Neville Goddard on Exodus 40:12-33 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Exodus 40 in context

Scripture Focus

12And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13And 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.

14And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

15And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

17And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

18And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.

19And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

20And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

21And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

22And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

23And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.

24And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

26And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

27And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.

28And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

29And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

32When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

33And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

Exodus 40:12-33

Biblical Context

Moses washes, clothes, and anoints Aaron and his sons. He then erects the tabernacle so the Presence of God can dwell among Israel.

Neville's Inner Vision

Verse 12–33 reveals that the outer rite mirrors an inner ceremony. Aaron and his sons symbolize states of consciousness, and the tabernacle stands as your inner sanctuary. Washing with water signifies cleansing old beliefs by the light of awareness. The holy garments and the anointing declare your rightful identity to minister through the I AM. This is not history but a living law: when you align your inner self with the truth you seek, the outer form follows. As Moses raises the tabernacle and arranges the ark, the table, and the lamp, you erect a sacred center within where life can circulate in holiness. The laver, the offerings, and the washing at the entrance illustrate the discipline of attention that keeps Presence near. When you assume and dwell as if this sanctuary already stands, you complete the inner work and inaugurate an everlasting priesthood within your consciousness.

Practice This Now

Imaginative act: In stillness, picture yourself at the door of your sacred tabernacle, washing away doubt, clothing yourself in light, and anointing your mind with the oil of joy. Then affirm that the Presence already ministers within you.