Exodus28
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.
3And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
4And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
5And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
6And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skilful workman.
7It shall have two shoulder-pieces joined to the two ends thereof, that it may be joined together.
8And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
10six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their birth.
11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be inclosed in settings of gold.
12And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
13And thou shalt make settings of gold,
14and two chains of pure gold; like cords shalt thou make them, of wreathen work: and thou shalt put the wreathen chains on the settings.
15And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skilful workman; like the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16Foursquare it shall be and double; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof.
17And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
18and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20and the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be inclosed in gold in their settings.
21And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes.
22And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains like cords, of wreathen work of pure gold.
23And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
25And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the forepart thereof.
26And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.
27And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and shalt put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod.
28And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
29And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.
30And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before Jehovah: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually.
31And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.
33And upon the skirts of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.
35And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before Jehovah, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
36And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, Holy to Jehovah.
37And thou shalt put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
38And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before Jehovah.
39And thou shalt weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and thou shalt make a mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make a girdle, the work of the embroiderer.
40And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
41And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and upon his sons with him, and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
42And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
43and they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed after him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 28.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Aaron and his sons set apart for the priest's office, Their garments. (1–5). The ephod. (6–14). The breastplate, The Urim and Thummim. (15–30). The robe of the ephod, The plate of the mitre. (31–39). The garments for Aaron's sons. (40–43).
vv1-5
Hitherto the heads of families were the priests, and offered sacrifices; but now this office was confined to the family of Aaron only; and so continued till the gospel dispensation. The holy garments not only distinguished the priests from the people, but were emblems of that holy conduct which should ever be the glory and beauty, the mark of the ministers of religion, without which their persons and ministrations will be had in contempt. They also typified the glory of the Divine majesty, and the beauty of complete holiness, which rendered Jesus Christ the great High Priest. But our adorning under the gospel, is not to be of gold and costly array, but the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness.
vv6-14
This richly-wrought ephod was the outmost garment of the high priest; plain linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests. It was a short coat without sleeves, fastened close to the body with a girdle. The shoulder-pieces were buttoned together with precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Thus Christ, our High Priest, presents his people before the Lord for a memorial. As Christ's coat had no seam, but was woven from the top throughout, so it was with the ephod. The golden bells on this ephod, by their preciousness and pleasant sound, well represent the good profession that the saints make, and the pomegranates the fruit they bring forth.
vv15-30
The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men esteem them. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to God! The Urim and Thummim, by which the will of God was made known in doubtful cases, were put in this breastplate. Urim and Thummim signify light and integrity. There are many conjectures what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that they were the twelve precious stones in the high priest's breastplate. Now, Christ is our Oracle. By him God, in these last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, Heb 1:1, 2; Joh 1:18. He is the true Light, the faithful Witness, the Truth itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of Truth, who leads into all truth.
Key Words
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
אָח: a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
תָּוֶךְ: a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כָּהַן: to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put on regalia
נָדָב: Nadab, the name of four Israelites
אֲבִיהוּא: Abihu, a son of Aaron
אֶלְעָזָר: Elazar, the name of seven Israelites
Cross References
Exodus 28Aaron is chosen by God from among men as a priest, fulfilling the divine vocation of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Explicit instructions for Joshua to consult the judgment of Urim before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The Son of Man is depicted girt about the paps with a golden girdle like the high priest.
Supported by JFB
Aaron bearing the names on his shoulders typifies Christ representing His people before the Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The fulfillment of Moses putting the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim on Aaron.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ's seamless coat parallels the woven, unrent collar of the high priest's robe.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Directly explains the law requiring proper attire to cover nakedness and prevent exposure before God's altar.
Bezaleel and other artisans are filled with the spirit of wisdom for the tabernacle workmanship.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The list of precious stones in Eden's covering closely mirrors the stones of the breastplate.
Supported by JFB
The twelve precious stones of the breastplate correspond to the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Warning of death regarding entering the holy place without following prescribed priestly regulations.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The placement of the golden plate, the holy crown, upon the mitre.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Aaron's house bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary and priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels the specific requirement for linen breeches and garments for priests when ministering in the sanctuary.
Supported by JFB
Specifies the High Priest wearing the linen breeches on the solemn Day of Atonement.
Records the actual crafting of these fine linen breeches for Aaron and his sons.
Warns priests to keep God's ordinances lest they bear sin and die for profaning holy things.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The execution of God's command to gather Aaron, his sons, and the holy garments for consecration.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The fulfillment of engraving and setting the onyx stones for the shoulders of the ephod.
Supported by JFB
The detailed execution of the construction of the breastplate of judgment by the skilled craftsmen.
Supported by JFB
Parallel bearing of Israel's names on shoulders and heart for a memorial.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Christ enters the true holy place to appear in the presence of God for us.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Moses blesses Levi with the possession of the Thummim and Urim.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Repeats the standard of garments made for glory and for beauty.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Records the historical fulfillment of Moses clothing and consecrating Aaron's sons as commanded.
Repeats the solemn warning to wash and prepare properly 'that they die not' as a perpetual statute.
Reinforces the lethal consequence of unauthorized near approach, bearing iniquity, and dying.
God choosing the house of Aaron out of all the tribes of Israel to wear the ephod.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The priestly garments for beauty and glory represent being clothed with the garments of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Aaron bearing the names of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The placement of the Urim and Thummim inside the breastplate of judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Historical loss of the Urim and Thummim during the post-exilic period.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David uses the ephod to consult God, showing the Urim and Thummim in action.
Supported by JFB
The manufacturing of the holy crown plate engraved with 'Holiness to the Lord'.
Supported by John Calvin
The rebellion of Korah challenging the exclusive Aaronic priesthood established in this chapter.
Supported by JFB
The practical manufacture of the ephod using gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.
Supported by JFB