Exodus28

Exodus 28 details God's instructions for the holy garments of Aaron and his sons, to consecrate them for the priestly office. These garments include an ephod with engraved onyx stones, a breastplate of judgment with twelve precious stones representing the tribes, and a blue robe with bells and pomegranates. A golden plate inscribed "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" for Aaron's mitre, and linen breeches for all priests, complete the attire, ensuring their acceptance and protection in service.
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The Selection of Aaron and His Sons

1
And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. ​

The Purpose of the Holy Garments

2
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty. ​
3
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. ​
4
And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, 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. ​
5
And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.

The Ephod and Shoulder Stones

6
And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skilful workman. ​
7
It shall have two shoulder-pieces joined to the two ends thereof, that it may be joined together.
8
And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: ​
10
six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their birth.
11
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be inclosed in settings of gold.
12
And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial. ​
13
And thou shalt make settings of gold,
14
and two chains of pure gold; like cords shalt thou make them, of wreathen work: and thou shalt put the wreathen chains on the settings.

The Breastplate of Judgment

15
And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skilful workman; like the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. ​
16
Foursquare it shall be and double; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof.
17
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;
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and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
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and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20
and the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be inclosed in gold in their settings.
21
And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes. ​
22
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains like cords, of wreathen work of pure gold.
23
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24
And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
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And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the forepart thereof.
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And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.
27
And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and shalt put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod.
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 upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
29
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah continually. ​
30
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before Jehovah: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually. ​

The Blue Robe with Bells

31
And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. ​
32
And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.
33
And upon the skirts of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
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a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.
35
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before Jehovah, and when he cometh out, that he die not. ​

The Golden Plate and Mitre

36
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLY TO JEHOVAH. ​
37
And thou shalt put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
38
And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before Jehovah. ​
39
And thou shalt weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and thou shalt make a mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make a girdle, the work of the embroiderer.

Garments for the Common Priests

40
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. ​
41
And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and upon his sons with him, and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. ​
42
And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: ​
43
and they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed after him. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 28

Verse 1

Aaron and his sons (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar) are formally designated as the hereditary priesthood, separating them from the rest of the Levites for distinct service.

Verse 2

The garments were designed not just for function, but also to convey the solemn dignity and sacredness ('glory and for beauty') required for approaching God.

Verse 3

The materials and craftsmanship were highly valued, requiring artisans whom God had specially gifted ('filled with the spirit of wisdom') for this sacred construction project.

Verse 4

This verse lists the six primary articles of clothing for the High Priest: breastplate, ephod, robe, coat, mitre, and girdle.

Verse 6

The ephod was a highly decorated, apron-like outer garment, woven from the same fine materials and colors used in the Tabernacle curtains (Exod 26:1).

Verse 9

The use of precious onyx stones emphasizes the value of the tribes of Israel whom the priest represented before God.

Verse 12

By bearing the names on his shoulders (a place of strength), Aaron symbolized carrying the tribes of Israel into God's presence as their representative and advocate ('memorial').

Verse 15

Also called the 'Breastplate of Decision,' this piece held the sacred stones and the Urim and Thummim, connecting the priest's clothing directly to his duty of discerning God's will.

Verse 21

The twelve engraved stones correspond directly to the twelve tribes, signifying that the High Priest represented the entire unified community of Israel before the Lord.

Verse 29

Bearing the names 'upon his heart' indicates Aaron's role as intercessor, carrying the concerns and identity of the people close to his person as he entered the Holy Place.

Verse 30

The Urim ('Lights') and Thummim ('Perfections') were objects used by the High Priest to discern God’s will, likely functioning as a sacred lot or oracle to answer binary questions (yes/no).

Verse 31

This robe was worn underneath the Ephod and was entirely blue, symbolizing the heavens and purity, distinguishing it from the multi-colored Ephod.

Verse 35

The sound of the bells ensured that the High Priest's movements were known while ministering in the Holy Place; silence could imply that he had approached God improperly and died.

Verse 36

This golden plate, engraved 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD,' signified that the High Priest was completely consecrated and dedicated to the service of God.

Verse 38

Aaron symbolically 'bears the iniquity of the holy things,' covering the unintentional faults or impurities that might contaminate the Israelites' sacred offerings, allowing them to be accepted by God.

Verse 40

Aaron's sons (the common priests) wore simpler, white linen garments (coat, girdle, bonnet) suitable for daily service, which also conveyed dignity and ritual purity.

Verse 41

Consecration involved washing, dressing, anointing with oil, and specific sacrifices (detailed in Exod 29), formally setting them apart for their sacred duties.

Verse 42

The linen breeches were mandatory to ensure modesty and ritual purity, preventing the priests from exposing themselves while ascending the altar ramp, which would violate the holiness of the sanctuary.

Verse 43

The strict commands regarding purity and dress underline the danger of approaching a holy God improperly; failure to adhere to these statutes resulted in the penalty of death.

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