Exodus 28:1-7

The Priests' Garments

1 "Then bring near to you 1Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests--Aaron and Aaron's sons, 2Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
2 3And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 You shall speak to all the 4skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.
4 These are the garments that they shall make: a 5breastpiece, an 6ephod, 7a robe, 8a coat of checker work, 9a turban, and 10a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
5 They shall receive 11gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
6 12"And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.
7 It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together.

Exodus 28:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 28

This chapter informs us of the servants God would have to minister to him in the house, or tabernacle, he had ordered to be made, even Aaron and his sons, Ex 28:1 of the garments they were to wear in their service, Ex 28:2-5 and first of the garments of the high priest, and particularly of the ephod, with the girdle, on the shoulder pieces of which were to be two onyx stones, with the names of the children of Israel engraved on them, Ex 28:6-14, and that of the breastplate of judgment, with the Urim and Thummum in it, Ex 28:15-30 and of the robe of the ephod, Ex 28:31-35, and of the mitre, Ex 28:36-39 and then of the garments of the common priests, Ex 28:40-43.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Numbers 18:7; Hebrews 5:4
  • 2. See Exodus 6:23
  • 3. ver. 40; Exodus 29:29; Exodus 31:10; Exodus 39:1, 2; Leviticus 8:7, 30; Numbers 20:26, 28; See Exodus 29:5-9
  • 4. Exodus 31:6; Exodus 35:10, 25; Exodus 36:1
  • 5. ver. 15
  • 6. ver. 6
  • 7. ver. 31
  • 8. ver. 39; [Leviticus 8:7]
  • 9. ver. 39; [Leviticus 8:7]
  • 10. ver. 39; [Leviticus 8:7]
  • 11. Exodus 25:3
  • 12. For ver. 6-12, see Exodus 39:2-7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.