The Meaning of Exodus 29:4 Explained

Exodus 29:4

KJV: And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

YLT: 'And Aaron and his sons thou dost bring near unto the opening of the tent of meeting, and hast bathed them with water;

Darby: And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring near the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shalt bathe them with water.

ASV: And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt wash them with water.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Aaron  and his sons  thou shalt bring  unto the door  of the tabernacle  of the congregation,  and shalt wash  them with water. 

What does Exodus 29:4 Mean?

Study Notes

wash Distinguish the washing from the use of the laver.
Exodus 30:18-21 This washing typifies regeneration
Titus 3:5 the laver, daily cleansing
1 John 1:9 See both John 13:10 .

Context Summary

Exodus 29:1-18 - The Priests Prepared For Consecration
The consecration of the priests was an elaborate and impressive ceremony. Notice how Aaron and his sons are classed together, as though to remind us that Jesus and we stand together forever-more. He is the faithful High Priest, but we also have been made priests unto God. First came the washing with water, intimating the necessity for personal purity. See Hebrews 10:22. Then the donning of official robes; for God's priests must be arrayed in the beauty of holiness. See Psalms 110:3.
The anointing oil is the emblem of the Holy Spirit. See Psalms 132:1-18 and 1 John 2:27. It is not enough to have the Holy Spirit in us for character; His anointing must be on us for service. The slain bullock, as sin offering, reminds us of the contrast between our Lord and us. He knew no sin; we require the propitiation for sin. The burned-offering reminds us of Romans 12:1-2. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 29

1  The sacrifice and ceremonies of consecrating the priests and the altar
38  The continual burnt offerings
45  God's promise to dwell among the children of Israel

What do the individual words in Exodus 29:4 mean?

And Aaron his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and you shall wash them with water
וְאֶת־ אַהֲרֹ֤ן בָּנָיו֙ תַּקְרִ֔יב אֶל־ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְרָחַצְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּמָּֽיִם

אַהֲרֹ֤ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
בָּנָיו֙  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
תַּקְרִ֔יב  you  shall  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
פֶּ֖תַח  the  door 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
אֹ֣הֶל  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵ֑ד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
וְרָחַצְתָּ֥  and  you  shall  wash 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
בַּמָּֽיִם  with  water 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.