Exodus 28:23-33

23 Make two gold rings and attach them to the upper corners of the breastpiece,
24 and fasten the two gold cords to the two rings.
25 Fasten the other two ends of the cords to the two settings, and in this way attach them in front to the shoulder straps of the ephod.
26 Then make two rings of gold and attach them to the lower corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.
27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the lower part of the front of the two shoulder straps of the ephod, near the seam and above the finely woven belt.
28 Tie the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that the breastpiece rests above the belt and does not come loose.
29 "When Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will wear this breastpiece engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, so that I, the Lord, will always remember my people.
30 Put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece, so that Aaron will carry them when he comes into my holy presence. At such times he must always wear this breastpiece, so that he can determine my will for the people of Israel. 1
31 "The robe that goes under the ephod is to be made entirely of blue wool.
32 It is to have a hole for the head, and this hole is to be reinforced with a woven binding to keep it from tearing.
33 All around its lower hem put pomegranates of blue, purple, and red wool, alternating with gold bells. 2

Exodus 28:23-33 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 2

  • 1. 28.30Numbers 27.21;Deuteronomy 33.8;Ezra 2.63;Nehemiah 7.65.
  • 2. +228.33, 34Ben Sira 45.9.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. urim and thummim: [Two objects used by the priest to determine God's will; it is not known precisely how they were used.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.