Exodus 39

The Clothes for the Priests

1 The workers made clothes from the blue, purple and bright red yarn. The clothes were worn by those who served in the holy tent. The workers also made sacred clothes for Aaron. They made them just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Linen Apron

2 The workers made the linen apron out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.
3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold. They cut it into fine wire. They sewed it into the blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen. A skilled worker made it.
4 The workers made shoulder straps for the apron. The straps were joined to two of its corners.
5 Its skillfully made waistband was made like it. The waistband was part of the apron itself. It was made out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. The workers made it just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
6 They put the onyx stones in fancy gold settings. They carved the names of the sons of Israel on them. They did it the way a person carves a seal.
7 Then they connected them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones stood for the sons of Israel and were a reminder for them. The workers did those things just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Chest Cloth

8 Skilled workers made the chest cloth. They made it like the linen apron. They used fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.
9 The chest cloth was nine inches square. It was folded in half.
10 They put four rows of valuable jewels on it. A ruby, a topaz and a beryl were in the first row.
11 A turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald were in the second row.
12 A jacinth, an agate and an amethyst were in the third row.
13 And a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper were in the fourth row. The workers put them in fancy gold settings.
14 They used a total of 12 stones. There was one stone for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.
15 The workers made braided chains out of pure gold for the chest cloth. They made them like ropes.
16 They made two fancy gold settings and two gold rings. They connected them to two corners of the chest cloth.
17 They joined the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the chest cloth.
18 They joined the other ends of the chains to the two settings. They joined them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.
19 The workers made two gold rings. They connected them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. They put them on the inside edge next to the apron.
20 They made two more gold rings. They connected them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. They put them close to the seam right above the waistband of the apron.
21 They tied the rings of the chest cloth to the rings of the apron with blue cord. That connected it to the waistband. Then the chest cloth would not swing out from the linen apron. The workers did those things just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

More Clothes for the Priests

22 The workers made the outer robe of the linen apron completely from blue cloth. The cloth was made by a skillful person.
23 The workers made an opening like a collar in the center of the robe. They made an edge around the opening. Then it couldn't tear.
24 They made pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. They sewed them around the hem of the robe.
25 They made bells out of pure gold. They sewed them around the hem between the pomegranates.
26 They sewed a bell between every two pomegranates all around the hem of the robe. Aaron had to wear the robe when he served as priest. That's what the LORD commanded Moses.
27 The workers made inner robes out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons. The linen cloth was made by a skillful person.
28 The workers also made the turban out of fine linen. And they made the headbands and the underwear out of finely twisted linen.
29 The belt was made out of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and bright red yarn. A person who sewed skillfully made it. The workers did those things just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
30 They made the plate out of pure gold. It was a sacred crown. They carved words on it as if it were a seal. They carved the words set apart for the Lord.
31 Then they tied the plate to the turban with a blue cord. They did those things just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Holy Tent Is Completed

32 So all of the work on the holy tent, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The people of Israel did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
33 Then they brought the holy tent to Moses along with everything that belonged to it. Here are the things they brought. hooks frames crossbars posts bases
34 the covering of ram skins that were dyed red the covering of the hides of sea cows the curtain that screens the ark
35 the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept the poles and cover for the ark
36 the table for the holy bread with all of its articles the holy bread
37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and everything that is used with it the olive oil that gives light
38 the gold altar for burning incense the anointing oil the sweet-smelling incense the curtain for the entrance to the tent
39 the bronze altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate its poles and all of its tools the large bowl with its stand
40 the curtains of the courtyard with their posts and bases the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard the ropes and tent stakes for the courtyard
41 the sacred clothes for the priest Aaron the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests
42 The people of Israel had done all of the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
43 Moses looked over the work carefully. He saw that the workers had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses gave them his blessing.

Exodus 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

The priests' garments. (1-31) The tabernacle completed. (32-43)

Verses 1-31 The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, ( Revelation 19:8 ) .

Verses 32-43 The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, ( Colossians 2:9 ) . The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Re. 21:3 . What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall see him as he is!

Chapter Summary

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.

Exodus 39 Commentaries

Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.