Exodus 40:30

KJV

And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash [withal].

KJV (with Strong's)

And he set {H7760} the laver {H3595} between the tent {H168} of the congregation {H4150} and the altar {H4196}, and put {H5414} water {H4325} there, to wash {H7364} withal.

Complete Jewish Bible

He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing,

Berean Standard Bible

He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing;

American Standard Version

And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 40:30 meticulously details the final, divinely commanded placement of the bronze laver within the Tabernacle courtyard. This crucial act, occurring during the Tabernacle's dedication, positioned the laver strategically between the Brazen Altar and the Tent of Meeting. Filled with water, it served as the designated station for priests to ritually wash their hands and feet, an indispensable prerequisite for their sacred ministry, thereby underscoring the absolute necessity of ceremonial cleanness and holiness for anyone approaching the presence of a holy God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 40 serves as the glorious culmination of the entire book, marking the meticulous completion and dedication of the Tabernacle, God's portable sanctuary in the wilderness. Having received the detailed divine blueprints on [Mount Sinai](/exodus/24 "Exodus 24 - Covenant at Sinai") (beginning in [Exodus 25](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25 - Tabernacle Instructions")), Moses faithfully executes every command. This chapter meticulously records the assembly of each component, from the Tabernacle structure itself (verses 1-19) to the precise placement of its sacred furnishings (verses 20-30). Verse 30 specifically describes the final outdoor placement of the laver, immediately following the installation of the Brazen Altar (verse 29) and just preceding the awe-inspiring descent of the Lord's glory that fills the Tabernacle (verses 34-38), signifying the complete readiness of the sacred space for divine indwelling and priestly service.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for Exodus 40:30 is the wilderness journey of the Israelites, a newly liberated people establishing their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The Tabernacle was the epicenter of their worship and communal life, embodying God's tangible presence among them. In ancient Israelite society, ritual purity was paramount, especially for those involved in sacred service. The priesthood, specifically Aaron and his sons, were consecrated for the unique task of mediating between God and the people. The requirement for washing at the laver was not merely for physical hygiene but was a vital ceremonial act, ensuring their fitness to approach a holy God and perform their duties at the altar or within the Tabernacle. This profound emphasis on ritual cleanness was a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and the defiling nature of sin, a concept deeply ingrained in the broader [Mosaic Law](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments") and priestly regulations found throughout the Pentateuch.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major theological themes prevalent in Exodus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **God's Holiness and Inaccessibility to Sin**, highlighting that a perfectly holy God cannot tolerate defilement in His presence, necessitating divinely appointed means of purification. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Order and Obedience**, as Moses meticulously follows God's precise instructions for the Tabernacle's construction and arrangement, demonstrating that proper worship requires strict adherence to God's commands. Finally, the laver reinforces the theme of **Mediation and Priesthood**, emphasizing the unique role of the priests as mediators who must themselves be purified before serving, a principle foundational to understanding the sacrificial system and the need for a sinless intercessor, as seen in later biblical revelation concerning the [High Priest](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - Day of Atonement").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Laver (Hebrew, _kîyôwr'_):** From H3595, this term properly refers to something round, like a washbowl. In the Tabernacle context, it denotes the large bronze basin specifically designed for the ritual washing of the priests' hands and feet. Its function was not merely utilitarian but profoundly ritualistic, serving as the vessel for the prescribed purifications essential for sacred ministry.
* **Wash (Hebrew, _râchats'_):** From H7364, this primitive root means to lave (the whole or a part of a thing), to bathe (self), or wash (self). In the context of the Tabernacle, it consistently signifies a ritual or ceremonial cleansing, rather than ordinary bathing. This act of purification was critical for removing ceremonial defilement, thereby making one ceremonially clean and fit to approach a holy God and perform sacred duties without incurring divine wrath.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar":** This clause describes Moses' precise and divinely directed placement of the laver. "The tent of the congregation" (or Tabernacle proper) housed the Holy Place and Most Holy Place, representing the immediate presence of God. "The altar" refers to the Brazen Altar (or Altar of Burnt Offering), where animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin. This specific positioning ensures that priests *must* pass by and use the laver *after* ministering at the altar (signifying atonement) and *before* entering the Holy Place (signifying access to God's presence), emphasizing the divinely ordained sequence of sacrifice followed by purification.
* **"and put water there":** The presence of water is fundamental, as it is the indispensable medium for the prescribed ritual washing. This seemingly simple act signifies the complete readiness of the laver for its sacred purpose, making it fully operational for the crucial priestly service. The water itself, while physically cleansing, derived its ritual efficacy from God's command.
* **"to wash [withal]":** This concluding phrase explicitly states the laver's singular and vital purpose. It was specifically for the priests—Aaron and his sons—to wash their hands and feet before ministering at the Brazen Altar or entering the Tabernacle (as commanded in [Exodus 30:19-21](/exodus/30-19-21 "Exodus 30:19-21 - Priestly Washing Requirement")). This act was a non-negotiable requirement for ceremonial purity, preventing death due to an irreverent or defiled approach to God's holiness.

