What Does Exodus 29:4 Mean in the King James?
And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verb translated “bring” means “draw near,” placing the washing inside the movement toward meeting.
THE MEANING
You are brought to the opening where meeting happens, and water washes you there. Approach and washing belong together: nearness is a movement whose threshold clears what clings. The wash comes after the drawing near, meeting you at the entrance.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that you must be clean before you are allowed to approach: here, drawing near comes first, and washing meets you at the threshold.
THE ROOT
וְהִקְרַבְתָּ
vehikravta
GROWS FROM
ק־ר־ב
q-r-b
To draw near, approach.
“bring near” in this verse is vehikravta. English “bring” can sound like simple movement from one place to another. The Hebrew verb belongs to the same root family as qorbān, “drawing near,” and qerev, “within” or “midst,” holding approach and inwardness together.
ALSO GROWS
qarav: To approach, draw near.
קָרַב
This is the verb family behind “bring,” revealing that the movement is toward nearness.
qorbān: A drawing near; an offering brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The same root connects approach with what is brought to the meeting-place.
qerev: The inner part, the midst.
קֶרֶב
This branch adds an inward dimension to the movement of drawing near.
פֶּתַח
petaḥ
GROWS FROM
פ־ת־ח
p-t-ḥ
To open.
“door, opening” in this verse is petaḥ. The word for the entrance is rooted in opening. The washing takes place at an opening into meeting, so the threshold is presented as a passage into nearness.
ALSO GROWS
pataḥ: To open.
פָּתַח
The verb names the action carried within the word for the entrance.
maphtēaḥ: A key; something that opens.
מַפְתֵּחַ
This branch echoes how an opening can mark access into what lies beyond.
THE PATTERN
Approach and cleansing meet at the threshold, where washing clears what stands between the body and nearness.
When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.THE THREAD
When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:The Hebrew for “come near” shares the q-r-b root with “bring near” here. The water meets the approach again, placing washing at the point where nearness becomes entry.
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