Exodus 28:31

ΒΆ And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all [of] blue.

And thou shalt make {H6213} the robe {H4598} of the ephod {H646} all {H3632} of blue {H8504}.

"You are to make the robe for the ritual vest entirely of blue.

You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,

And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

Commentary

Exodus 28:31 describes a specific instruction regarding the sacred vestments of the High Priest, Aaron. This verse focuses on the "robe of the ephod," one of the key garments worn by the High Priest when ministering before the Lord in the Tabernacle.

Context of the Priestly Garments

This verse is part of a detailed section in Exodus chapters 28 and 29 where God gives Moses precise instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and the consecration of its priests. The garments were not merely clothing but highly symbolic items, designed by divine command to signify the holiness, dignity, and purpose of the priestly office. The "robe of the ephod" was worn beneath the elaborate ephod itself, and above the linen tunic. God's meticulous instructions underscore the profound reverence and order required in approaching Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Instruction and Obedience: The specificity of God's commands, down to the color and material of the priestly garments, highlights His absolute authority and the necessity of human obedience in worship. It underscores that worship is to be conducted on God's terms, not man's.
  • Holiness and Consecration: The entire ensemble of priestly garments was designed to set apart Aaron and his sons for sacred service. The robe being "all of blue" contributed to this sense of separation and consecration for a holy purpose.
  • Symbolism of Color: The color blue (Hebrew: tekelet) held significant symbolic meaning in ancient Israel. It was a valuable dye, often associated with the heavens, divinity, and royalty. Its prominent use on the High Priest's robe would evoke the divine presence and the heavenly nature of the High Priest's ministry, signifying that he was representing God to the people and the people before God in a sacred space. This color also appears in the curtains of the Tabernacle and the tassels (tzitzit) worn by Israelites as a reminder of God's commandments.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "blue" used here is tekelet (ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧ›Φ΅ΧœΦΆΧͺ). This was not just any blue, but a specific, highly valued violet-blue dye derived from a marine mollusk. Its rarity and cost made it a color associated with nobility, wealth, and sacredness. Its use in the Tabernacle and priestly garments was a testament to the supreme value and holiness of God's dwelling place and His chosen representatives.

Practical Application and Reflection

The meticulousness with which God described the priestly garments, including the specific color of the robe of the ephod, teaches us about God's character. He is a God of order, beauty, and holiness, who demands reverence and intentionality in worship. While we no longer have a Levitical priesthood or a physical Tabernacle, this passage speaks to:

  • The Importance of Purity in Worship: Just as the High Priest had to be consecrated and dressed in specific ways, believers today are called to approach God with clean hands and a pure heart, understanding that we serve a holy God.
  • Our Role as a "Royal Priesthood": The New Testament teaches that all believers are part of a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This calls us to live lives of holiness and devotion, representing God in the world and offering spiritual sacrifices of praise and good deeds.
  • God's Attention to Detail: This verse reminds us that God cares about the details. His instructions for the Tabernacle and priesthood were precise, indicating that every aspect of our lives and worship matters to Him.

The blue robe thus serves as a powerful symbol of divine connection, reminding both the wearer and the observer of the heavenly source of the High Priest's authority and the sacredness of his mediating role.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 28:4

    And these [are] the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, 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.

  • Exodus 28:28

    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.

  • Leviticus 8:7

    And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound [it] unto him therewith.

  • Exodus 39:22

    And he made the robe of the ephod [of] woven work, all [of] blue.

  • Exodus 39:26

    A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister [in]; as the LORD commanded Moses.
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