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Exodus 38

Ex. 38:8 KJV (With Strong’s)

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8
And he made
`asah (Hebrew #6213)
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows)
KJV usage: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Pronounce: aw-saw'
Origin: a primitive root
thed laver
kiyowr (Hebrew #3595)
from the same as 3564; properly, something round (as excavated or bored), i.e. a chafing-dish for coals or a caldron for cooking; hence (from similarity of form) a washbowl; also (for the same reason) a pulpit or platform
KJV usage: hearth, laver, pan, scaffold.
Pronounce: kee-yore'
Origin: or kiyor {kee-yore'}
of brass
nchosheth (Hebrew #5178)
copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)
KJV usage: brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.
Pronounce: nekh-o'-sheth
Origin: for 5154
, and the foot
ken (Hebrew #3653)
a stand, i.e. pedestal or station
KJV usage: base, estate, foot, office, place, well.
Pronounce: kane
Origin: the same as 3651, used as a noun
of it of brass
nchosheth (Hebrew #5178)
copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)
KJV usage: brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.
Pronounce: nekh-o'-sheth
Origin: for 5154
, of the βlookingglasses
mar'ah (Hebrew #4759)
a vision; also (causatively) a mirror
KJV usage: looking glass, vision.
Pronounce: mar-aw'
Origin: feminine of 4758
of the women γassembling
tsaba' (Hebrew #6633)
to mass (an army or servants)
KJV usage: assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war.
Pronounce: tsaw-baw'
Origin: a primitive root
, which assembled
tsaba' (Hebrew #6633)
to mass (an army or servants)
KJV usage: assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war.
Pronounce: tsaw-baw'
Origin: a primitive root
at the door
pethach (Hebrew #6607)
an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way
KJV usage: door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate, opening, place.
Pronounce: peh'-thakh
Origin: from 6605
of the tabernacle
'ohel (Hebrew #168)
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
KJV usage: covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle, tent.
Pronounce: o'-hel
Origin: from 166
of the congregation
mow`ed (Hebrew #4150)
or (feminine) moweadah (2 Chronicles 8:13) {mo-aw-daw'}; from 3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand)
KJV usage: appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed).
Pronounce: mo-ade'
Origin: or moled {mo-ade'}
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d
Ex. 30:18• 18Thou 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. (Ex. 30:18)
β
or, brazen glasses.
γ
assembling by troops.

More on:

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Brass,
Congregation,
Laver,
Looking Glass,
The Tabernacle

