What number verse is Exodus 39:8 in the Bible?

Exodus 39:8 is the 2,673rd verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Exodus 39:8 sits at position 2,673.

Translation

King James Version

And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

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KJV (with Strong's)

And he made ^H6213 the breastplate ^H2833 of cunning ^H2803 work ^H4639, like the work ^H4639 of the ephod ^H646; of gold ^H2091, blue ^H8504, and purple ^H713, and scarlet ^{H8144 H8438}, and fine twined ^H7806 linen ^H8336.

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Complete Jewish Bible

He made the breastplate; it was crafted by a skilled artisan and made like the work of the ritual vest -of gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen.

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Berean Standard Bible

He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.

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American Standard Version

And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

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World English Bible Messianic

He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.

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Geneva Bible (1599)

Also he made the brestplate of broydred worke like the worke of the Ephod: to wit, of gold, blewe silke, and purple, and skarlet, and fine twined linen.

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Young's Literal Translation

And he maketh the breastplate, work of a designer, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen;

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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Exodus 39:8 meticulously details the construction of the high priest's breastplate, a pivotal component of his sacred vestments, crafted with extraordinary skill and specific, divinely appointed materials. This verse highlights the faithful and precise execution of God's intricate instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings, underscoring the profound artistry and deep symbolic significance inherent in each element designed for holy worship and the high priest's mediatorial office.

CONTEXT

Literary Context: Exodus 39 is situated within the latter portion of the book, which transitions from God's detailed commands for the Tabernacle's construction and priestly garments (beginning in Exodus 25) to the actual fulfillment of these instructions by the Israelite artisans. This chapter, specifically, recounts the fabrication of the sacred vestments for Aaron and his sons, emphasizing the meticulous adherence to the divine blueprint. The breastplate, first commanded in Exodus 28:15, is a central piece, and its creation here serves as a testament to the artisans' skill and their unwavering obedience to God's will. The recurring phrase "as the LORD commanded Moses" throughout Exodus 39 reinforces the theme of divine authority and human faithfulness in the execution of sacred tasks.
Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, priestly attire was far more than mere clothing; it was a potent symbol of status, authority, and the sacred nature of the wearer's office, often reflecting the deity they served. The materials specified for the Tabernacle and its priestly garments—gold, precious stones, fine linens, and richly dyed wools—were exceedingly valuable and frequently associated with royalty and divinity in the broader cultural milieu, thereby reflecting the supreme majesty of Yahweh, the God of Israel. The term "cunning work" (Hebrew: maʻăseh choshev) denotes a highly specialized form of weaving or embroidery, indicating a level of craftsmanship that was not merely human ingenuity but divinely inspired and enabled, as evidenced by God's empowerment of artisans like Bezalel and Oholiab, whom He filled with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for this very task (Exodus 31:3-6). This extraordinary attention to detail underscored the absolute holiness of God and the profound seriousness required in approaching His presence.
Key Themes: This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Exodus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of Divine Instruction and Human Obedience, as the meticulous creation of the breastplate demonstrates the Israelites' faithfulness in following God's precise commands. It also highlights the theme of Holiness and Separation, as the sacred garments set the high priest apart for his unique mediatorial role, emphasizing the purity required to approach a holy God. The use of precious and symbolic materials points to the Glory and Majesty of God, reflecting His inherent worth and the beauty He desires in worship. Furthermore, the breastplate's function of bearing the names of the tribes (as described in Exodus 28:29) foreshadows the theme of Representation and Intercession, a vital aspect of the high priest's office.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

Breastplate (Hebrew, chôshen', H2833): This term refers specifically to the ceremonial gorget worn by the high priest over the ephod. Its name, potentially deriving from a root meaning "to contain" or "to sparkle," aptly describes its function: holding the twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel and containing the Urim and Thummim. It was a central element of the high priest's attire, symbolizing his role in carrying the names and concerns of the people into God's presence.
Cunning work (Hebrew, châshab H2803 with maʻăseh, H2803): The phrase combines maʻăseh (H4639), meaning "work" or "deed," with châshab (H2803), a root meaning "to plait or interpenetrate," "to weave," or "to contrive." This denotes a highly skilled, intricate, and artful design, specifically referring to the work of a master weaver or embroiderer who could integrate complex patterns directly into the fabric rather than merely applying them to the surface. It signifies a supreme degree of artistic and technical proficiency, indicating that the breastplate was not merely functional but a masterpiece of sacred art, reflecting divine inspiration and excellence.
Gold (Hebrew, zâhâb', H2091): Derived from an unused root meaning "to shimmer," zâhâb refers to the precious metal, gold. In the context of the Tabernacle and priestly garments, gold consistently symbolizes divinity, preciousness, purity, and the unblemished glory of God. Its inclusion signifies the sacredness and supreme value of the breastplate and the office it adorned.

Verse Breakdown

"And he made the breastplate": This initial clause directly states the action of the artisans, likely under the inspired leadership of Bezalel and Oholiab. It signifies the faithful execution of God's command to construct this vital piece of the high priest's attire, marking the transition from divine instruction to tangible, sacred artifact.
"[of] cunning work, like the work of the ephod;": This specifies the exceptional quality and intricacy of the craftsmanship. The breastplate was to be fashioned with the same high standard of "cunning work" (skillful, interwoven design) as the ephod, indicating a consistent demand for excellence and precision in all the high priest's most significant garments. This highlights the divine standard of beauty and meticulousness required for sacred objects.
"[of] gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.": This comprehensive list details the rich, symbolic materials used in the breastplate's construction. Each material carried profound theological meaning: gold for divinity and preciousness; blue for heaven and God's glory; purple for royalty and majesty; scarlet for life, blood, and atonement; and fine twined linen for purity and righteousness. Their combination created a garment that visually communicated the grandeur of God and the sacredness of the high priest's mediatorial office.