#### Literary Devices
The placement and purpose of the laver in [Exodus 40:30](/exodus/40-30 "Exodus 40:30 - Placement of the Laver") are rich in **Symbolism**. The laver itself, and particularly the water within it, symbolizes the absolute necessity of purity and cleansing for anyone approaching a holy God. The physical act of washing hands and feet symbolizes the spiritual purification required for divine service and fellowship. The bronze material, often associated with judgment in biblical contexts, subtly hints at the severity of defilement and the dire need for purification to avoid divine wrath. Furthermore, the laver functions as a **Type**, foreshadowing a greater spiritual reality. Its ritual function points forward to the ultimate and complete cleansing from sin provided not by water, but by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This **Foreshadowing** extends to the New Covenant emphasis on internal purity and the ongoing need for spiritual cleansing in the life of a believer, achieved through faith in Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The laver powerfully underscores the foundational biblical theme of divine holiness and the absolute necessity of human purity to approach God. It teaches that access to God's presence and participation in sacred service are predicated on a state of ceremonial, and by extension, moral and spiritual cleanness. This principle is foundational throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing that God, in His perfect holiness, cannot tolerate sin in His immediate presence. The laver serves as a tangible, ever-present reminder that sin defiles and must be addressed—through both atonement and purification—before communion with the Holy One is possible. It highlights the vast chasm between human sinfulness and divine perfection, a gap that requires divinely instituted means of reconciliation and cleansing, pointing to the need for a greater, more complete purification than water could provide.

* [Exodus 30:17-21](/exodus/30-17-21 "Exodus 30:17-21 - The Command for the Laver and Priestly Washing")
* [Psalm 24:3-4](/psalms/24-3-4 "Psalm 24:3-4 - Who May Ascend the Hill of the Lord?")
* [Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Hebrews 10:22 - Drawing Near with a True Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the physical laver and its ritual washings are part of the Old Covenant, the spiritual truth it embodies remains eternally relevant for believers today. It calls us to a profound awareness of God's unblemished holiness and our own inherent sinfulness, reminding us that any approach to Him must be marked by reverence and a fervent desire for purity. The laver challenges us to continually seek spiritual cleansing and purification, not through ritualistic acts, but through sincere repentance and unwavering reliance on the finished work of Christ. It reminds us that approaching God, whether in worship, prayer, or service, requires a conscious effort to live a life set apart for Him, free from the defilement of sin. Our daily walk should reflect a deep longing for purity, acknowledging that only through Christ are we truly made clean and acceptable in God's sight, enabling us to serve Him with a clear conscience and a pure heart, continually being sanctified by His Word and Spirit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the laver's placement "between the altar and the tent" speak to the divinely ordained order of approaching God and what does this imply for our spiritual journey?**
* **What aspects of your life, thoughts, or actions might need spiritual "washing" before you engage in worship or service to God?**
* **In what ways does the New Covenant provide the ultimate "cleansing" that the laver foreshadowed, and how does this profound truth impact your daily walk and sense of access to God?**

### FAQ
**Why was the laver placed *between* the altar and the tent?**

Answer: The strategic placement of the laver "between the tent of the congregation and the altar" was crucial for the prescribed order of worship and priestly ministry. Priests first offered sacrifices for sin at the [Brazen Altar](/exodus/27-1 "Exodus 27:1 - The Brazen Altar") to address the issue of atonement and reconciliation. After the sacrifice, they then proceeded to the laver to wash their hands and feet, symbolizing purification from any ceremonial defilement before entering the Holy Place of the [Tabernacle](/exodus/26 "Exodus 26 - The Tabernacle Construction") or ministering further at the altar. This divinely ordained sequence underscored that both atonement (through sacrifice) and purification (through washing) were essential prerequisites for approaching God's holy presence, emphasizing that sin must be dealt with before one can stand clean and minister before the Lord.

**What was the significance of the water in the laver?**

Answer: The water in the laver was not merely for physical hygiene but held profound symbolic and ritualistic significance. It was the medium for ritual purification, essential for the priests to maintain ceremonial cleanness before God. This physical washing with water symbolized the spiritual cleansing required to stand in the presence of a holy God. It highlighted the defiling nature of sin and the absolute necessity of being purified to avoid divine judgment, as outlined in [Exodus 30:20-21](/exodus/30-20-21 "Exodus 30:20-21 - Consequence of Not Washing"). The water served as a tangible representation of the need for internal purity, pointing beyond the physical act to a deeper spiritual reality of cleansing from defilement, a concept later fulfilled in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The laver, with its requirement for ritual washing, serves as a powerful type pointing directly to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as the Old Covenant priests needed to be cleansed by water before ministering in the Tabernacle, humanity, defiled by sin, needs a far deeper and more complete purification to approach a holy God. This ultimate cleansing is found not in a basin of water, but in the precious blood of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), Jesus Christ, who perfectly atoned for our sins on the cross. His once-for-all sacrifice provides the complete and permanent purification that the laver could only symbolize, removing the defilement of sin and granting us bold access to God's presence. Furthermore, the ongoing cleansing we experience as believers comes through the living water of the Holy Spirit and the washing of the Word, as Christ sanctifies His church "by the washing of water with the word" ([Ephesians 5:26](/ephesians/5-26 "Ephesians 5:26 - Christ Sanctifies the Church")). We are now encouraged to "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" ([Hebrews 10:22](/hebrews/10-22 "Hebrews 10:22 - Drawing Near with Confidence")), recognizing that Jesus Himself is our access, our atonement, and our continual cleansing before the Father, enabling us to serve Him in truth and Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 40:7

And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.

Hebrews 10:22

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.

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.

Exodus 30:18

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.

Exodus 30:21

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, [even] to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

Ezekiel 36:25

¶ Then 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.