The Bronze Laver, also known as the Bronze Basin, is a significant element in the typology of the Old Testament, symbolizing aspects of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Saviour. Found in the Tabernacle of Moses, the Bronze Laver was situated in the courtyard between the altar of burnt offering and the entrance to the Holy Place (Exodus 30:18). It was used by the priests for ceremonial washing before they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar to offer sacrifices, signifying the necessity of purification and holiness in approaching God.

Biblical Description and Function

The instructions for the construction of the Bronze Laver are detailed in Exodus 30:17-21. It was made from the bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 38:8). The laver was filled with water, and Aaron and his sons were commanded to wash their hands and feet with it whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, "so that they will not die" (Exodus 30:20). This ritual washing was a perpetual statute for the priests, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and sanctity in their service to God.

Typological Significance

1. Purification and Cleansing: The Bronze Laver typifies the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Just as the priests needed to be physically clean to serve, believers are called to spiritual purity. In the New Testament, this is echoed in passages such as Ephesians 5:26, where Christ sanctifies the church, "having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word" . The laver represents the ongoing process of sanctification, where believers are continually cleansed from sin through the Word and the Spirit.

2. Reflection and Self-Examination: Made from polished bronze mirrors, the laver also symbolizes self-examination and reflection. As the priests looked into the water, they would see their reflection, reminding them of their need for purity. This mirrors the believer's call to examine themselves in light of God's Word, as James 1:23-24 describes the Word as a mirror reflecting our true spiritual condition.

3. Access to God: The laver was a necessary step for the priests to access the Holy Place, symbolizing the believer's need for cleansing to enter into God's presence. Hebrews 10:22 encourages believers to "draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" . This access is made possible through the atoning work of Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of the laver's symbolism.

4. Christ as the Living Water: The water in the Bronze Laver can also be seen as a type of Christ, who offers living water to those who thirst (John 4:10). Just as the laver provided the necessary cleansing for the priests, Christ provides spiritual cleansing and refreshment, offering eternal life to all who come to Him.

In summary, the Bronze Laver serves as a profound type of the Saviour, illustrating the necessity of purification, the process of sanctification, and the believer's access to God through the cleansing work of Jesus Christ. It underscores the importance of holiness and the transformative power of the Word and the Spirit in the life of a believer.Exodus 30:18-20
You shall also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash with: and you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and you shall put water therein.
Nave's Topical Index

Zechariah 13:1
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Nave's Topical Index

Ephesians 5:26,27
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Nave's Topical Index

Letter cxxiii. To Ageruchia.
... if we are to deal with symbols and types of things ... by Abraham and Moses, this has
now denied the Saviour and proved ... Had Ia hundred tongues and throat of bronze. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxiii to ageruchia.htm

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