What is the meaning of Exodus 40:11? Anoint • “Anoint” signals the literal act of applying the sacred oil God prescribed in Exodus 30:25-30, oil called “a holy anointing oil.” This oil is not symbolic only—Moses literally pours or sprinkles it, obeying the Lord’s detailed instructions. • Throughout Scripture anointing marks objects and people as belonging to God’s service—see Leviticus 8:10-12, where Moses “took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it.” • The act carried forward into leadership anointings (1 Samuel 16:13, “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward”) and ultimately points to Christ, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:38). • In this verse, the immediate meaning is simple: apply the oil exactly as told, because obedience brings God’s presence into Israel’s worship. The basin • The basin (or laver) stands between the bronze altar and the tent, holding water for the priests to wash—Exodus 30:18-21 commands Aaron and his sons to wash “so that they will not die.” • The literal washing underscores God’s demand for purity before serving Him. Psalm 24:3-4 asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” • New-covenant writers pick up this cleansing theme spiritually: Titus 3:5 speaks of “the washing of rebirth,” and Hebrews 10:22 urges believers to “draw near… having our bodies washed with pure water.” • Exodus 40:11 therefore affirms the basin’s vital role in daily priestly life; without cleansing, ministry stops. And its stand • God directs Moses to anoint “its stand” because the support for the basin matters to Him just as much as the basin itself (Exodus 30:18). • Nothing in God’s house is incidental; even the stand must be set apart. This mirrors how the church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) and how lampstands in Revelation 1:20 represent congregations upholding light. • Practically, the stand elevates the basin so washing can happen; spiritually, it illustrates how every supporting role in service to God deserves consecration, not only the obvious focal points. And consecrate them • To “consecrate” is to declare the basin and stand holy, exclusively for God’s use. Exodus 28:41 applies the same word to priests: “Consecrate them, so that they may serve Me as priests.” • Leviticus 8:11 shows Moses sprinkling oil seven times on the altar “to consecrate it and all its utensils.” The pattern is identical here: anointing leads to consecration, and consecration leads to holy service. • In Christ the call continues: “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful to the Master” (2 Timothy 2:21). Hebrews 10:10 affirms, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Exodus 40:11, then, is God’s final seal on the tabernacle furnishings, ensuring they can function within His holy presence without defilement. summary Exodus 40:11 commands Moses to apply the sacred oil to the basin and its stand, thereby setting these objects apart for God alone. By literally anointing and consecrating even the furniture’s support, the Lord teaches that every aspect of worship must be clean, holy, and fully dedicated. The basin reminds us of the ongoing need for cleansing, while the anointing oil foreshadows the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work. God’s meticulous care for these details underlines His desire for wholehearted, purified service from His people today. |
    |