Exodus39

Exodus 39 details the meticulous construction of the holy garments for Aaron and his sons, including the ephod, breastplate, robe, and other priestly attire, all made according to the Lord's specific instructions. The chapter then concludes with the completion of all the work for the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Finally, Moses inspects the finished work, confirms its adherence to divine command, and blesses the children of Israel for their obedience.

The Priestly Garments Constructed

1
Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. ​
2
He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3
They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. ​
4
They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. At the two ends it was joined together.
5
The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.
6
They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. ​
7
He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses. ​
8
He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. ​
9
It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its breadth a span, being double.
10
They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
11
and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
12
and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
13
and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
14
The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes. ​
15
They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
16
They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
17
They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
18
The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front.
19
They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.
20
They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
21
They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as the LORD commanded Moses. ​

The Robe of the Ephod

22
He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. ​
23
The opening of the robe in its midst was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
24
They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
25
They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates;
26
a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses. ​

Tunics and Accessories

27
They made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, ​
28
and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
29
and the sash of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The Golden Plate of the Crown

30
They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it a writing, like the engravings of a signet: “HOLY TO THE LORD”. ​
31
They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Completion of the Tabernacle Work

32
Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they did. ​
33
They brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, ​
34
the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
35
the ark of the testimony with its poles, the mercy seat,
36
the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
37
the pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
38
the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,
39
the bronze altar, its grating of brass, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
40
the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,
41
the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
42
According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. ​

Moses Inspects and Blesses the People

43
Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 39

Verse 1

This chapter documents the faithful completion of the holy garments previously described in detail in Exodus 28. The use of blue, purple, and scarlet signified royalty, deity, and life, appropriate for those ministering in God’s presence.

Verse 3

The process of beating gold into thin plates and cutting it into fine wires (or threads) demonstrates the highly specialized and 'cunning work' required for the Tabernacle textiles, reflecting the quality demanded in divine service.

Verse 6

The onyx stones, set in gold, bore the names of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing the high priest carrying the burden and identity of all God’s people on his shoulders (a place of strength) when he appeared before the Lord.

Verse 7

The stones served as a 'memorial' (Hebrew: *zikkaron*), a constant reminder before God of His covenant relationship with Israel, which the priest represented.

Verse 8

The breastplate was the most elaborate piece of clothing, designed to hold the Urim and Thummim (means of divine decision) and the twelve stones, linking the priest’s ministry directly to the tribes of Israel.

Verse 14

Each stone was engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes, emphasizing that the high priest was not ministering for himself, but acting as the representative intercessor for the entire nation.

Verse 21

The careful instructions for securing the breastplate ensured that it remained firmly attached to the ephod, signifying the inseparable connection between the priest's office and the representation of Israel.

Verse 22

The robe was entirely blue, symbolizing the heavens and the purity of God’s dwelling. It was worn underneath the ephod and breastplate.

Verse 26

The sound of the bells alerted those outside the Holy Place that the high priest was moving within, signifying that he was alive and properly clothed; silence suggested he had died due to improper approach (Ex. 28:35).

Verse 27

These garments—the woven linen tunics, bonnets, and breeches—were the standard attire for both Aaron and his sons, necessary for maintaining ritual purity during their service.

Verse 30

The inscription 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' (or 'Holy to Yahweh') declared that Aaron, and by extension, all Israel, was consecrated and set apart for God’s exclusive use. This plate was the culmination of the priestly attire.

Verse 32

This verse marks the pivot point, signifying the completion of the construction phase, including both the Tabernacle structure and all its associated furnishings and garments.

Verse 33

Verses 33–41 provide a comprehensive inventory list, confirming that every single item commanded by God in previous chapters was constructed, assembled, and presented to Moses.

Verse 42

The repetitive emphasis on obedience ('According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work') is the theological climax of the building narrative, stressing the faithfulness of the people to the divine blueprint.

Verse 43

Moses' inspection served as the official ratification of the work. His blessing confirmed divine approval upon the laborers and consecrated the completed structure before its dedication.

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