Exodus 28:6

6 And they shall make the shoulder-piece of fine linen spun, the woven work of the embroiderer.

Exodus 28:6 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:6

And they shall make the ephod
This was the outermost garment of, all, and was put over the robe; it was a short garment, reaching to the loins, as Kimchi F16; or to the buttocks, as Abarbinel {q}; and not to the heels or feet, as Jarchi F18, and Maimonides F19; for Josephus F20 says it was but a cubit long, which was little more than half a yard; he means that part of it which was distinct from the shoulder pieces, and came down from thence: the hinder part of it covered the back, and reached to the middle of the buttocks; and the forepart covered the breast and belly, and with shoulder pieces under the arm holes was buttoned with onyx stones upon the top of the shoulders, and was girt about the breast with a curious girdle: it had no sleeves, though Josephus F21 says it had, as appears from the make of it; it was different from the linen ephod worn by the common priests and others, and was a symbol of the human nature of Christ, our great High Priest: it was made of

gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with
cunning work;
the stuff of which it was made was interwoven with threads of gold, and threads of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and threads of linen, wrought with divers figures in a curious manner, which looked very beautiful; and was a fit emblem of the glory, excellency, and purity of Christ's human nature; of the various graces of the Spirit in it; of his heavenly original; of his blood, sufferings, and death, and glorious exaltation; and of its being a curious piece of workmanship wrought by the Lord himself, ( Hebrews 10:5 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F16 Comment. in 1 Chron. 15. 27.
F17 Comment. in loc.
F18 Comment. in loc.
F19 Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 9.
F20 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 5.
F21 Ib.

Exodus 28:6 In-Context

4 And these are the garments which they shall make: the breast-plate, and the shoulder-piece, and the full-length robe, and the tunic with a fringe, and the tire, and the girdle; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron and his sons to minister to me as priests.
5 And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
6 And they shall make the shoulder-piece of fine linen spun, the woven work of the embroiderer.
7 It shall have two shoulder-pieces joined together, fastened on the two sides.
8 And the woven work of the shoulder-pieces which is upon it, shall be of one piece according to the work, of pure gold and blue and purple, and spun scarlet and fine twined linen.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.