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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the laver.
Ex. 30:18‑21• 18Thou 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.
 19And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet out of it.
 20When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they come near to the altar to serve, to burn an offering by fire to Jehovah.
 21And they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they may not die; and it shall be an everlasting statute for them, for him and for his seed throughout their generations. (Ex. 30:18‑21)
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Ex. 40:7,30‑32• 7And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it.
 30And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing.
 31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet out of it:
 32when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they drew near to the altar, they washed; as Jehovah had commanded Moses. (Ex. 40:7,30‑32)
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1 Kings 7:23‑26,38• 23And he made the sea, molten, ten cubits from brim to brim, round all about; and its height was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it round about.
 24And under the brim of it round about there were colocynths, encompassing it, ten in a cubit enclosing the sea round about; two rows of colocynths, cast when it was cast.
 25It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
 26And its thickness was a hand-breadth, and its brim was like the work of the brim of a cup, with lily-blossoms; it held two thousand baths.
 38And he made ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths; every laver was four cubits; upon every one of the ten bases one laver. (1 Kings 7:23‑26,38)
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Psa. 26:6• 6I wash my hands in innocency,{HR}And I surround thine altar, O Jehovah, (Psa. 26:6)
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Zech. 13:1• 1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zech. 13:1)
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John 13:10• 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed hath no need to wash [other] than his feet , but is wholly clean; and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)
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Titus 3:5‑6• 5not by works in righteousness which we ourselves did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
 6which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (Titus 3:5‑6)
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Heb. 9:10• 10only with meats and drinks and different washings, ordinances of flesh imposed until a season of rectification. (Heb. 9:10)
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1 John 3:7• 7Dear children, let no one lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous. (1 John 3:7)
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Rev. 1:5• 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loveth us and washed us from our sins in his blood, (Rev. 1:5)
looking glasses.
or, brazen glasses.The word {maroth,} from {raah,} to see, denotes reflectors, or mirrors, of any kind.
That these could not have been looking glasses, as in our translation, is sufficiently evident, not only from the glass not being then in use, but also from the impossibility of making the brazen laver of such materials.
The first mirrors known among men, were the clear fountain and unruffled lake.
The first artificial ones were made of polished brass, afterwards of steel, and when luxury increased, of silver; but at a very early period, they were made of a mixed metal, particularly of tin and copper, the best of which, as Pliny informs us, were formerly manufactured at Brundusium.
When the Egyptians went to their temples, according to St. Cyril, they always carried their mirrors with them.
The Israelitish women probably did the same; and Dr. Shaw says, that looking-glasses are still part of the dress of Moorish women, who carry them constantly hung at their breasts.assembling.
Heb. assembling by troops.It is supposed that these women kept watch during the night. Among the ancients, women were generally employed as door-keepers.
See 1 Sa 2:22.
Prov. 8:34• 34Blessed [is] the man that heareth me,{HR}Watching daily at my gates,{HR}Waiting at the posts of my doors. (Prov. 8:34)
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Matt. 26:69• 69Now Peter was sitting without in the court, and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus, the Galilean. (Matt. 26:69)
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Luke 2:37• 37and she was a widow up to eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. (Luke 2:37)
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John 18:16• 16but Peter was standing at the door outside. The other disciple therefore, that was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the porteress and brought in Peter. (John 18:16)
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1 Tim. 5:5• 5Now she that is a widow indeed, and left desolate, hath set her hope on God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. (1 Tim. 5:5)
• Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet from it when they went into the tabernacle to minister, or when they came to the altar of burnt-offering in connection with sacrifice. They could not neglect this under penalty of death. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• The laver’s only material was copper; it was made from the mirrors of the women engaged in the manufacture of the curtains of the tabernacle. They willingly offered their mirrors for the construction of the laver—willingly offered what might gratify vanity to provide for that vessel of cleansing, that God’s service and worship might not be hindered. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• The laver’s material was copper, but of the mirrors which the women offered. It is a beautiful indication of what the sense of God’s goodness will produce in the heart. Attraction to Him ever produces holiness. It is the only way that holiness is produced. The mirror may speak to us of the vanity and self-occupation which beget pride. In Isa. 3:23 we find, amongst an enumeration of articles by which the daughters of Israel fostered their pride, is the mention of “glasses”—which may be rendered “mirrors.” What a fruit of divine grace it is, willingly to sacrifice that which naturally ministers to pride to obtain what fits us for communion with God. God’s grace alone can do this—convert the mirror into a laver. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• The word kiyor, translated “laver,” is literally a “pot,” used for boiling, or as a receptacle for water. Connected with this was the “foot” or stand, and of both it is said, “to wash withal.” This base or “foot” seems to have been directly connected with purifying. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• We may not, therefore, dogmatize about the use of the “foot,” but confine ourselves to what is obvious. The word would suggest a solid basis for the laver. This must be our primary thought. From being spoken of separately, we can at least see that our attention is drawn to it. We are certainly clear in referring to it as the support or foundation for the laver; and in addition, we may gather that either it, or some other vessel was used to take water from the laver for the various washings. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• (John 1:1). I quote this passage in connection with the laver, because it is singularly appropriate that the living, personal Word should be the embodiment of those attributes of God which come out in connection with the written Word, which the laver represents. That is, as we shall see later on, the laver filled with water is symbolic of the word of God. Christ Himself is the living Word, and through Him is the word of God given to us. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• In one passage we have three words used each in its characteristic way: rinsing the hands, washing the clothes, and bathing the person (Lev. 15:11). These words then may well suggest to us three views of cleansing: (1) The cleansing of the person, or his members. (2) The effect secured by washing, as of clothes—the habits. (3) The uncleanness being swept away, removed. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• This washing of the feet is for the cleansing from any defilement that we may have gathered in our walk through this world. There may be no outward failure: it may be only inward, or even the lack of that spiritual vigor that would keep us in spirit unspotted from the world. The priest was not supposed to have failed exactly when he washed his hands and feet before offering the sacrifices or entering the tabernacle. But it reminded him that he was in a scene where the dust and defilement gathered imperceptibly and so he had constantly to apply the water. Thus the scene in John 13 does not mean some glaring failure— mud, if I may use the expression—but that which comes in to hinder full communion with our Lord. Just as the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the lust of other things can choke the Word, so, in the believer, household cares, daily duties, business affairs, yea, even Christian service, may be allowed to practically mar communion with the Lord. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• There is one contrast between the cleansing at the laver and the action of John 13. The priests were to wash their hands as well as their feet at the laver, but our Lord washed only the disciples’ feet. The hands are suggestive of working, as works are the law’s demand. But our place as Christians is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” It is the feet, our ways, which need constantly to be cleansed by the word of God, through the advocacy of Christ our Lord and the ministry of the Holy Ghost. But the walk includes the entire earthly life of the believer. There must be no distinction made between our service and our path. This is perfectly clear. The only thought is to guard against any idea of legal obedience, which would be suggested by the washing of the hands. The entire life, even to thoughts and desires, is to come under the cleansing of the Word. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)
• If the laver as a whole suggests the person of Christ, and the water in it the whole word of God, what would the smaller vessel at the foot of the laver suggest? I believe Eph. 6:17 tells us: “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (literally, the saying) of God:” not the word of God generally, but “the saying of God;” that is, the word that applies, the word spoken in due season. It is not the whole Bible we are to bring to the brother, but the needed word applying to his actual condition. This needs wisdom and the Spirit’s guidance to bring the right word, that it may cleanse and help. (“The Laver” by S. Ridout)

J. N. Darby Translation

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And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.

W. Kelly Translation

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And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.

WK Verse Note

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(Note: Words in italics have been inserted from the J. N. Darby translation where the W. Kelly translation doesn’t exist.)