Exodus28
New King James Version
1“Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.
4And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.
5“They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen,
6and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked.
7It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together.
8And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.
9“Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
10six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth.
11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold.
12And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.
13You shall also make settings of gold,
14and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.
15“You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it.
16It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width.
17And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row;
18the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings.
21And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes.
22“You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold.
23And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24Then you shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate;
25and the other two ends of the two braided chains you shall fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.
26“You shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the ephod.
27And two other rings of gold you shall make, and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod.
28They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod.
29“So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.
30And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.
31“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it; it shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it does not tear.
33And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
34a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around.
35And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord and when he comes out, that he may not die.
36“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.
38So it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.
39“You shall skillfully weave the tunic of fine linen thread, you shall make the turban of fine linen, and you shall make the sash of woven work.
40“For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics, and you shall make sashes for them. And you shall make hats for them, for glory and beauty.
41So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
42And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.
43They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants 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