TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
And two H8147 other rings H2885 of gold H2091 thou shalt make H6213, and shalt put H5414 them on the two H8147 sides H3802 of the ephod H646 underneath H4295, toward H4136 the forepart H6440 thereof, over against H5980 the other coupling H4225 thereof, above H4605 the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod H646.
Complete Jewish Bible
Also make two gold rings and attach them low on the front part of the vest's shoulder-pieces, near the join, above the vest's decorated belt.
Berean Standard Bible
Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And two other rings of golde thou shalt make, and put them on the two sides of the Ephod, beneath in the forepart of it ouer against the coupling of it vpon the broydred garde of the Ephod.
Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast made two rings of gold, and hast put them on the two shoulders of the ephod, beneath, over-against its front, over-against its joining, above the girdle of the ephod,
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In the KJVVerse 2,321 of 31,102
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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.
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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.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 28:27 provides meticulous divine instructions for crafting the high priestly garments, specifically detailing the precise placement of two additional gold rings on the ephod. These rings, strategically positioned on the lower, front sides of the ephod, were essential for securely attaching the breastplate of judgment. This intricate design ensured the breastplate's proper alignment and symbolic connection to the high priest's sacred role of continually bearing the names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord, thus underscoring the divine precision and purposeful design inherent in the Tabernacle and its sacred service.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Exodus 28 is a crucial segment within the larger narrative of Israel's covenant establishment at Mount Sinai, following the detailed architectural blueprints for the Tabernacle in Exodus 25 through Exodus 27. Having commanded the construction of His dwelling place, God now turns His attention to the sacred personnel and their attire for worship. Exodus 28:1-5 initiates the divine mandate to consecrate Aaron and his sons for the priesthood and outlines the overarching purpose of their holy garments. The subsequent verses, particularly Exodus 28:6-14, meticulously describe the ephod, a central priestly vestment, including its shoulder pieces. Exodus 28:15-30 then details the breastplate of judgment and its integration with the ephod. Therefore, Exodus 28:27 fits seamlessly into this intricate sequence, providing the precise mechanical detail for how the breastplate would be securely fastened to the ephod, ensuring the integrity and functionality of the high priest's attire during his sacred duties.
Historical & Cultural Context: The divine directives for the priestly garments, including the ephod and its accompanying rings, were given to Moses at Mount Sinai, shortly after the momentous Exodus from Egypt, as documented in Exodus 19. In the broader ancient Near East, priestly vestments often served to denote status, function, and a connection to a particular deity. However, the Israelite priestly garments were uniquely distinguished by their direct divine origin, emphasizing holiness, ritual purity, and the mediatorial role of the priests. The prescribed use of precious materials such as gold, fine linen, and the requirement for skilled craftsmanship underscored the supreme value and sanctity of Yahweh's worship. Given the Tabernacle's design as a portable sanctuary, reflecting Israel's nomadic journey, the garments needed to be both aesthetically magnificent and functionally durable for their sacred duties. The meticulous details, such as the exact placement of the rings in Exodus 28:27, ensured that the garments would not only be beautiful but also structurally sound for the High Priest's active service, particularly when bearing the weighty breastplate with its twelve stones, representing the tribes of Israel, before the Lord. This unparalleled level of detail profoundly communicated God's demand for order, reverence, and perfection in all facets of His worship.
