Exodus 30:20

Exodus 30:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:
• New International Version (NIV)Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord,
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die.

Context of Exodus 30:20

18“Make a bronze washbasin with a bronze stand. Place it between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. 19Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet there. They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord—or they will die! 21They must always wash their hands and feet, or they will die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants, to be observed from generation to generation.” 22Then the Lord said to Moses,

Exodus 30:20 word by word

בְּבֹאָ֞ם אֶל־אֹ֧הֶל מוֹעֵ֛ד יִרְחֲצוּ־מַ֖יִם וְלֹ֣א יָמֻ֑תוּ א֣וֹ בְגִשְׁתָּ֤ם אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לְשָׁרֵ֔ת לְהַקְטִ֥יר אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• When they goבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• of the congregationמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
• they shall washרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
• with waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
• that they dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• not; or when they come nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• to the altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
• to ministerשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• to burn offeringקָטַרqâţar · to offer: burnH6999
• made by fireאִשֶּׁה'ishshâh · food offeringH801
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Exodus 30:20

• Exodus 12:15For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel.
• Leviticus 10:1Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.
• Leviticus 16:1The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the Lord’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him.
• 1 Samuel 6:19But the Lord killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord. And the people mourned greatly because of what the Lord had done.
• 1 Chronicles 13:10Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.
• Psalms 89:7The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
• Acts 5:5As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.
• Hebrews 12:28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Commentaries on Exodus 30:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20They shall wash with water, that they die not - This was certainly an emblematical washing; and as the hands and the feet are particularly mentioned, it must refer to the purity of their whole conduct. Their hands - all their works, their feet - all their goings, must be washed - must be holiness unto the Lord. And this washing must be repeated every time they entered into the tabernacle, or when they came near to the altar to minister. This washing was…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 Exodus 38:8. The bronze for the “Laver of brass” and its foot was supplied from the bronze mirrors of the women who voluntarily gave up these articles of luxury. Bronze mirrors were much used by the ancient Egyptians. No hint is given as to the form of the laver. The brazen sea and the ten lavers that served the same purpose in the temple of Solomon, were elaborately worked in artistic designs and are minutely described 1 Kings 7:23-29…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 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 teaches us daily to attend upon…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-21On why the plans for the bronze washbasin are included here, see study note on 30:1–10.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2118-21. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 30:20

• Ablution
• Laver
• Purification
• Types
• Worship

In the dictionaries

• Ablution
• Beat
• Compound
• Curious
• Onycha
• Perpetual
• Purification
• Smell
• Spices
• Temper

Commentaries on Exodus 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings