TRV
Translation
King James Version
Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
American Standard Version
Foursquare it shall be and double; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof.
World English Bible Messianic
It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length of it, and a span its breadth.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Foure square it shall be and double, an hand bredth long and an hand bredth broade.
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 2,310 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Exodus 28 verses 15–30
15 ¶ And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
17 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.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
22 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends 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 which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.
26 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.
27 And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle 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 above the curious girdle 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 the LORD 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 the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
The most considerable of the ornaments of the high priest was this breast-plate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously wrought with gold and purple, etc., two spans long and a span broad, so that, being doubled, it was a span square, Exo 28:16. This was fastened to the ephod with wreathen chains of gold (Exo 28:13, Exo 28:14, Exo 28:22, etc.) both at top and bottom, so that the breast-plate might not be loosed from the ephod, Exo 28:28. The ephod was the garment of service; the breast-plate of judgment was an emblem of honour: these two must by no means be separated. If any man will minister unto the Lord, and do his will, he shall know his doctrine. In this breast-plate,
I. The tribes of Israel were recommended to God's favour in twelve precious stones, Exo 28:17-21, Exo 28:19. Some question whether Levi had a precious stone with his name or no. If not, Ephraim and Manasseh were reckoned distinct, as Jacob had said they should be, and the high priest himself, being head of the tribe of Levi, sufficiently represented that tribe. If there was a stone for Levi, as is intimated by this, that they were engraven according to their birth (Exo 28:10), Ephraim and Manasseh were one in Joseph. Aaron was to bear their names for a memorial before the Lord continually, being ordained for men, to represent them in things pertaining to God, herein typifying our great high priest, who always appears in the presence of God for us. 1. Though the people were forbidden to come near, and obliged to keep their distance, yet by the high priest, who had their names on his breast-plate, they entered into the holiest; so believers, even while they are here on this earth, not only enter into the holiest, but by faith are made to sit with Christ in heavenly places, Eph 2:6. 2. The name of each tribe was engraven in a precious stone, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers are, and how honourable, Isa 43:4. They shall be his in the day he makes up his jewels, Mal 3:17. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was a precious stone in the breast-plate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, and his delight is in them as the excellent ones of the earth, however men may esteem them as earthen pitchers, Lam 4:2. 3. The high priest had the names of the tribes both on his shoulders and on his breast, intimating both the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus intercedes for those that are his. He not only bears them up upon his heart, as the expression here is (Exo 28:29), carries them in his bosom (Isa 40:11), with the most tender affection. How near should Christ's name be to our hearts, since he is pleased to lay our names so near his! and what a comfort it is to us, in all our addresses to God, that the great high priest of our profession has the names of all his Israel upon his breast before the Lord for a memorial, presenting them to God as the people of his choice, who were to be made accepted in the beloved! Let not any good Christians fear that God has forgotten them, nor question his being mindful of them upon all occasions, when they are not only engraven upon the palms of his hands (Isa 49:16), but engraven upon the heart of the great intercessor. See Sol 8:6.
