Exodus 39:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he made the breastplate [of] cunning work, like the work of the ephod; [of] gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He made the breastplate; it was crafted by a skilled artisan and made like the work of the ritual vest -of gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen.

Berean Standard Bible:

He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

American Standard Version:

And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he made^{H6213} the breastplate^{H2833} of cunning^{H2803} work^{H4639}, like the work^{H4639} of the ephod^{H646}; of gold^{H2091}, blue^{H8504}, and purple^{H713}, and scarlet^{{H8144}{H8438}}, and fine twined^{H7806} linen^{H8336}.

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Commentary for Exodus 39:8

1. Themes:
- **Divine Instruction and Craftsmanship**: The verse highlights the meticulous and skilled work that went into creating the priestly garments, emphasizing that they were made exactly as God had instructed Moses.
- **Symbolism of Materials**: The use of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet materials symbolizes the glory, royalty, and divinity associated with the priesthood and the sacred nature of their role.
- **Ceremonial Holiness**: The breastplate, along with the ephod, was part of the high priest's attire, signifying the sanctity of the priestly office and the importance of their mediation between God and the Israelites.

2. Historical Context:
- **Exodus from Egypt**: The Israelites were in the process of establishing themselves as a nation after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. The instructions for the tabernacle and priestly garments were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
- **Wilderness Wanderings**: This verse is set during the time when the Israelites were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, where they received the Law and instructions for worship, including the construction of the tabernacle and the garments for the priests.
- **Covenant Relationship**: The detailed and costly nature of the priestly garments reflects the importance of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, with the priesthood playing a central role in maintaining this relationship through worship and sacrifice.

In summary, Exodus 39:8 reflects the theme of divine instruction followed by skilled human craftsmanship in the creation of the high priest's breastplate, using luxurious materials to signify the sacred and mediatorial role of the priesthood within the context of Israel's developing worship practices during their wilderness journey following the exodus from Egypt.

*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: H2833
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֹשֶׁן
   Transliteration: chôshen
   Pronunciation: kho'-shen
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to contain or sparkle; perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems), used only of the gorget of the highpriest; breastplate.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2803
   There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָשַׁב
   Transliteration: châshab
   Pronunciation: khaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute; (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4639
   There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעֲשֶׂה
   Transliteration: maʻăseh
   Pronunciation: mah-as-eh'
   Description: from עָשָׂה; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property; act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2091
   There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָהָב
   Transliteration: zâhâb
   Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H713
   There are 465 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְגָּמָן
   Transliteration: ʼargâmân
   Pronunciation: ar-gaw-mawn'
   Description: of foreign origin; purple (the color or the dyed stuff); purple.
   
9. Strong's Number: H8144
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנִי
   Transliteration: shânîy
   Pronunciation: shaw-nee'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it; crimson, scarlet (thread).
   
10. Strong's Number: H8438
    There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תּוֹלָע
    Transliteration: tôwlâʻ
    Pronunciation: to-law'
    Description: and (feminine) תּוֹלֵעָה; or תּוֹלַעַת; or תֹּלַעַת; from יָלַע; a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of שָׁנִי); the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed therewith; crimson, scarlet, worm.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7806
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁזַר
    Transliteration: shâzar
    Pronunciation: shaw-zar'
    Description: a primitive root; to twist (a thread of straw); twine.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8336
    There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
    Transliteration: shêsh
    Pronunciation: shaysh
    Description: or (for alliteration with מֶשִׁי) שְׁשִׁי; for שַׁיִשׁ; bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble; [idiom] blue, fine (twined) linen, marble, silk.