Exodus 28:20

And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

And the fourth {H7243} row {H2905} a beryl {H8658}, and an onyx {H7718}, and a jasper {H3471}: they shall be set {H7660} in gold {H2091} in their inclosings {H4396}.

and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper. They are to be mounted in their gold settings.

and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount these stones in gold filigree settings.

and the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be inclosed in gold in their settings.

Commentary

Context of Exodus 28:20

This verse is part of God's meticulous instructions to Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and the sacred garments for the priests, particularly the high priest. Exodus chapter 28 details the design of the ephod and the breastplate, which were central to the high priest's attire. The breastplate, often called the "breastplate of judgment," was a square pouch worn over the high priest's heart. It was designed to hold twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Verses 17-20 methodically list these stones, arranged in four rows of three. Exodus 28:20 specifically describes the final, fourth row, completing the set of twelve stones representing all the tribes.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Representation of God's People: The primary significance of these stones, including the beryl, onyx, and jasper in the fourth row, is that they symbolically represented the twelve tribes of Israel. When the high priest entered God's presence, he carried the names of all the people, signifying their collective access to God through him.
  • Divine Precision and Holiness: The intricate details given for the breastplate's construction, down to the specific types of stones and their gold settings, underscore God's demand for holiness, order, and precision in worship and service. Every element was divinely ordained.
  • Preciousness of God's Covenant People: The use of valuable gemstones like beryl, onyx, and jasper highlights the immense value and importance God places on His covenant people. They are His treasured possession, brought into His presence through the appointed mediator.
  • Intercession and Remembrance: Worn over the high priest's heart, the breastplate served as a constant reminder of his role as an intercessor for the nation of Israel. He bore their names and their needs before the Lord continually.

Linguistic Insights

The term "inclosings" in the King James Version refers to the intricate gold settings or filigree work that held each precious stone securely in place. This speaks to the high level of craftsmanship and the value placed on both the materials and the symbolic function of the breastplate. The specific stones—beryl, onyx, and jasper—were known and valued in the ancient Near East. While individual symbolic meanings of these stones varied across cultures, in this biblical context, their collective purpose was to represent the tribes of Israel. Interestingly, jasper is also a prominent stone described in the foundations of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, connecting the priestly service of the Old Covenant to the ultimate heavenly reality.

Practical Application

The imagery of the high priest bearing the names of Israel on his breastplate offers profound spiritual insights for believers today:

  • Christ, Our Perfect High Priest: The Old Testament high priest was a type, or foreshadowing, of Jesus Christ. Just as the earthly priest carried the names of the tribes into God's presence, Jesus, our ultimate High Priest, bears us continually before the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), knowing each of His people intimately.
  • God's Personal Care and Knowledge: The engraving of each tribe's name on a distinct stone highlights God's personal knowledge and care for every individual within His covenant family. You are not forgotten by Him.
  • The Church as God's Treasure: As believers, we are like these precious stones, chosen by God and set in His spiritual house. We are "living stones" being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5), valued and purposed by Him.
  • Bearing One Another: While Christ is our primary intercessor, the concept also encourages believers to bear one another's burdens and pray for each other, carrying our fellow believers in our hearts before God.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 21:18

    And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass.

  • Revelation 21:20

    The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

  • Ezekiel 10:9

    And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels [was] as the colour of a beryl stone.

  • Ezekiel 1:16

    The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.

  • Daniel 10:6

    His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

  • Revelation 4:3

    And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

  • Revelation 21:11

    Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;