Exodus 28:6-43

The Ephod

6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands.
7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened.
8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
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.
22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.
23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece.
24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.
27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.
28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.
29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.
30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.

Other Priestly Garments

31 “Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
32 with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar[c] around this opening, so that it will not tear.
33 Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
34 The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.
35 Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.
36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
37 Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.
38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.
39 “Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer.
40 Make tunics, sashes and caps for Aaron’s sons to give them dignity and honor.
41 After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.
42 “Make linen undergarments as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh.
43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants.

Exodus 28:6-43 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 29

  • 1. S Exodus 25:7
  • 2. Exodus 29:5
  • 3. Song of Songs 8:6; Isaiah 49:16; Haggai 2:23
  • 4. Deuteronomy 33:12; Job 31:36
  • 5. ver 29; Exodus 30:16; Numbers 10:10; Numbers 31:54; Joshua 4:7; Zechariah 6:14
  • 6. S Exodus 25:7
  • 7. Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 21:19-20
  • 8. Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9; Daniel 10:6
  • 9. Joshua 4:8
  • 10. Revelation 21:12
  • 11. ver 43; ver 12
  • 12. Leviticus 8:8; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65
  • 13. Numbers 13:23; 1 Samuel 14:2; 1 Kings 7:18; Song of Songs 4:3; Jeremiah 52:22; Joel 1:12; Haggai 2:19
  • 14. ver 37; Exodus 29:6; Leviticus 8:9
  • 15. Zechariah 14:20
  • 16. Leviticus 5:1; Leviticus 10:17; Leviticus 16:22; Leviticus 22:9,16; Numbers 18:1; Isa 53:5,6,11; Ezekiel 4:4-6; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24
  • 17. S Genesis 32:20; Leviticus 22:20,27; Leviticus 23:11; Isaiah 56:7
  • 18. ver 4
  • 19. Exodus 29:6; Leviticus 16:4; Ezekiel 24:17,23; Ezekiel 44:18
  • 20. ver 4; Exodus 29:8-9; Exodus 39:41; Exodus 40:14; Leviticus 8:13
  • 21. ver 2
  • 22. Exodus 40:13
  • 23. Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 6:20; Leviticus 10:7; Leviticus 21:12; Numbers 35:25
  • 24. Exodus 29:7-9; Exodus 30:30; Exodus 40:15; Leviticus 4:3; Leviticus 6:22; Leviticus 8:1-36; Numbers 3:3; Hebrews 7:28
  • 25. Leviticus 6:10; Leviticus 16:4,23; Ezekiel 44:18
  • 26. S Exodus 27:21
  • 27. ver 29
  • 28. Exodus 30:20,21; Leviticus 16:13; Leviticus 22:9; Numbers 1:51; Numbers 4:15,20; Numbers 18:22; Exodus 20:26
  • 29. S Exodus 27:21; Leviticus 17:7

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters
  • [b]. The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
  • [c]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
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