Exodus 28:5-15

5 "They shall take 1the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material and the fine linen.
6 "They shall also make 2the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman.
7 "It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined.
8 "The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.
9 "You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
10 six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth.
11 "As a jeweler * engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set * them in filigree settings of gold.
12 "You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall 3bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders 4for a memorial.
13 "5You shall make filigree settings of gold,
14 and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them of twisted cordage work, and you shall put the corded chains on the filigree settings.
15 "6You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it.

Exodus 28:5-15 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 6

  • 1. Exodus 25:3
  • 2. Exodus 39:2-7; Leviticus 8:7
  • 3. Exodus 28:29; Exodus 39:6
  • 4. Exodus 39:7; Leviticus 24:7; Numbers 31:54; Joshua 4:7; 1 Corinthians 11:24
  • 5. Exodus 39:16-18
  • 6. Exodus 39:8-21

Footnotes 9

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