Exodus 30 · Verse 18

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 30:18, King James Version

Exodus 30:18 in other translations

BSB“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,
WEB“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.
ASVThou 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.
YLT‘And thou hast made a laver of brass (and its base of brass), for washing; and thou hast put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and hast put water there;
DARBYThou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it.
BBEYou are to make a brass washing-vessel, with a brass base; and put it between the Tent of meeting and the altar, with water in it;
WebsterThou shalt also make a laver of brass, and its foot also of brass, to wash in: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

What does Exodus 30:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 30:18-21
18-21. Thou shalt ... make a laver of brass--Though not actually forming a component part of the furniture of the tabernacle, this vase was closely connected with it; and though from standing at the entrance it would be a familiar object, it possessed great interest and importance from the baptismal purposes to which it was applied. No data are given by which its form and size can be ascertained; but it was probably a miniature pattern of Solomon's--a circular basin. his foot--supposed not to be the pedestal on which it rested, but a trough or shallow receptacle below, into which the water, let out from a cock or spout, flowed; for the way in which all Eastern people wash their hands or feet is by pouring upon them the water which falls into a basin. This laver was provided for the priests alone. But in the Christian dispensation, all believers are priests, and hence the apostle exhorts them how to draw near to God (Joh 13:10; He 10:22).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 A laver of brass - כיור kiyor sometimes signifies a caldron, 1Sam 2:14; but it seems to signify any large round vessel or basin used for washing the hands and feet. There were doubtless cocks or spigots in it to draw off the water, as it is not likely the feet were put into it in order to be washed. The foot of the laver must mean the pedestal on which it stood.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 30:17-21

A large vessel of brass, holding water, was to be set near the door of the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet at this laver, every time they went in to minister. This was to teach them purity in all their services, and to dread the pollution of sin. They must not only wash and be made clean, when first made priests, but must wash and be kept clean, whenever they went to minister. It…

Read the full comment on Exodus 30:17-21 →

Exodus 30:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְעָשִׂ֜יתָve.'a.Si.taand you will makeH6213
כִּיּ֥וֹרki.Yora laver ofH3595
נְחֹ֛שֶׁתne.Cho.shetbronzeH5178
וְכַנּ֥וֹve.kha.Noand base of itsH3653
נְחֹ֖שֶׁתne.Cho.shetbronzeH5178
לְרָחְצָ֑הle.ra.che.Tzahfor washingH7364
וְנָתַתָּ֣ve.na.ta.Taand you will putH5414
אֹת֗וֹ'o.To<obj.> itH853
בֵּֽין\־bein-betweenH996
אֹ֤הֶל'O.hel[the] tent ofH168
מוֹעֵד֙mo.'EdmeetingH4150
וּבֵ֣יןu.Veinand betweenH996
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַha.miz.Be.achthe altarH4196
וְנָתַתָּ֥ve.na.ta.Taand you will putH5414
שָׁ֖מָּהSha.mahthere <towards>H8033
מָֽיִם\׃Ma.yimwaterH4325

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 30:18

  • 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 4:14-15

    He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases; One sea, and twelve oxen under it.

  • 1 Kings 7:23

    And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

  • Exodus 40:30-32

    And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses.

  • 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.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:2

    Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

  • Leviticus 8:11

    And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.

  • Zechariah 13:1

    In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

  • Titus 3:5

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  • 2 Chronicles 4:6

    He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a laver.
31:9; 38:8; Le 8:11; 1Ki 7:23,38; 2Ch 4:2,6,14,15; Zec 13:1
Tit 3:5; *Gr:
1Jo 1:7
put it.
40:7,30-32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 30:17

    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

  • 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 30:19

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

Read all of Exodus 30

Exodus 30:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Harás también una fuente de metal, con su basa de metal, para lavar; y la has de poner entre el tabernáculo del testimonio y el altar; y pondrás en ella agua.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tu feras aussi une cuve d’airain, et son soubassement d’airain, pour s’y laver; et tu la mettras entre la tente d’assignation et l’autel, et tu y mettras de l’eau;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Mache auch ein Becken von Erz und sein Gestell von Erz zum Waschen; und setze es zwischen das Zelt der Zusammenkunft und den Altar und tue Wasser darein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Facies et labrum æneum cum basi sua ad lavandum: ponesque illud inter tabernaculum testimonii et altare. Et missa aqua,