Exodus 39:2-12

Making the Ephod

2 Bezalel made the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen.

3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold, and he^[a] cut threads [from them] to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and the fine linen in a skillful design.

4 They made shoulder pieces for attaching it; it was joined together at its two edges.

5 The artistically woven waistband that was on the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, according to the same workmanship of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

6 Then they mounted the onyx stones surrounded with gold filigree settings, engraved with the names of Israel's sons as a gem cutter engraves a seal.

7 He fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^[b]

Making the Breastpiece

8 He also made the embroidered breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen.

9 They made the breastpiece square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide.^[c]

10 They mounted four rows of gemstones^[d] on it. The first row was a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald;^[e]

11 the second row, a turquoise,^[f] a sapphire,^[g] and a diamond;^[h]

12 the third row, a jacinth,^[i] an agate, and an amethyst;

Exodus 39:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 39

In this chapter is continued the account of making the several things belonging to the sanctuary, particularly the clothes for the service of the tabernacle, and the garments of the priests, as the ephod and its curious girdle, Ex 39:1-7 the breastplate and the putting of the stones in it, and the fastening of it to the ephod, Ex 39:8-21 the robe of the ephod, with the bells and pomegranates to it, Ex 39:21-26 and the coats, mitre, bonnets, breeches, and girdle of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, Ex 39:27-29 and the golden plate, Ex 39:30,31 and all being finished, the tabernacle and everything belonging to it were brought to Moses, and viewed by him; who seeing that all was done exactly according to the commandment of the Lord, blessed the people, and particularly the artificers, Ex 39:38-43.

Footnotes

• [a] Sam, Syr, Tg read they
• [b] Ex 28:6-14
• [c] Lit a span its length and a span its width
• [d] Many of these stones cannot be identified with certainty.
• [e] Or beryl
• [f] Or malachite, or garnet
• [g] Or lapis lazuli
• [h] Hb uncertain; LXX, Vg read jasper
• [i] Hb obscure