Exodus 28:7-27

7 It will have two shoulder straps attached at the [top] corners so that it can be fastened.

8 Make the belt that is attached to the ephod out of the same fabric.

9 Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel

10 in birth order--six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the same way a jeweler engraves a signet ring. Mount them in gold settings,

12 and fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in the LORD's presence.

13 Make gold settings

14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted like ropes, and fasten these chains to the settings.

15 "Make the breastplate for decision-making as creatively as you make the ephod. Make it out of gold, violet, purple, and bright red yarn and out of fine linen yarn.

16 Fold it in half so that it's 9 inches square.

17 Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row put red quartz, topaz, and emerald.

18 In the second row put turquoise, sapphire, and crystal.

19 In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst.

20 In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings.

21 The stones correspond to the 12 sons of Israel, by name, each stone engraved (like a signet ring) with the name of one of the 12 tribes.

22 "For the breastplate make chains out of pure gold, twisted like ropes.

23 Make two gold rings for the breastplate. Attach them to the two [top] corners of the breastplate.

24 Then fasten the two gold ropes to the rings at the [top] corners of the breastplate.

25 Fasten the other ends of the ropes to the two settings on the shoulder straps of the ephod [so that the breastplate hangs] in front of it.

26 Make two gold rings, and fasten them to the other two corners of the breastplate on the inside edge next to the ephod.

27 Make two [more] gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod. This will be close to the seam just above the belt of the ephod.

Exodus 28:7-27 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.