Exodus 40:32
New International Version
They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses.

New Living Translation
Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

English Standard Version
When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Berean Standard Bible
They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

King James Bible
When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

New King James Version
Whenever they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

New American Standard Bible
When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NASB 1995
When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NASB 1977
When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Legacy Standard Bible
When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Amplified Bible
When they entered the Tent of Meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Christian Standard Bible
They washed whenever they came to the tent of meeting and approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They washed whenever they came to the tent of meeting and approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

American Standard Version
when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Contemporary English Version
In fact, they washed each time before entering the tent or offering sacrifices at the altar. These things were done exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses.

English Revised Version
when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed: as the LORD commanded Moses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They would wash whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses followed the LORD's instructions.

Good News Translation
whenever they went into the Tent or to the altar, just as the LORD had commanded.

International Standard Version
When they entered the Tent of Meeting and approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Majority Standard Bible
They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NET Bible
Whenever they entered the tent of meeting, and whenever they approached the altar, they would wash, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

New Heart English Bible
When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Webster's Bible Translation
When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near to the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

World English Bible
When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
in their going into the Tent of Meeting, and in their drawing near to the altar, they wash, as YHWH has commanded Moses.

Young's Literal Translation
in their going in unto the tent of meeting, and in their drawing near unto the altar, they wash, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

Smith's Literal Translation
In their going into the tent of appointment, and in their drawing near to the altar, they will wash; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When they went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and went to the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
whenever they would enter the covering of the covenant, and when they approached to the altar, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

New American Bible
for they washed themselves whenever they went into the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

New Revised Standard Version
When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near to the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
When entering the Tabernacle of Time, and when they came to the altar, they washed as LORD JEHOVAH had commanded Moshe.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they should wash; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Setting Up the Tabernacle
31and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet. 32They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 33And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.…

Cross References
Leviticus 8:6
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

Leviticus 16:4
He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.

Numbers 8:7
This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

Numbers 19:7
Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening.

Psalm 26:6
I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:16
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!

Ezekiel 36:25
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

Zechariah 13:1
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

John 13:10
Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

Romans 6:3-4
Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? / We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.


Treasury of Scripture

When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near to the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

as the Lord

Exodus 40:19
And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 30:19,20
For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: …

Psalm 73:19
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

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Altar Approached Commanded Congregation Drawing Entered Meeting Moses Orders Tent Wash Washed Whenever
Exodus 40
1. The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, anointed, and consecrated
13. Aaron and his sons to be sanctified
16. Moses performs all things accordingly
34. A cloud covers the tabernacle














Whenever they entered
This phrase indicates a repeated and consistent action, emphasizing the importance of ritual purity in the service of God. The Hebrew root for "entered" is "בּוֹא" (bo), which conveys the act of coming or going into a place. In the context of the Tabernacle, this entry was not casual but a sacred act, underscoring the reverence required when approaching God's presence. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' understanding of holiness and the need for preparation before engaging in worship.

the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting" refers to the Tabernacle, a portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites. The Hebrew term "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (ohel mo'ed) signifies a place of divine-human encounter. This was where God communicated with Moses and the priests, making it a central location for worship and guidance. Archaeologically, the Tabernacle's design and function prefigure the later Temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing God's desire to dwell among His people.

or approached the altar
The altar was a sacred structure used for sacrifices, symbolizing atonement and worship. The Hebrew word "נָגַשׁ" (nagash) for "approached" implies drawing near with intention and reverence. This act of approaching the altar was not merely physical but spiritual, representing the worshiper's heart posture towards God. The altar's significance is rooted in its role as a place of sacrifice, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

they washed
Washing was a ritual act of purification, essential for maintaining holiness. The Hebrew root "רָחַץ" (rachats) means to wash or bathe, signifying cleansing from impurity. This practice was a physical representation of spiritual purification, reminding the Israelites of their need for cleanliness before God. In a broader scriptural context, washing prefigures the cleansing from sin offered through Jesus Christ.

as the LORD had commanded Moses
This phrase underscores the divine authority behind the instructions given to Moses. The Hebrew word "צִוָּה" (tzavah) for "commanded" indicates a directive from God, highlighting the importance of obedience to His will. Moses, as the mediator of God's covenant, faithfully conveyed these commands to the people. This obedience to divine instruction is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the relationship between God's commands and His people's faithfulness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They washed
יִרְחָ֑צוּ (yir·ḥā·ṣū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe

whenever they entered
בְּבֹאָ֞ם (bə·ḇō·’ām)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the Tent
אֹ֣הֶל (’ō·hel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting
מוֹעֵ֗ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

or approached
וּבְקָרְבָתָ֛ם (ū·ḇə·qā·rə·ḇā·ṯām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

the altar,
הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

just as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

had commanded
צִוָּ֥ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

Moses.
מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver


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OT Law: Exodus 40:32 When they went into the Tent (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 40:31
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