Exodus39
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
2And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skilful workman.
4They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined together.
5And the skilfully woven band, that was upon it, wherewith to gird it on, was of the same piece and like the work thereof; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
6And they wrought the onyx stones, inclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.
7And he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
8And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being double.
10And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row;
11and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
12and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
13and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in inclosings of gold in their settings.
14And the stones were 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, for the twelve tribes.
15And they made upon the breastplate chains like cords, of wreathen work of pure gold.
16And they made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
17And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
18And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, in the forepart thereof.
19And they made two rings of gold, and put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.
20And they made two rings of gold, and 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.
21And they did bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
22And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue;
23and the hole of the robe in the midst thereof, as the hole of a coat of mail, with a binding round about the hole of it, that it should not be rent.
24And they made upon the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.
25And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about, between the pomegranates;
26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about, to minister in; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
27And they made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
28and the mitre of fine linen, and the goodly head-tires of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
29and the girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
30And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like the engravings of a signet, Holy to Jehovah.
31And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it upon the mitre above; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
32Thus was finished all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting: and the children of Israel did according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses; so did they.
33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, it bars, and its pillars, and it sockets;
34and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, and the veil of the screen;
35the ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat;
36the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread;
37the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light;
38and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent;
39the brazen altar, and its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base;
40the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords thereof, and the pins thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;
41the finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
42According to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
43And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as Jehovah had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 39.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The priests' garments. (1–31). The tabernacle completed. (32–43).
vv1-31
The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, Re 19:8.
vv32-43
The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, Col 2:9. The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Re 21:3. What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall see him as he is!
Key Words
תְּכֵלֶת: the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith
אַרְגָּמָן: purple (the color or the dyed stuff)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שְׂרָד: stitching (as pierced with a needle)
בֶּגֶד: a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage
שָׁרַת: to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
קֹדֶשׁ: a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Cross References
Exodus 39The original divine instructions for making the blue robe of the ephod.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original command to engrave 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' on the golden plate.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The explicit commandment and pattern for Aaron's holy garments of service, which are here executed.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The precise instructions for fabricating the high priest's ephod, coupled at the shoulderpieces.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The detailed instructions for making the double breastplate of judgment with its four rows of stones.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The foundational command to build all tabernacle items according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by JFB
The presentation of the finished tabernacle components corresponds to the public call for materials.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses inspects the completed work and pronounces it good, echoing God's creation inspection.
Supported by JFB
Earlier designation of the clothes of service and holy garments for Aaron's priestly ministry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The final summary lists these completed clothes of service brought before Moses for inspection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The onyx stones on the shoulders serve as a memorial, typifying Christ bearing His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Aaron bearing the names of Israel for a memorial, typifying Christ presenting His church.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The precious stones of the breastplate parallel the gemstone foundations of the New Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The specific directive to alternate golden bells and pomegranates along the robe's hem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original instructions for the fine linen coats, mitres, and breeches for Aaron's sons.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic expansion where 'HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD' is written even on bells of horses.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament confirmation that Moses made everything precisely according to the heavenly pattern.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament explanation of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects back to the initiation of the priestly garments made for service.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Corresponds to the original command concerning the holy garments and clothes of service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the subsequent blessing of the people by Moses and Aaron upon completion of setup.
Supported by JFB
The actual investiture ceremony where Aaron is dressed in these completed garments.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The pattern for the curious girdle of the ephod made of identical materials.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Instructions for engraving the onyx stones like signets with the names of Israel's sons.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The directive to make the breastplate of judgment with skilled, artistic work.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Mandate that the twelve stones correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The requirement for wreathen chains of pure gold to secure the breastplate.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel summary statement recording that Moses fully finished the work of the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original instruction for the dyed rams' skins and badger skins tabernacle coverings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The command for setting the lamps of the pure candlestick in order before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The actual fabrication of the holy anointing oil and pure sweet incense.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original directive for the pins and cords of the court tabernacle service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct thematic parallel of Moses executing everything according to God's command.
Another historical milestone where Israel's leader blesses the people for obedient service.
David blesses the people after finishing the placement of the ark.
Eden's precious stones match the specific list of gems on the high priest's breastplate.
Supported by John Calvin