Exodus 39NKJV
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Exodus39

New King James Version

1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

2He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.

3And they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, into artistic designs.

4They made shoulder straps for it to couple it together; it was coupled together at its two edges.

5And the intricately woven band of his ephod that was on it was of the same workmanship, woven of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

6And they set onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold; they were engraved, as signets are engraved, with the names of the sons of Israel.

7He put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

8And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.

9They made the breastplate square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled.

10And they set in it four rows of stones: a row with a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald was the first row;

11the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

12the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

13the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountings.

14There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes.

15And they made chains for the breastplate at the ends, like braided cords of pure gold.

16They also 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 braided chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.

18The two ends of the two braided chains they fastened in the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front.

19And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod.

20They made two other gold rings 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.

21And they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

23And there was an opening in the middle of the robe, like the opening in a coat of mail, with a woven binding all around the opening, so that it would not tear.

24They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine woven linen.

25And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates:

26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

27They made tunics, artistically woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,

28a turban of fine linen, exquisite hats of fine linen, short trousers of fine woven linen,

29and a sash of fine woven linen with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, made by a weaver, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

30Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

31And they tied to it a blue cord, to fasten it above on the turban, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

32Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.

33And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings: its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

34the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of badger skins, and the veil of the covering;

35the ark of the Testimony with its poles, and the mercy seat;

36the table, all its utensils, and the showbread;

37the pure gold lampstand with its lamps (the lamps set in order), all its utensils, and the oil for light;

38the gold altar, the anointing oil, and the sweet incense; the screen for the tabernacle door;

39the bronze altar, its grate of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the laver with its base;

40the hangings of the court, its pillars and its sockets, the screen for the court gate, its cords, and its pegs; all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;

41and the garments of ministry, to minister in the holy place: the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister as priests.

42According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.

43Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 39.

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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!

Cross References

Exodus 39
v22Exodus 28:31-35thematic

The original divine instructions for making the blue robe of the ephod.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v30Exodus 28:36-39thematic

The original command to engrave 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' on the golden plate.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Exodus 28:2-4thematic

The explicit commandment and pattern for Aaron's holy garments of service, which are here executed.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v2Exodus 28:6-12thematic

The precise instructions for fabricating the high priest's ephod, coupled at the shoulderpieces.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v8Exodus 28:13-29thematic

The detailed instructions for making the double breastplate of judgment with its four rows of stones.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v32Exodus 25:40thematic

The foundational command to build all tabernacle items according to the pattern shown on the mount.

Supported by JFB

v33Exodus 35:11-19thematic

The presentation of the finished tabernacle components corresponds to the public call for materials.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v43Genesis 1:31thematic

Moses inspects the completed work and pronounces it good, echoing God's creation inspection.

Supported by JFB

v1Exodus 31:10thematic

Earlier designation of the clothes of service and holy garments for Aaron's priestly ministry.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Exodus 39:41thematic

The final summary lists these completed clothes of service brought before Moses for inspection.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Exodus 28:12typology

The onyx stones on the shoulders serve as a memorial, typifying Christ bearing His people.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v7Exodus 28:29typology

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

v25Exodus 28:34thematic

The specific directive to alternate golden bells and pomegranates along the robe's hem.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v27Exodus 28:39-42thematic

The original instructions for the fine linen coats, mitres, and breeches for Aaron's sons.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v30Zechariah 14:20thematic

Prophetic expansion where 'HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD' is written even on bells of horses.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v32Hebrews 8:5thematic

New Testament confirmation that Moses made everything precisely according to the heavenly pattern.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v35Hebrews 9:5typology

New Testament explanation of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v41Exodus 39:1thematic

Connects back to the initiation of the priestly garments made for service.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v41Exodus 31:10thematic

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

v1Leviticus 8:7thematic

The actual investiture ceremony where Aaron is dressed in these completed garments.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Exodus 28:8thematic

The pattern for the curious girdle of the ephod made of identical materials.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v6Exodus 28:11thematic

Instructions for engraving the onyx stones like signets with the names of Israel's sons.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v8Exodus 28:15thematic

The directive to make the breastplate of judgment with skilled, artistic work.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v10Exodus 28:21thematic

Mandate that the twelve stones correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v15Exodus 28:14thematic

The requirement for wreathen chains of pure gold to secure the breastplate.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v32Exodus 40:33thematic

Parallel summary statement recording that Moses fully finished the work of the tabernacle.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v34Exodus 26:14thematic

The original instruction for the dyed rams' skins and badger skins tabernacle coverings.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v37Exodus 27:21thematic

The command for setting the lamps of the pure candlestick in order before the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v38Exodus 37:29thematic

The actual fabrication of the holy anointing oil and pure sweet incense.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v40Exodus 27:19thematic

The original directive for the pins and cords of the court tabernacle service.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v42Exodus 40:16thematic

Direct thematic parallel of Moses executing everything according to God's command.

v43Joshua 22:6thematic

Another historical milestone where Israel's leader blesses the people for obedient service.

v432 Samuel 6:18thematic

David blesses the people after finishing the placement of the ark.

v10Ezekiel 28:13thematic

Eden's precious stones match the specific list of gems on the high priest's breastplate.

Supported by John Calvin