Exodus 28:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all [of] blue.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"You are to make the robe for the ritual vest entirely of blue.

Berean Standard Bible:

You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt make{H6213} the robe{H4598} of the ephod{H646} all{H3632} of blue{H8504}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 28:4

  • And 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.

Exodus 28:28

  • And 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.

Leviticus 8:7

  • And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound [it] unto him therewith.

Exodus 39:22

  • And he made the robe of the ephod [of] woven work, all [of] blue.

Exodus 39:26

  • A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister [in]; as the LORD commanded Moses.

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Commentary for Exodus 28:31

Exodus 28:31 is part of a larger section in the book of Exodus that deals with the instructions given to Moses for the construction of the priestly garments. These garments were to be worn by Aaron, the high priest, and his sons, who served as priests in the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.

**Themes:**
1. **Holiness and Distinction:** The specific instructions for the priestly attire underscore the importance of setting apart the priests as holy and distinct from the rest of the community. The blue robe, in particular, symbolizes the heavenly calling of the priesthood.
2. **Divine Presence:** The color blue is often associated with the divine, as it reflects the heavens. This connection emphasizes the priests' role as mediators between God and the people.
3. **Attention to Detail:** The detailed instructions for the garments reflect the meticulous care required in the worship of God. This attention to detail is a theme throughout the instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

**Historical Context:**
The verse is set in the context of the Israelites' wanderings in the Sinai Peninsula, after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. God is establishing the religious and social structures that will define the nation of Israel. The Tabernacle and the priesthood are central to these structures, with the priesthood being responsible for the religious rituals and maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle, which was the place of God's dwelling among His people.

The instructions for the priestly garments, including the blue robe, are part of the broader narrative of Exodus, which includes the giving of the Law, the establishment of the covenant between God and Israel, and the construction of the Tabernacle. The blue robe, as part of the high priest's attire, would have been a visually striking and symbolic element that reinforced the sacred nature of the priesthood and their unique role in Israelite society.

*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: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  2. Strong's Number: H4598
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְעִיל
    Transliteration: mᵉʻîyl
    Pronunciation: meh-eel'
    Description: from מָעַל in the sense of covering; a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment); cloke, coat, mantle, robe.
  3. Strong's Number: H646
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֵפוֹד
    Transliteration: ʼêphôwd
    Pronunciation: ay-fode'
    Description: rarely אֵפֹד; probably of foreign derivation; a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image; ephod.
  4. Strong's Number: H3632
    There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כָּלִיל
    Transliteration: kâlîyl
    Pronunciation: kaw-leel'
    Description: from כָּלַל; complete; as noun, the whole (specifically, a sacrifice entirely consumed); as adverb, fully; all, every whit, flame, perfect(-ion), utterly, whole burnt offering (sacrifice), wholly.
  5. Strong's Number: H8504
    There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תְּכֵלֶת
    Transliteration: tᵉkêleth
    Pronunciation: tek-ay'-leth
    Description: probably for שְׁחֶלֶת; the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith; blue.