Exode 28:16

16 Il sera carré et double; sa longueur sera d'un empan, et sa largeur d'un empan.

Exode 28:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 28:16

Four square it shall be, [being] doubled
That is, when it was doubled; for the length of it, according to Maimonides F3, was a cubit, which is two spans, and so, when it was doubled, was but one, and its length and breadth being alike, as follows:

a span [shall be] the length thereof, and a span [shall be] the breadth
thereof; a square, which is the measure, the form of the new Jerusalem, the church of Christ, ( Revelation 21:16 ) and may denote the perfection, firmness, and immovableness of it, ( Psalms 125:1 ) . Some have thought that this breastplate was doubled, in order to have something enclosed in it: some imagine, that within this fold were put the Urim and Thummim, which they suppose to be two words engraved on a stone, and different from the twelve stones in it; others, that the name of Jehovah was written and put there, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi on ( Exodus 28:30 ) and other Jewish writers, and others, fancy some little images were put within these folds, the name with the teraphim, and supposed to be the Urim and Thummim; but if these were hid in the folds, they could not be seen when consulted; it is most probable there is nothing put within the double, which was not done for any such use; but most likely that it might be strong to bear the weight of the precious stones, put in ouches of gold upon it.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Cele Hamikdash, c. 9. sect. 6.

Exode 28:16 In-Context

14 Et deux chaînettes d'or pur, que tu tresseras en forme de cordons, et tu mettras dans les agrafes les chaînettes ainsi tressées.
15 Tu feras aussi le pectoral du jugement en ouvrage d'art; tu le feras comme l'ouvrage de l'éphod; tu le feras d'or, de pourpre, d'écarlate, de cramoisi et de fin lin retors.
16 Il sera carré et double; sa longueur sera d'un empan, et sa largeur d'un empan.
17 Et tu le garniras d'une garniture de pierreries à quatre rangs de pierres: au premier rang, une sardoine, une topaze et une émeraude;
18 Au second rang une escarboucle, un saphir et une calcédoine;
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.