The Laver

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 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. They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations." (Exodus 30:17-21, ESV)

The laver (basin) was a large bowl that was filled with water. It stood halfway between the brazen altar and the Holy Place. There were no specific measurements given for the Laver, although it was to be made completely of bronze.

The priests were required to wash their hands and their feet in the laver before they could enter the Holy Place. The laver was conveniently set in place for the priests to wash before they could serve. The purpose of the laver was to remind the people of God that they needed to be cleansed before they could approach God. The priests would atone for their sins through a sacrifice at the brazen altar but they cleansed themselves at the laver. This was necessary before they could serve God in the Holy place. Otherwise they would not be clean and would die in the presence of a holy God.

Remember when Jesus wanted to wash Peter’s feet, Peter objected. He felt unworthy to have Jesus, his master serve in the place of a servant and wash his feet. Jesus told him that if he didn’t wash Peters feet Peter would have no “share” or part with Jesus. You know Peter; he wanted Jesus to wash all of him then and not just his feet. Jesus said Peter you are clean. 


This was Peter’s past training and habit kicking in. Peter knew he had to wash his hands, head, and feet to be clean. Jesus refused him, informing him that if you took a bathe you didn’t need to wash the “whole body.” The feet got dirty walking around in sandals on dirty, dusty roads.

The application for believers is that we are forgiven by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. We are washed or cleansed through His Word. You and I are bathed and clean. Our “feet” get dirty by sin and therefore we need to be washed daily by the Word of God. We need to be clean every day in order to serve the Lord and fellowship with Him.

“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [with blood] to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)

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30 Days of Thanksgiving

The Goodness of God

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!" (I Chronicles 16:34)