sacrificed for communal holiness.
  • Assembling (Hebrew, tsâbâʼ', H6633): This verb (H6633) is a primitive root meaning "to mass (an army or servants)," "to fight," "to perform," "to muster," or "to wait upon." When applied to the women, it suggests a disciplined, organized, and dedicated service or "muster" at the Tabernacle door. This implies an active, recognized, and perhaps even formal role for these women in the Tabernacle's devotional life, highlighting their commitment and contribution beyond mere material donation, akin to a spiritual service or watch.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And he made the laver [of] brass, and the foot of it [of] brass": This clause establishes the primary object being constructed—the laver and its accompanying base—and specifies its material as brass (or bronze). Brass was a common, durable, and valuable metal in ancient times, often associated with strength, judgment, and endurance in biblical symbolism. Its use here indicates the robustness required for a vessel of constant ritual cleansing, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's demand for purity and the substantiality of the Tabernacle's components.
  • "of the lookingglasses of [the women] assembling": This is the most striking and unique detail of the verse, specifying the extraordinary source of the brass: the polished metal mirrors donated by women. This highlights an exceptional act of personal sacrifice and devotion. Mirrors were prized personal items, and their donation for a communal, sacred purpose demonstrates a profound level of willingness to part with cherished possessions for God's glory. It also subtly reveals the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the craftsmen, who were able to melt down and repurpose these items into a functional and sacred vessel.
  • "which assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation": This phrase identifies the specific group of women who made this unique contribution. Their "assembly" at the Tabernacle door suggests a consistent and dedicated presence, perhaps engaging in prayer, intercession, or other forms of service related to the sacred space. This detail underscores their active and recognized participation in the spiritual life of the community and their deep personal investment in the Tabernacle project, affirming the value of their collective and individual commitment and presence in the worship of God.

Literary Devices

Exodus 38:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message. Symbolism is paramount, as the transformation of "lookingglasses" (symbols of self-reflection, personal adornment, and vanity) into a "laver" (a vessel for purification and communal service) powerfully illustrates the consecration of the mundane for sacred purposes. This signifies a spiritual metamorphosis where personal focus is surrendered for divine glory and corporate holiness. The brass itself, often associated with judgment and strength, reinforces the serious and enduring nature of the purification required for approaching God. There is also a clear element of Metonymy, where the "lookingglasses" stand in for the women's personal sacrifice and devotion, representing their willing hearts and consecrated lives. Furthermore, the specific mention of these women and their unique contribution serves as a powerful Synecdoche, where a part (the women's mirrors and their assembly) represents the whole (the collective, willing offerings and diverse contributions of the entire Israelite community for the Tabernacle's construction), emphasizing that every contribution, regardless of its perceived value or source, was vital and honored by God.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Exodus 38:8 is rich with theological significance, primarily emphasizing the themes of sacrificial giving, the necessity of purity for divine service, and the inclusive nature of God's call to participate in His work. The willing donation of valuable personal items, particularly mirrors, for the construction of the laver underscores that true devotion often requires relinquishing what is personally cherished for the greater glory of God. This act of giving transforms objects of self-focus into instruments of communal holiness, illustrating that our resources, even our very selves, are to be consecrated for God's purposes. The laver itself perpetually reminds us that access to God and effective service in His presence demand ritual and spiritual cleansing, a foundational principle throughout biblical theology that points to the deeper need for inner purity.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

The poignant story of the laver made from the women's mirrors offers a profound challenge and encouragement for believers today. It calls us to examine our own "lookingglasses"—those things we hold dear, that reflect our self-image, our comforts, our personal aspirations, or our material possessions. Are we willing to surrender these, to see them melted down and repurposed for God's kingdom work and the good of His people? This act is not about deprivation but about profound transformation, allowing God to take what we value and use it for a higher, holier purpose, becoming instruments of His grace and purity in the world. Just as the priests needed to wash at the laver before ministering, we are continually reminded of our ongoing need for spiritual cleansing and repentance, acknowledging that our service to God must flow from a heart made pure and continually purified by His grace. Furthermore, this verse celebrates the often-unseen contributions of all who serve, affirming that every act of willing devotion, regardless of gender, social standing, or perceived significance, is invaluable in God's eyes and essential for the building up of His spiritual house, the church.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "lookingglasses" (personal possessions, comforts, or aspirations) might God be calling me to "melt down" and consecrate for His service today?
  • How does the symbolism of the laver, made from mirrors, challenge my understanding of self-focus versus God-focus in my spiritual life and daily decisions?
  • In what ways can I actively participate in the "assembly" at the "door of the tabernacle" (the church or community of faith), offering my unique gifts, presence, and resources for God's glory?
  • How does the necessity of priestly washing at the laver inform my daily pursuit of spiritual purity and my approach to serving God in a world that often compromises holiness?