II. The urim and thummim, by which the will of God was made known in doubtful cases, were put in this breast-plate, which is therefore called the breast-plate of judgment, Exo 28:30. Urim and thummim signify light and integrity; many conjectures there are among the learned what they were; we have no reason to think they were any thing that Moses was to make more than what was before ordered, so that either God made them himself, and gave them to Moses, for him to put into the breast-plate, when other things were prepared (Lev 8:8), or no more is meant than a declaration of the further use of what was already ordered to be made. I think the words may be read thus, And thou shalt give, or add, or deliver, to the breast-plate of judgment, the illuminations and perfections, and they shall be upon the heart of Aaron; that is, "He shall be endued with a power of knowing and making known the mind of God in all difficult doubtful cases, relating either to the civil or ecclesiastical state of the nation." Their government was a theocracy: God was their King, the high priest was, under God, their ruler, the urim and thummim were his cabinet-council; probably Moses wrote upon the breast-plate, or wove into it, these words, Urim and Thummim, to signify that the high priest, having on him this breast-plate, and asking counsel of God in any emergency relating to the public, should be directed to take those measures, and give that advice, which God would own. If he was standing before the ark (but without the veil) probably he received instructions from off the mercy-seat, as Moses did (Exo 25:22); thus, it should seem, Phinehas did, Jdg 20:27, Jdg 20:28. If he was at a distance from the ark, as Abiathar was when he enquired of the Lord for David (Sa1 23:6, etc.), then the answer was given either by a voice from heaven or rather by an impulse upon the mind of the high priest, which last is perhaps intimated in that expression, He shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart. This oracle was of great use to Israel; Joshua consulted it (Num 27:21), and, it is likely, the judges after him. It was lost in the captivity, and never regained after, though, it should seem, it was expected, Ezr 2:63. But it was a shadow of good things to come, and the substance is Christ. He is our oracle; by him God in these last days makes known himself and his mind to us, Heb 1:2; Joh 1:18. Divine revelation centres in him, and comes to us through him; he is the light, the true light, the faithful witness, the truth itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of truth, who leads into all truth. The joining of the breast-plate to the ephod denotes that his prophetical office was founded in his priesthood; and it was by the merit of his death that he purchased this honour for himself and this favour for us. It was the Lamb that had been slain that was worthy to take the book and to open the seals, Rev 5:9.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 15–30. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Exodus 28:16 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Exodus 28:16 provides precise divine specifications for the High Priest's breastplate, detailing its "foursquare" and "doubled" construction, along with its exact dimensions of "a span" in both length and breadth. This meticulous instruction underscores God's demand for holiness, order, and intentionality in the sacred service of the priesthood, emphasizing the breastplate's crucial role as a symbolic representation of the twelve tribes of Israel before the Lord and as a vessel for divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Exodus 28:16 is an integral part of a larger divine blueprint for the Tabernacle and its associated worship, specifically focusing on the sacred garments of the High Priest (Exodus 28). This chapter follows the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25-27) and precedes the consecration of Aaron and his sons. The breastplate, known as the "breastplate of judgment," is described immediately after the ephod, to which it was intricately attached, signifying their functional and symbolic unity. The verses immediately following Exodus 28:16 elaborate on the twelve precious stones set upon the breastplate, each representing one of the tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:17-21). This sequential and detailed instruction highlights the sanctity and symbolic weight of every component of the High Priest's attire, emphasizing his role as the divinely appointed mediator for the nation.
Historical & Cultural Context: The instructions for the Tabernacle and the priestly vestments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, a pivotal moment in Israel's history following their deliverance from Egypt and the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant. This period marked the formal constitution of Israel as God's covenant people, necessitating a structured system of worship and mediation to maintain their relationship with a holy God. While other ancient Near Eastern cultures had priests with distinctive attire, Israel's priestly garments were unique in their divine origin, symbolic richness, and the specific function of representing the twelve tribes. The "doubled" nature of the breastplate, as specified in this verse, was not merely a construction detail but a functional necessity for housing the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30), objects used for discerning God's will, which underscored the High Priest's unique access to divine counsel on behalf of the entire nation.
Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus. Primarily, it underscores the theme of Divine Holiness and Order, demonstrating God's meticulous attention to detail in matters of worship and His demand for precision in approaching Him. The breastplate's design reflects the theme of Representation and Intercession, as the High Priest literally bore the names of the twelve tribes before the Lord, symbolizing his role as an intercessor for the entire nation (Exodus 28:29). Furthermore, the functional aspect of the doubled breastplate, housing the Urim and Thummim, highlights the theme of Divine Guidance and Revelation, emphasizing God's provision for His people to seek and receive His counsel. These themes collectively portray a God who is both transcendent in His holiness and immanent in His desire to guide and relate to His covenant people.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device evident in Exodus 28:16 is Precision and Meticulous Detail, which serve to underscore the divine authorship and the absolute authority of God's instructions. The exact measurements ("a span") and specific construction methods ("foursquare," "doubled") leave no room for human interpretation or improvisation, thereby emphasizing the sacredness and importance of adhering strictly to God's revealed will in worship. This detailed prescription also employs Symbolism, where the physical attributes of the breastplate convey profound theological truths. The "foursquare" shape symbolizes stability, completeness, and divine order, reflecting the perfect and unwavering representation of the twelve tribes. The "doubled" nature, while a practical instruction, also symbolizes the High Priest's unique function as a bearer of divine judgment and guidance through the Urim and Thummim, signifying a deeper spiritual reality embedded within the physical design.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 28:16, with its precise description of the High Priest's breastplate, powerfully communicates God's demand for order, excellence, and intentionality in worship and sacred service. The meticulous detail reflects the character of a God who is sovereign, purposeful, and holy, desiring His people to approach Him with reverence and according to His revealed will. The breastplate's function of representing the twelve tribes before God, coupled with its role in holding the Urim and Thummim for divine guidance, highlights the critical themes of intercession, representation, and the seeking of God's wisdom. It underscores the truth that true worship is not arbitrary but is shaped by divine command, pointing to a God who is intimately involved in the details of His covenant relationship with humanity and who provides specific means for His people to draw near and receive His counsel.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The divine precision evident in Exodus 28:16 serves as a profound reminder that God values order, excellence, and intentionality in all aspects of our lives, especially in our worship and service to Him. While we no longer live under the Old Covenant's ceremonial law, the underlying principles of reverence, obedience, and thoughtful preparation remain timeless. This verse challenges us to consider the quality of our own spiritual offerings: Do we approach God with casual indifference, or with the thoughtful preparation and diligent adherence to His Word that reflects His holiness and our respect for Him? The High Priest's role in bearing the names of Israel before God also prompts us to reflect on our own calling as believers to intercede for others and to faithfully represent Christ in the world. Just as the breastplate was meticulously designed for a specific function, our lives are purposed by God to reflect His glory and to be channels of His grace and truth to those around us, requiring intentionality and dedication.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the "breastplate of judgment" and why was it important?
Answer: The breastplate of judgment (also known as the breastpiece) was a central and highly significant component of the High Priest's sacred garments, meticulously described in Exodus 28:15-30. It was a richly embroidered, square piece of cloth, designed to be folded into a pouch, and adorned with twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its profound importance lay in its symbolic and functional roles: the High Priest literally "bore the names of the sons of Israel on his heart" (Exodus 28:29) when he entered the holy place, signifying his role as the representative and intercessor for the entire nation before God. Furthermore, it housed the mysterious Urim and Thummim, objects used for discerning God's will and judgment, making it a crucial conduit for divine guidance for the nation.
What is a "span" in biblical measurements?
Answer: A "span" (Hebrew: zereth) is an ancient unit of linear measurement, commonly understood as the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended. This measurement is roughly equivalent to half a cubit. In modern terms, a span is approximately 9 inches (about 23 centimeters). The specification of "a span" for both the length and breadth of the breastplate in Exodus 28:16 highlights the precise and compact dimensions divinely required for this sacred item, emphasizing God's meticulous attention to detail.
Why was the breastplate "doubled"?
Answer: The instruction that the breastplate "shall be doubled" meant it was constructed as a folded pouch rather than a flat piece of cloth. This "doubled" construction was absolutely crucial because it provided a secure pocket or receptacle for the Urim and Thummim. As described in Exodus 28:30, these were mysterious objects used by the High Priest to inquire of the Lord and receive divine guidance or judgment on behalf of the Israelites. Therefore, the doubled nature of the breastplate was integral to its function as a vital means of seeking and conveying God's authoritative will to His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 28:16, with its meticulous description of the High Priest's breastplate, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The breastplate's function of representing the twelve tribes before God powerfully foreshadows Jesus, our Great High Priest, who perfectly and perpetually intercedes for His people. Unlike the Old Testament High Priest who bore the names of Israel on his heart, Jesus bears not just our names but our very being, our sins, and our burdens, having fully identified with humanity in His incarnation (Hebrews 2:17). The "foursquare" perfection of the breastplate, symbolizing completeness and stability, points to the finished work of Christ on the cross, a sacrifice that is utterly complete and eternally stable, requiring no further offerings (Hebrews 10:14). Furthermore, the "doubled" breastplate housing the Urim and Thummim for divine guidance is profoundly fulfilled in Christ, who is the Word made flesh, the ultimate and complete revelation of God's will and wisdom. He is our perfect guide, the source of all truth, and through Him, we have direct and unhindered access to the Father, no longer needing a human mediator or symbolic objects for divine counsel (John 14:6).