Literary Devices

Exodus 39:8 employs several literary devices to convey its profound meaning and significance. Symbolism is paramount, as each material—gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen—carries deep theological associations that point to God's character, the nature of sin, and the path to atonement. The phrase "like the work of the ephod" exemplifies Repetition, emphasizing the uniformity and exceptionally high standard of craftsmanship required for all the sacred garments, thereby reinforcing the idea that God's commands were to be followed with absolute precision and excellence. Furthermore, the detailed enumeration of the specific materials serves as a form of Merism, where listing components (colors and materials) represents the comprehensive and specific nature of God's divine design for the breastplate. This meticulous description collectively underscores the divine demand for excellence and holiness in all aspects of worship.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Exodus 39:8 powerfully illustrates God's demand for excellence, beauty, and precision in worship, reflecting His own perfect and glorious character. The meticulous craftsmanship and the rich symbolism of the materials used for the breastplate underscore the absolute holiness of God and the profound seriousness required in approaching His presence. The breastplate, which would bear the names of the tribes of Israel on the high priest's heart, also highlights his representative and mediatorial role, bearing the people's concerns before God. This divinely ordained function powerfully foreshadows the ultimate intercession on behalf of God's people by a greater High Priest.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

The creation of the breastplate, with its "cunning work" and rich symbolic materials, serves as a profound and enduring reminder that God deserves our utmost excellence in every facet of our lives, particularly in our worship and service. Just as the Israelite artisans were divinely gifted and meticulously followed God's precise blueprint for the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, so too are believers today called to steward their unique gifts and talents with diligence and integrity. Our lives are meant to reflect the holiness and glory of God, whether in our spiritual disciplines, our relationships, our vocations, or our contributions to the community of faith. This passage challenges us to consider the intentionality and quality we bring to all our endeavors, recognizing that our lives, like the breastplate, are intended to be a beautiful, purposeful offering, bearing witness to God's character and representing His presence in a broken world.

Questions for Reflection

In what specific areas of your life are you called to demonstrate "cunning work" or excellence for God's glory, going beyond mere duty to offer your best?
How do the symbolic colors and materials of the breastplate (gold, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen) deepen your understanding of God's character and His requirements for holiness in your own life?
Considering the high priest's representative role, symbolized by the breastplate, how does this encourage you in your own calling as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), bearing others before God in prayer and service?

FAQ

What was the primary purpose of the high priest's breastplate?

Answer: The primary purpose of the high priest's breastplate was multifaceted. First, it completed his ceremonial attire, signifying his unique office and holiness before God. More significantly, it was designed to bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel before the Lord, accomplished by twelve precious stones, each engraved with a tribal name, set into the breastplate (Exodus 28:21). This symbolized the high priest's role in representing and interceding for the entire nation in God's presence. It also contained the Urim and Thummim, mysterious objects used for discerning God's will and judgment (Exodus 28:30).

Why were specific colors and materials chosen for the breastplate?

Answer: The specific colors (blue, purple, scarlet) and materials (gold, fine twined linen) were chosen for their profound symbolic meanings, each pointing to a different aspect of God's character, the nature of sin, or the path to redemption. Gold symbolized divinity, preciousness, and purity. Blue represented heaven, the divine, and God's glory. Purple denoted royalty, majesty, and kingly authority. Scarlet often pointed to life, blood, and atonement, powerfully foreshadowing sacrifice. Fine twined linen signified purity, righteousness, and holiness. Together, these elements created a rich visual theological statement, emphasizing the grandeur of God's presence and the weighty responsibility of the high priest as mediator.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The meticulous creation of the high priest's breastplate, with its exquisite "cunning work" and rich symbolic materials, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant high priest, bearing the names of Israel on his heart, served as a powerful type of the true and eternal High Priest. Unlike the Levitical priests who offered animal sacrifices and wore symbolic garments, Jesus entered the true heavenly sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own precious blood, securing an eternal redemption for His people (Hebrews 9:11-12). The gold, symbolizing divinity and preciousness, points directly to Christ's divine nature as the Son of God. The blue, representing heaven, foreshadows His heavenly origin and His glorious ascension to the Father's right hand (Acts 1:9-11). The purple, denoting royalty, proclaims Jesus as the sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose dominion is eternal (Revelation 19:16). The scarlet, signifying blood and atonement, powerfully prefigures His sacrificial death on the cross, through which He shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins, establishing a new covenant (Matthew 26:28). Finally, the fine twined linen, representing purity and righteousness, speaks of Christ's perfect, sinless life, which He offered as a spotless lamb, redeeming us not with perishable things but with His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Thus, the breastplate, a masterpiece of human skill and divine design, beautifully anticipates the perfect person and work of Christ, who truly bears His people on His heart, intercedes for them eternally, and provides the ultimate and enduring access to God.

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Commentary on Exodus 39 verses 1–31

1 ¶ And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.

2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.

4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.

5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.

6 And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.

7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

8 And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9 It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.

10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.

11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.

14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.

15 And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.

16 And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.

17 And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.

18 And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.

19 And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward.

20 And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.

21 And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.

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

23 And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.

24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.

25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;

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.

27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,

28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,

29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

31 And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.

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.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–31. 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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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.
Leviticus 8:8
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
Leviticus 8:9
And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Isaiah 59:17
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Exodus 28:13
And thou shalt make ouches of gold;
Exodus 28:29
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.