FAQ

What were "lookingglasses" in ancient Israel?

Answer: In ancient Israel, "lookingglasses" (Hebrew: marʼâh) were not made of glass as we know it today. Instead, they were highly polished discs or plates of metal, typically bronze or copper, which served as mirrors. These were often valuable personal possessions, sometimes intricately crafted, and used for personal grooming and adornment. The act of donating such items for the Tabernacle's construction represented a significant personal sacrifice and a deep commitment to God's work, transforming objects of personal vanity into instruments for divine service and communal purification.

What was the purpose of the laver in the Tabernacle?

Answer: The laver was a large basin filled with water, placed between the altar of burnt offering and the entrance to the Holy Place. Its primary purpose, as commanded in Exodus 30:18-21, was for the priests to wash their hands and feet before ministering in the Tabernacle or approaching the altar. This ritual washing was essential for ceremonial purity, ensuring that the priests were clean and consecrated before performing their sacred duties in the presence of a holy God. It symbolized the constant need for cleansing before engaging in divine service.

Who were the "women assembling at the door of the tabernacle"?

Answer: These were women who gathered regularly and devotedly at the entrance of the Tabernacle of the congregation. While the exact nature of their "assembly" (Hebrew: tsâbâʼ) is not fully detailed, it implies a dedicated group involved in prayer, intercession, or specific forms of service related to the sacred space. Their willingness to donate their valuable mirrors for the laver highlights their deep spiritual commitment and active participation in the community's religious life, demonstrating that contributions from all members of the community, regardless of gender, were valued and integral to God's work. This willingness to contribute is a recurring theme in the Tabernacle's construction, as seen in other acts of willing contribution throughout Exodus 35.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The bronze laver, meticulously fashioned from the consecrated mirrors of devoted women, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The laver symbolized the necessary purification for sinful humanity to approach a holy God. In the Old Covenant, this cleansing was external and ritualistic, a constant reminder of human impurity and the need for repeated washing. However, Christ's singular, perfect sacrifice on the cross provides the true and ultimate purification, making it possible for us to draw near to God with confidence. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, whose precious blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The transformation of mirrors (objects of self-reflection and vanity) into a laver (a vessel for cleansing and service) beautifully prefigures the spiritual transformation believers undergo in Christ. We are called to die to self and live for Him (Galatians 2:20), allowing our lives, once focused on personal desires, to become instruments of God's glory and vessels for His purposes. Through Christ, we are not merely ritually cleansed but spiritually regenerated by the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), given direct and confident access to the Father through His shed blood (Hebrews 10:19-22), and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of true holiness and dedicated service, reflecting His glory with unveiled faces (2 Corinthians 3:18).

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Commentary on Exodus 38 verses 1–8

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Bezaleel having finished the gold-work, which, though the richest, yet was ordered to lie most out of sight, in the tabernacle itself, here goes on to prepare the court, which lay open to the view of all. Two things the court was furnished with, and both made of brass: -

I. An altar of burnt-offering, Exo 38:1-7. On this all their sacrifices were offered, and it was this which, being sanctified itself for this purpose by the divine appointment, sanctified the gift that was in faith offered on it. Christ was himself the altar to his own sacrifice of atonement, and so he is to all our sacrifices of acknowledgment. We must have an eye to him in offering them, as God has in accepting them.

II. A laver, to hold water for the priests to wash in when they went in to minister, Exo 38:8. This signified the provision that is made in the gospel of Christ for the cleansing of our souls from the moral pollution of sin by the merit and grace of Christ, that we may be fit to serve the holy God in holy duties. This is here said to be made of the looking-glasses (or mirrors) of the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle.

