Exodus 28:3

3 "You shall speak to all the ¹skillful * persons * ²whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.

Exodus 28:3 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:3

And thou shall speak unto all that are wise hearted
That have knowledge and understanding in mechanic arts, particularly in making garments; and it required men of more than ordinary skill to be employed in making these, because they were uncommon ones, and required a good deal of thought and judgment, and care and application, to make them exactly as they should be:

whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom;
for besides a common understanding of things, these required a peculiar gift from God, which some men, as Bezaleel and Aholiab had:

that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him
to put upon him at the time of his consecration; and indeed this was one way, by which, as well as by sacrifices, that he was consecrated, see ( Exodus 29:1 Exodus 29:5 Exodus 29:6 ) ,

that he may minister unto me in the priest's office
for the priests, without having these garments on, might not minister in their office; for when these garments were off, as they were when they were out of their service, they were as other men, as laymen, (See Gill on Ezekiel 42:14).

Exodus 28:3 In-Context

1 "Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me-Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

2 "You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.

3 "You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.

4 "These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister as priest to Me.

5 "They shall take the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material and the fine linen.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 31:6; Exodus 35:25, 31-35; Exodus 36:1
• 2. Exodus 31:3; Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 1:17

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "wise of heart"
• [b] I.e. artistic skill