What Does Leviticus 8:6 Mean in the King James?
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed 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
You are brought near before the washing begins.
THE MEANING
The scene places you in a sequence of nearness and washing: you are brought close, then what clings is washed away. Readiness begins by clearing what is already there.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that you must arrive already clean to be brought near: here, nearness comes first and washing follows.
THE ROOT
וַיַּקְרֵב
wayyaqrev
GROWS FROM
קרב
qarab
Draw near, approach.
English “brought” can sound like transport; this root makes nearness part of the action. Its branches include near and korban, a drawing-near offering, so the movement here is toward closeness, not merely relocation.
ALSO GROWS
qarov: Near, close.
קָרוֹב
This branch makes explicit the nearness carried by “brought.”
korban: Offering; drawing near.
קָרְבָּן
This branch links approach with the offering, illuminating the movement toward sacred service.
וַיִּרְחָץ
vayirchats
GROWS FROM
רחץ
rachats
Wash, bathe.
“washed” in this verse is vayirchats. The root names an action on the body: water removes what clings. Washing clears the body before the garments and service that follow, so preparation begins by uncovering rather than adding.
ALSO GROWS
rachatsu: Wash; used in the invitation to wash the feet in Genesis 18:4.
רַחֲצוּ
The same root appears in an act of embodied welcome, showing washing as practical care as well as preparation.
yirchatsu: They shall wash; used before altar service in Exodus 30:20.
יִרְחֲצוּ
This branch shows washing accompanying approach and service.
מֹשֶׁה
Moshe
GROWS FROM
משה
mashah
Draw out of water; the name is linked to this action in Exodus 2:10.
“Moses” in this verse is Moshe. The verse that gives Moshe his name links it to being drawn out of water. Here the name-bearer brings Aaron and his sons to water, echoing drawing out, bringing near, and washing.
ALSO GROWS
mashah: To draw out.
מָשָׁה
This is the verb connected to Moses’ name in Exodus 2:10.
meshitihu: I drew him out.
מְשִׁיתִהוּ
This is the phrase used to explain the name, linking Moses to water and emergence.
THE PATTERN
Washing clears what clings at the threshold of nearness and participation.
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.Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,THE THREAD
And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.This verse repeats both roots: תַּקְרִיב (taqriv, bring near) shares קרב (qarab, draw near), and וְרָחַצְתָּ (verachats, wash) shares רחץ (rachats, wash). The pairing shows nearness and washing as one sequence: cleansing begins as they are brought close.
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