Exodus 28:17-21

17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald shall be the first row;

18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a moonstone;

19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.

21 There shall be twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:17-21 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The identity of several of these stones is uncertain
• [b]. Or [lapis lazuli]