Exodus28
King James Version · Public Domain
1And take thou 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 may make Aaron's garments to consecrate 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 broidered coat, 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 gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
6And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
7It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.
8And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even 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 one stone, and the other six names of the rest 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 with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
12And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
13And thou shalt make ouches of gold;
14And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.
15And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
17And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends 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 which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.
26And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.
27And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle 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 above the curious girdle 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 the Lord 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 the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.
31And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
33And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
35And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, 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, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
38And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may 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 the Lord.
39And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
40And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
41And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and 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 their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
43And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, 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 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