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Commentary on Exodus 39 verses 1–31
In this account of the making of the priests' garments, according to the instructions given (ch. 28), we may observe, 1. That the priests' garments are called here clothes of service, Exo 39:1. Note, Those that wear robes of honour must look upon them as clothes of service; for from those upon whom honour is put service is expected. It is said of those that are arrayed in white robes that they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, Rev 7:13, Rev 7:15. Holy garments were not made for men to sleep in, or to strut in, but to do service in; and then they are indeed for glory and beauty. The Son of man himself came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. 2. That all the six paragraphs here, which give a distinct account of the making of these holy garments, conclude with those words, as the Lord commanded Moses, Exo 39:5, Exo 39:7, Exo 39:21, Exo 39:26, Exo 39:29, Exo 39:31. The like is not in any of the foregoing accounts, as if in these, more than any other of the appurtenances of the tabernacle, they had a particular regard to the divine appointment, both for warrant and for direction. It is an intimation to all the Lord's ministers to make the word of God their rule in all their ministrations, and to act in observance of and obedience to the command of God. 3. That these garments, in conformity to the rest of the furniture of the tabernacle, were very rich and splendid; the church in its infancy was thus taught, thus pleased, with the rudiments of this world; but now under the gospel, which is the ministration of the Spirit, to affect and impose such pompous habits as the church of Rome does, under pretence of decency and instruction, is to betray the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and to entangle the church again in the bondage of those carnal ordinances which were imposed only till the time of reformation. 4. That they were all shadows of good things to come, but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel; when therefore the substance has come, it is a jest to be fond of the shadow. (1.) Christ is our great high-priest; when he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service - he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which he received not by measure - girded himself with the curious girdle of resolution, to go through with his undertaking - charged himself with the curious girdle of resolution, to go through with his undertaking - charged himself with all God's spiritual Israel, bore them on his shoulders, carried them in his bosom, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them in the breast-plate of judgment unto his Father. And (lastly) he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness: now consider how great this man is. (2.) True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made is the righteousness of saints (Rev 19:8), and Holiness to the Lord must be so written upon their foreheads that all who converse with them may see, and say, that they bear the image of God's holiness, and are devoted to the praise of it.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 39:25 meticulously describes the crafting of the high priestly robe, specifically detailing the precise arrangement of pure gold bells alternating with pomegranates along its hem. This verse is part of the larger account of the Tabernacle's construction, emphasizing the craftsmen's faithful and exact adherence to God's divine instructions given to Moses, thereby underscoring the sacredness and profound symbolic significance of every element of the High Priest's attire for his mediatorial role.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound meaning and significance. Repetition is prominently featured in the phrase "between the pomegranates," which appears twice within the verse. This reiteration serves to emphasize the precise alternating pattern and the meticulous adherence to God's design, underscoring the importance of order, exactness, and divine specificity in sacred worship. Symbolism is paramount, with the pure gold bells representing the High Priest's audible, authorized presence before God and the pomegranates symbolizing fruitfulness, abundance, and the blessings associated with God's covenant. The combination of sound and visual beauty creates a rich tapestry of meaning, where each element contributes to a deeper understanding of the High Priest's role. Furthermore, the entire garment, including its specific components, functions as Synecdoche (a type of metonymy), where the part (the bells and pomegranates) stands for the whole (the High Priest's sacred office and his mediatorial function). The sound of the bells, in particular, is a synecdoche for the High Priest's very life and authorized presence in the Holy Place, signifying his ritual purity and the divine acceptance of his approach.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 39:25, in its detailed description of the High Priest's garments, speaks profoundly to the themes of divine holiness, the necessity of mediation, and the beauty of ordered worship. The meticulous crafting of the pure gold bells and pomegranates underscores God's demand for perfection and purity in all that pertains to His presence. The High Priest's attire was not merely ceremonial; it was a visual and auditory declaration of his consecrated role, enabling him to approach a holy God on behalf of an unholy people. This divine order and attention to detail reflect God's character and His desire for humanity to approach Him with reverence, understanding the gravity of His presence. The bells ensured his life and announced his authorized approach, while the pomegranates symbolized the fruitfulness of his ministry, a balance between the proclamation of God's truth and the evidence of spiritual life and blessing.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The intricate design of the High Priest's robe, with its bells and pomegranates, offers profound lessons for believers today. While we no longer live under the Old Covenant's Levitical priesthood, the principles of reverence, intentionality, and the balance between proclamation and spiritual fruit remain vitally relevant. As a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), we are called to approach God with holiness and to represent Him to the world. Our lives should produce both a clear "sound"—a consistent testimony, the bold proclamation of the Gospel, and worship that honors God—and visible "fruit"—the evidence of the Holy Spirit's transforming work in our character, reflected in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This verse reminds us that God cares about the details of our obedience and the integrity of our walk. Our "garments" of righteousness and our "ministry" should reflect both the truth we speak and the life we live, ensuring our approach to God and our witness to the world are both reverent and fruitful, bringing glory to His name.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the bells on the High Priest's robe so important, and what was their primary function?
Answer: The bells on the High Priest's robe were critically important for both ritual purity and the High Priest's safety. According to Exodus 28:35, "his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not." This indicates that the sound of the bells served as an audible signal to God that the High Priest was alive, moving, and performing his duties in the Holy Place. It was a constant affirmation of his authorized presence and reverence in God's holy dwelling. Without this audible confirmation, it was believed that he could be struck dead by God for an irreverent or unauthorized approach to the divine presence. The bells thus underscored the immense holiness of God and the strict requirements for approaching Him, ensuring that the High Priest's life was preserved for the continuation of his sacred duties.
What did the pomegranates symbolize in conjunction with the bells?
Answer: The pomegranates, woven into the hem of the High Priest's robe in alternation with the bells, carried significant symbolic meaning. As a fruit with many seeds, the pomegranate traditionally symbolized fertility, abundance, and blessing in the ancient world. In the context of the High Priest's garment, they likely represented the fruitfulness of his priestly ministry, the spiritual prosperity and blessings bestowed upon the nation of Israel through his intercession, and the beauty of God's divine design for worship. While the bells represented the "sound" or proclamation of his presence and authorized ministry, the pomegranates represented the "fruit" or visible evidence of spiritual life and blessing. Their alternating pattern suggested a harmonious balance between the High Priest's active service (sound) and the resulting spiritual vitality and abundance (fruit) for the community, reflecting the holistic nature of God's covenant relationship with His people.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 39:25, with its description of the High Priest's divinely ordained garments, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. The Old Testament High Priest, adorned with bells and pomegranates, served as a type, a shadow of the perfect reality to come (Hebrews 8:5). The pure gold bells, signaling the High Priest's authorized presence before God, point to Jesus, who, by His own blood, entered the true heavenly sanctuary "once for all" (Hebrews 9:12), not needing bells to announce His approach, for He is eternally pure and perfectly acceptable to the Father. His presence before God is not merely audible but eternally effective, ensuring our access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Likewise, the pomegranates, symbolizing fruitfulness and blessing, are fully realized in Christ. His ministry is not merely fruitful but the very source of all spiritual fruit and abundance for His people. He is the true vine, and we are the branches, bearing much fruit through our vital connection to Him (John 15:5). Through His perfect sacrifice and ongoing intercession, Christ provides not only access to God but also the abundant life and spiritual blessings that the Old Covenant symbols could only foreshadow. He is the High Priest whose "sound" of perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice echoes eternally, and whose "fruit" is the salvation and sanctification of His people, a beauty far surpassing any earthly garment.