Exodus 28:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Put on it settings of stones, four rows of stones: the first row is to be a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald;

Berean Standard Bible:

And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt set{H4390} in it settings{H4396} of stones{H68}, even four{H702} rows{H2905} of stones{H68}: the first row{H2905} shall be a sardius{H124}, a topaz{H6357}, and a carbuncle{H1304}: this shall be the first{H259} row{H2905}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 39:10

  • And they set in it four rows of stones: [the first] row [was] a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this [was] the first row.

Exodus 39:21

  • And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Ezekiel 28:13

  • Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Revelation 21:19

  • And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

Revelation 21:21

  • And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Proverbs 8:11

  • For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Proverbs 20:15

  • ΒΆ There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Exodus 28:17

**Exodus 28:17 Themes:**
- **Priestly Vestments:** The verse is part of the instructions given to Moses for creating the breastplate of judgment, a key component of the high priest's garments in the Israelite tabernacle.
- **Symbolism of Stones:** Each stone on the breastplate is believed to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel, emphasizing unity and the priest's role in interceding for the people.
- **Divine Order and Beauty:** The precise arrangement of the stones reflects the meticulous nature of God's instructions, highlighting the importance of order in worship and the beauty of holiness.

**Historical Context:**
- **Era of Moses:** The instructions in Exodus 28 were given to Moses on Mount Sinai after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, around the 13th century BCE.
- **Tabernacle Construction:** This period was marked by the establishment of the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary for God's presence, which was central to Israelite worship before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
- **Priestly Role:** The detailed description of the priestly garments underscores the significance of the priesthood in Israelite society. The high priest, in particular, had the unique role of mediating between God and the people, which the breastplate symbolically facilitated through the representation of the tribes.

In summary, Exodus 28:17 is part of the detailed instructions for the high priest's breastplate, emphasizing the themes of priestly intercession, representation of the twelve tribes, and the sanctity of worship. It reflects the historical context of the establishment of the Israelite religious system under Moses' leadership.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H4390
    There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָל֡א
    Transliteration: mΓ’lΓͺΚΌ
    Pronunciation: maw-lay'
    Description: or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly.
  2. Strong's Number: H4396
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ΧžΦ΄ΧœΦΌΦ»ΧΦΈΧ”
    Transliteration: milluΚΌΓ’h
    Pronunciation: mil-loo-aw'
    Description: feminine of מִלֻּא; a filling, i.e. setting (of gems); enclosing, setting.
  3. Strong's Number: H68
    There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ΧΦΆΧ‘ΦΆΧŸ
    Transliteration: ΚΌeben
    Pronunciation: eh'-ben
    Description: from the root of Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ ΦΈΧ” through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
  4. Strong's Number: H702
    There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַרְבַּג
    Transliteration: ΚΌarbaΚ»
    Pronunciation: ar-bah'
    Description: masculine אַרְבָּגָה; from Χ¨ΦΈΧ‘Φ·Χ’; four; four.
  5. Strong's Number: H2905
    There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Χ˜Χ•ΦΌΧ¨
    Transliteration: αΉ­Γ»wr
    Pronunciation: toor
    Description: from an unused root meaning to range in a regular manner; a row; hence, a wall; row.
  6. Strong's Number: H124
    There are 608 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֹד֢ם
    Transliteration: ΚΌΓ΄dem
    Pronunciation: o'-dem
    Description: from אָדַם; redness, i.e. the ruby, garnet, or some other red gem; sardius.
  7. Strong's Number: H6357
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Χ€ΦΌΦ΄Χ˜Φ°Χ“ΦΈΧ”
    Transliteration: piαΉ­dΓ’h
    Pronunciation: pit-daw'
    Description: of foreign derivation; a gem, probably the topaz; topaz.
  8. Strong's Number: H1304
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ¨ΦΆΧ§ΦΆΧͺ
    Transliteration: bΓ’reqeth
    Pronunciation: baw-reh'-keth
    Description: lemma Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ¨Φ°Χ§Φ·Χͺ variant form, corrected to Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ¨ΦΆΧ§ΦΆΧͺ; or Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ¨Φ°Χ§Φ·Χͺxlit bΓ’rᡉkath corrected to bΓ’rᡉqath; from Χ‘ΦΌΦΈΧ¨ΦΈΧ§; a gem (as flashing), perhaps the emerald; carbuncle.
  9. Strong's Number: H259
    There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: א֢חָד
    Transliteration: ΚΌechΓ’d
    Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
    Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,