1.It should seem these women were eminent and exemplary for devotion, attending more frequently and seriously at the place of public worship than others did; and notice is here taken of it to their honour. Anna was such a one long afterwards, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day, Luk 2:37. It seems in every age of the church there have been some who have thus distinguished themselves by their serious zealous piety, and they have thereby distinguished themselves; for devout women are really honourable women (Act 13:50), and not the less so for their being called, by the scoffers of the latter days, silly women. Probably these women were such as showed their zeal upon this occasion, by assisting in the work that was now going on for the service of the tabernacle. They assembled by troops, so the word is; a blessed sight, to see so many, and those so zealous and so unanimous, in this good work.

2.These women parted with their mirrors (which were of the finest brass, burnished for that purpose) for the use of the tabernacle. Those women that admire their own beauty, are in love with their own shadow, and make the putting on of apparel their chief adorning by which they value and recommend themselves, can but ill spare their looking-glasses; yet these women offered them to God, either, (1.) In token of their repentance for the former abuse of them, to the support of their pride and vanity; now that they were convinced of their folly, and had devoted themselves to the service of God at the door of the tabernacle, they thus threw away that which, though lawful and useful in itself, yet had been an occasion of sin to them. Thus Mary Magdalene, who had been a sinner, when she became a penitent wiped Christ's feet with her hair. Or, (2.) In token of their great zeal for the work of the tabernacle; rather than the workmen should want brass, or not have of the best, they would part with their mirrors, though they could not do well without them. God's service and glory must always be preferred by us before any satisfactions or accommodations of our own. Let us never complain of the want of that which we may honour God by parting with.

3.These mirrors were used for the making of the laver. Either they were artfully joined together, or else molten down and cast anew; but it is probable that the laver was so brightly burnished that the sides of it still served for mirrors, that the priests, when they came to wash, might there see their faces, and so discover the spots, to wash them clean. Note, In the washing of repentance, there is need of the looking-glass of self-examination. The word of God is a glass, in which we may see our own faces (see Jam 1:23); and with it we must compare our own hearts and lives, that, finding out our blemishes, we may wash with particular sorrow, and application of the blood of Christ to our souls. Usually the more particular we are in the confession of sin the more comfort we have in the sense of the pardon.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
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Gregory the DialogistAD 604
HOMILY 19
Moses put there a bronze basin in which the priests had to wash themselves and enter the Holy of Holies, because God’s law prescribes that we first wash ourselves by compunction, that in our uncleanness we may not be unworthy to enter the cleanness of the secrets of God.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 17
But then we truly preach right things to others if we show our words by deeds, if we ourselves are pierced with divine love, and wash with tears the daily stains of human life, which can in no way pass without fault. But then we are truly pierced with compunction about ourselves if we carefully consider the deeds of the fathers who went before, so that from beholding their glory, our own life may become vile in our own eyes. Then we are truly pierced with compunction when we diligently search the commandments of the Lord, and through these we ourselves strive to advance, through which we know those whom we venerate have already advanced. For hence it is written of Moses: He placed also the bronze laver in which Aaron and his sons were to wash when they entered the holy of holies, which he made from the mirrors of the women who kept watch at the door of the tabernacle. For Moses places the bronze laver in which the priests ought to be washed and enter the holy of holies, because the law of God first commands us to be washed through compunction, so that our uncleanness may not be unworthy for penetrating the purity of God's secrets. Which laver is rightly said to have been made from the mirrors of the women who ceaselessly kept watch at the door of the tabernacle. For the mirrors of the women are the commandments of God, in which holy souls always behold themselves, and detect if there are any stains of defilement in them. They correct the faults of their thoughts, and as if arranging resisting countenances, they compose them as from a reflected image, because while they diligently attend to the Lord's commandments, in them they doubtless recognize both what pleases and what displeases the heavenly spouse in themselves. As long as they are in this life, they can in no way enter the eternal tabernacle. But yet the women keep watch at the door of the tabernacle, because holy souls, even while they are still weighed down by the weakness of the flesh, nevertheless with continual love await the entrance of eternal entry. Therefore Moses made the laver for the priests from the mirrors of the women, because the law of God provides the washing of compunction for the stains of our sins, while it presents for our contemplation the heavenly commandments through which holy souls have pleased the heavenly spouse. If we diligently attend to these, we see the stains of our inner image. But seeing the stains, we are pierced with the sorrow of repentance; and being pierced with compunction, we are washed as in the laver made from the mirrors of the women.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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