The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 "Get your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve me as priests: Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar.
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“Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests.
2 Make sacred vestments for your brother Aaron to symbolize glory and beauty.
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Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful.
3 Consult with the skilled craftsmen, those whom I have gifted in this work, and arrange for them to make Aaron's vestments, to set him apart as holy, to act as priest for me.
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Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service.
4 These are the articles of clothing they are to make: Breastpiece, Ephod, robe, woven tunic, turban, sash. They are making holy vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons as they work as priests for me.
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These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests.
5 They will need gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and fine linen. The Ephod
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So give them fine linen cloth, gold thread, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
6 "Have the Ephod made from gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and fine twisted linen by a skilled craftsman.
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“The craftsmen must make the ephod of finely woven linen and skillfully embroider it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
7 Give it two shoulder pieces at two of the corners so it can be fastened.
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It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces.
8 The decorated band on it is to be just like it and of one piece with it: made of gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and of fine twisted linen.
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The decorative sash will be made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
9 Next take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them in the order of their birth,
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“Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel.
10 six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.
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Six names will be on each stone, arranged in the order of the births of the original sons of Israel.
11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of filigreed gold.
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Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree.
12 Fasten the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the Ephod - they are memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will wear these names on his shoulders as a memorial before God.
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Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the LORD .
13 Make the settings of gold filigree.
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Make the settings of gold filigree,
14 Make two chains of pure gold and braid them like cords, then attach the corded chains to the settings. The Breastpiece
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then braid two cords of pure gold and attach them to the filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod.
15 "Now make a Breastpiece of Judgment, using skilled craftsmen, the same as with the Ephod. Use gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and fine twisted linen.
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“Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God. Make it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
16 Make it nine inches square and folded double.
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Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.
17 Mount four rows of precious gemstones on it. First row: carnelian, topaz, emerald.
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Mount four rows of gemstones on it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald.
18 Second row: ruby, sapphire, crystal.
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The second row will contain a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone.
19 Third row: jacinth, agate, amethyst.
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The third row will contain an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst.
20 Fourth row: beryl, onyx, jasper.
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The fourth row will contain a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones will be set in gold filigree.
21 The twelve stones correspond to the names of the Israelites, with twelve names engraved, one on each, as on a seal for the twelve tribes.
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Each stone will represent one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it like a seal.
22 "Then make braided chains of pure gold for the Breastpiece, like cords.
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“To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold thread.
23 Make two rings of gold for the Breastpiece and fasten them to the two ends.
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Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece.
24 Fasten the two golden cords to the rings at the ends of the Breastpiece.
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Tie the two gold cords to the two rings on the chestpiece.
25 Then fasten the other ends of the two cords to the two settings of filigree, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the Ephod in front.
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Tie the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod.
26 Then make two rings of gold and fasten them to the two ends of the Breastpiece on its inside edge facing the Ephod.
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Then make two more gold rings and attach them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod.
27 Then make two more rings of gold and fasten them in the front of the Ephod to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces, near the seam above the decorated band.
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And make two more gold rings and attach them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash is fastened to the ephod.
28 Fasten the Breastpiece in place by running a cord of blue through its rings to the rings of the Ephod so that it rests secure on the decorated band of the Ephod and won't come loose.
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Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the decorative sash.
29 "Aaron will regularly carry the names of the sons of Israel on the Breastpiece of Judgment over his heart as he enters the Sanctuary into the presence of God for remembrance.
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“In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the LORD .
30 Place the Urim and Thummim in the Breastpiece of Judgment. They will be over Aaron's heart when he enters the presence of God. In this way Aaron will regularly carry the Breastpiece of Judgment into the presence of God. The Robe
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Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the LORD ’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the LORD ’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD .
31 "Make the robe for the Ephod entirely of blue,
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“Make the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue cloth,
32 with an opening for the head at the center and a hem on the edge so that it won't tear.
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with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. Reinforce the opening with a woven collar so it will not tear.
33 For the edge of the skirts make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material all around and alternate them with bells of gold
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Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
34 - gold bell and pomegranate, gold bell and pomegranate - all around the hem of the robe.
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The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all around the hem.
35 Aaron has to wear it when he does his priestly work. The bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place and comes into the presence of God, and again when he comes out so that he won't die. The Turban, Tunic, Underwear
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Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD ’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.
36 "Make a plate of pure gold. Engrave on it as on a seal: 'Holy to God.'
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“Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD .
37 Tie it with a blue cord to the front of the turban.
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Attach the medallion with a blue cord to the front of Aaron’s turban, where it must remain.
38 It is to rest there on Aaron's forehead. He'll take on any guilt involved in the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate, no matter what they bring. It will always be on Aaron's forehead so that the offerings will be acceptable before God.
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Aaron must wear it on his forehead so he may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrate their sacred offerings. He must always wear it on his forehead so the LORD will accept the people.
39 "Weave the tunic of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen. The sash will be the work of an embroiderer.
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“Weave Aaron’s patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban from this linen as well. Also make a sash, and decorate it with colorful embroidery.
40 Make tunics, sashes, and hats for Aaron's sons to express glory and beauty.
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“For Aaron’s sons, make tunics, sashes, and special head coverings that are glorious and beautiful.
41 Dress your brother Aaron and his sons in them. Anoint, ordain, and consecrate them to serve me as priests.
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Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as my priests.
42 "Make linen underwear to cover their nakedness from waist to thigh.
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Also make linen undergarments for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from their hips to their thighs.
43 Aaron and his sons must wear it whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the Altar to minister in the Holy Place so that they won't incur guilt and die. This is a permanent rule for Aaron and all his priest-descendants.
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These must be worn whenever Aaron and his sons enter the Tabernacle or approach the altar in the Holy Place to perform their priestly duties. Then they will not incur guilt and die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and all his descendants after him.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.