Exodus 30:21

they must wash ¹  their hands and their feet so that they do not die. And this ²  will be a perpetual ordinance for them and for their descendants ³  throughout their generations.” ⁴ 

they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come."

"So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations."

This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants, to be kept from generation to generation."

They are to wash their hands and their feet so they will not die. This is the rule forever, for Aaron and his sons down through the generations."

Their hands and feet are to be washed. so that they may be safe from death: this is an order to them for ever; to him and his seed from generation to generation.

They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die: it shall be a perpetual ordinance for them, for him and for his descendants throughout their generations.

"So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them––to him and his descendants throughout their generations."

they must wash ¹  their hands and their feet so that they do not die. And this ²  will be a perpetual ordinance for them and for their descendants ³  throughout their generations.” ⁴ 

¹ tn Heb “and [then] they will wash.”

² tn The verb is “it will be.”

³ tn Heb “for his seed.”

⁴ tn Or “for generations to come”; it literally is “to their generations.”

sn The symbolic meaning of washing has been taught throughout the ages. This was a practical matter of cleaning hands and feet, but it was also symbolic of purification before Yahweh. It was an outward sign of inner spiritual cleansing, or forgiveness. Jesus washed the disciples feet (Jn 13) to show this same teaching; he asked the disciples if they knew what he had done (so it was more than washing feet). In this passage the theological points for the outline would be these: I. God provides the means of cleansing; II. Cleansing is a prerequisite for participating in the worship, and III. (Believers) priests must regularly appropriate God’s provision of cleansing.