The Meaning of Exodus 40:31 Explained

Exodus 40:31

KJV: And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

YLT: and Moses and Aaron and his sons have washed their hands and their feet at the same;

Darby: And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet out of it:

ASV: And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  and Aaron  and his sons  washed  their hands  and their feet  thereat: 

What does Exodus 40:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 40:17-38 - The Tabernacle Set Up And Dedicated
At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice all was finished. Moses had placed the table on the right and the candlestick on the left of the holy place; had set the incense-altar near the veil; had washed in the laver, and had anointed it and all its vessels. The Ark had been hidden behind the veil, and Aaron invested in his robes. Then the congregation, deeply moved, retired to their tents and night settled on the mountains. Moses also retired from the scene, full of thankfulness. See Psalms 90:16-17.
They had hardly left the structure when the cloud that had guided their march settled down upon it, and the glory of the Lord-"the Shechinah"-shone within the Tabernacle itself. Moses immediately hastened back, and found the Presence of God so manifestly in possession that he dared not enter. Behold! the tabernacle of God was with men. So in after years the Divine Word dwelled in the mortal body of Jesus. See John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Revelation 21:3. This is the worthy close of this great book of the Exodus.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comment [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 40:31 mean?

And would wash [with water] from it Moses and Aaron and his sons - their hands and their feet
וְרָחֲצ֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֑יו אֶת־ יְדֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־ רַגְלֵיהֶֽם

וְרָחֲצ֣וּ  And  would  wash  [with  water] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
מִמֶּ֔נּוּ  from  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן  and  Aaron 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
וּבָנָ֑יו  and  his  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְדֵיהֶ֖ם  their  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
רַגְלֵיהֶֽם  their  feet 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.