Key Themes: Exodus 28:27 contributes to several overarching themes within Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the theme of Divine Precision and Order, demonstrating God's meticulousness in establishing the details of worship. Every component, no matter how small, is divinely ordained, emphasizing that God is a God of order, not chaos, and that His worship demands careful adherence to His commands. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of Holiness and Consecration, as the garments themselves, made of sacred materials and designed for sacred service, set the priests apart for God. This reflects the broader call for Israel to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). Thirdly, it reinforces the theme of Representation and Intercession. The rings' function in securing the breastplate, which bore the names of the twelve tribes, visually symbolized the high priest's role as the representative of the entire nation before God, continually bearing them in His presence. This foreshadows the ultimate intercessory work of Christ, as seen throughout the book of Hebrews.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The meticulous description in Exodus 28:27 primarily employs Emphasis through Detail and Symbolism. The sheer volume of precise instructions for the priestly garments, culminating in minute specifications like the exact placement of these gold rings, serves to emphasize the divine origin and sacredness of the Tabernacle worship. This level of detail conveys God's absolute authority, His demand for order, and the profound importance of every aspect of His service, no matter how seemingly minor. Functionally, these rings, by connecting the breastplate to the ephod, embody Symbolism of unity and representation. The breastplate bore the names of the twelve tribes, and its secure attachment to the ephod symbolized the high priest's responsibility to continually bear the people before the Lord. The gold itself is a powerful Symbol of divine glory, purity, and preciousness, elevating the significance of even the smallest components of the sacred attire and reflecting the nature of the God being worshipped.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The detailed instructions for the ephod's rings in Exodus 28:27 reveal profound theological truths about God's character and His covenant relationship with humanity. The divine precision underscores God's holiness, His demand for order in worship, and the seriousness with which He approaches the covenant relationship. Every detail, no matter how small, was divinely ordained and held significance, teaching Israel that their approach to God must be intentional, reverent, and obedient. Furthermore, the functional purpose of these rings—to secure the breastplate bearing the names of the tribes—highlights the theme of representation and intercession. The high priest, through his garments, physically embodied the people of Israel before God, a constant reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and the priest's mediatorial role.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The meticulous instructions in Exodus 28:27 might initially appear overly detailed to a modern reader, yet they offer profound insights for contemporary believers. They serve as a powerful reminder that God is a God of order, beauty, and purposeful design, and that our worship and service to Him should reflect these divine attributes. While believers in Christ no longer wear physical priestly garments, the underlying principles of intentionality, reverence, and excellence in our spiritual lives remain paramount. This verse challenges us to consider the "small details" of our faith—our daily disciplines, our integrity in hidden places, our consistency in prayer, and our faithfulness in seemingly minor tasks—as significant acts of worship that honor God. Just as the rings ensured the breastplate was securely borne before the Lord, our lives should be firmly anchored in Christ, enabling us to bear the burdens and joys of our fellow believers before God in prayer and service, recognizing that every aspect of our existence can be offered as a holy and pleasing sacrifice to Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were these specific gold rings so important for the ephod?
Answer: The gold rings described in Exodus 28:27 were functionally critical for securely attaching the breastplate of judgment to the ephod. The breastplate, which bore the twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel (Exodus 28:15-21), needed to be firmly affixed so it would not shift or fall during the High Priest's movements. These rings, along with corresponding rings on the breastplate, facilitated a secure lacing or chaining mechanism, ensuring the breastplate remained "over the heart" of the High Priest. This symbolized his constant representation of the people before God. Their importance lies in both their practical function for the garment's integrity and their profound symbolic role in maintaining the dignity and effectiveness of the High Priest's mediatorial office.
What was the "curious girdle" mentioned in this verse?
Answer: The "curious girdle" (Hebrew: ḥēšeḇ) refers to the intricately woven waistband of the ephod, as described in Exodus 28:8. It was crafted from the same luxurious materials as the ephod itself—gold, blue, purple, scarlet material, and fine twined linen—indicating its high value and sacred purpose. Its primary function was to secure the ephod firmly around the High Priest's waist, ensuring a proper and dignified fit for the entire garment. The rings in Exodus 28:27 were specifically placed "above" this girdle, highlighting its foundational role in the overall structure and stability of the ephod and its attachments. The term "curious" in the King James Version emphasizes the highly skilled and artistic craftsmanship involved in its creation, reflecting the divine standard for all Tabernacle components.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The intricate design of the high priestly garments, including the precise placement of the gold rings on the ephod in Exodus 28:27, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The earthly high priest, with his elaborate attire, served as a profound type, foreshadowing the perfect and eternal High Priest. While the rings physically secured the breastplate to the ephod, symbolizing the high priest bearing the names of Israel before God, Christ perfectly embodies this representation in a far superior way. He is our great High Priest who does not merely bear our names on a garment, but carries us in His very heart, having entered the true, heavenly sanctuary not with the blood of animals but with His own precious blood (Hebrews 9:11-12). The meticulousness of the Old Covenant design points to the divine perfection of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) and His ongoing, eternal intercession for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34). Through Him, the chasm of separation between God and humanity is eternally bridged, and believers are granted direct, confident access to the Father, fulfilling the symbolic mediation once performed by the earthly priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-16).