What Does Exodus 40:12 Mean in the King James?
And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and 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
At the tent’s opening, the approach to service begins with being brought near and washed.
THE MEANING
You are brought to the entrance before service, and washed with water there. The verse joins nearness and bodily cleansing at the point of entry.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You must arrive already clean before you can come near. Here, washing is part of being brought to the entrance.
THE ROOT
תַּקְרִיב
takriv
GROWS FROM
ק־ר־ב
q-r-b
Qarav (קָרַב) means to draw near or approach.
The verb translated “bring” is takriv, from qarav, the root of qārōb (קָרוֹב, near) and qorban (קָרְבָּן, an offering brought near). English “bring” hides that shared language of nearness: Aaron is drawn toward the opening, where washing takes place.
ALSO GROWS
qārōb: Near
קָרוֹב
This branch makes the nearness inside “bring” audible: Aaron is being brought close to the meeting place.
qorban: Offering brought near
קָרְבָּן
The same root connects approach with what is brought near in service.
וְרָחַצְתָּ
werachatzta
GROWS FROM
רחץ
r-ḥ-ṣ
Rachats (רָחַץ) means to wash or bathe.
English “wash” can suggest a quick rinse, while rachats also means to bathe. Its word family keeps bodily washing and bathing together: here, cleansing is a concrete preparation at the entrance.
ALSO GROWS
reḥitsah: Washing or bathing
רְחִיצָה
This noun carries the same root from the act of washing into the washing itself.
merḥats: Bath or bathing place
מֶרְחָץ
The root also names the place associated with bathing, keeping the bodily setting visible in the word family.
פֶּתַח
petaḥ
GROWS FROM
פתח
p-t-ḥ
Pataḥ (פָּתַח) means to open.
The word translated “door” is petaḥ, an opening or entrance, from pataḥ, “to open.” The washing is placed at a passage into the meeting tent, joining cleansing with the moment of entry.
ALSO GROWS
pataḥ: To open
פָּתַח
The verb reveals the opening inside the word for the entrance where Aaron is brought.
petaḥ: Opening or entrance
פֶּתַח
This is the passage word used in the verse: Aaron is brought to the opening before the service begins.
THE PATTERN
The threshold of sacred service is marked by cleansing before the work is performed.
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: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,THE THREAD
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.Leviticus uses the same bring-near root, qarav (קָרַב, draw near), and wash root, rachats (רָחַץ, wash or bathe), now as completed actions. The command becomes a visible sequence: Aaron is brought near, then washed.
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