Exodus 28:9-21

9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel

10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings

12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

13 Make gold filigree settings

14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece

15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.

16 It is to be square—a span^[a] long and a span wide—and folded double.

17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl;

18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald;

19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst;

20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper.^[b] Mount them in gold filigree settings.

21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:9-21 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

• 1. Song of Songs 8:6; Isaiah 49:16; Haggai 2:23
• 2. Deuteronomy 33:12; Job 31:36
• 3. ver 29; Exodus 30:16; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 31:54; Joshua 4:7; Zechariah 6:14
• 4. S Exodus 25:7
• 5. Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 21:19-20
• 6. Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9; Daniel 10:6
• 7. Joshua 4:8
• 8. Revelation 21:12

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters
• [b]. The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.