The Meaning of Exodus 40:13 Explained

Exodus 40:13

KJV: And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

YLT: and thou hast clothed Aaron with the holy garments, and anointed him, and sanctified him, and he hath acted as priest to Me.

Darby: And thou shalt clothe Aaron with the holy garments, and anoint him, and hallow him, that he may serve me as priest.

ASV: And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments; and thou shalt anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt put  upon Aaron  the holy  garments,  and anoint  him, and sanctify  him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 

What does Exodus 40:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 40:1-16 - Directions For Erecting The Tabernacle
On the new year's day of the second year of the exodus Moses was bidden to rear up the Tabernacle, and with his own hand to place each article in its specified position. With what joy must those commands have fallen on His ears! We are reminded of the words of Robert Moffat, when he was completing the translation of the entire Bible into the language of the Botswana: "When I had finished the last verse I could hardly believe that I was in the world. My emotions found vent by my falling on my knees and thanking God for His grace and goodness in giving me strength to accomplish my task." Under similar circumstances Dr. Paton says that he pitched his bat into the air and danced round and round his printing-press. Let us build our life, piece by piece, in the same spirit-not with wood, hay and stubble, but with gold, silver and precious stones-so that at the close we may be able to say, "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do." [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Exodus 40:13 mean?

And You shall put on - Aaron the garments holy and anoint him and consecrate that he may minister as priest to Me
וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֙ אֶֽת־ אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֖ת בִּגְדֵ֣י הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֹת֛וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ וְכִהֵ֥ן לִֽי

וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֙  And  You  shall  put  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: לָבַשׁ  
Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַהֲרֹ֔ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
בִּגְדֵ֣י  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ  holy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥  and  anoint 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁח  
Sense: to smear, anoint, spread a liquid.
וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥  and  consecrate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
וְכִהֵ֥ן  that  he  may  minister  as  priest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּהַן  
Sense: to act as a priest, minister in a priest’s office.
לִֽי  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular