CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 28
Chapter 28 of 40
Chapter Overview
What happens in Exodus 28
God gives instructions for making the sacred clothing that Aaron and his sons must wear when serving as priests. The clothing include a priestly vest, a breastpiece with twelve precious stones, a blue robe with bells, and a gold plate engraved with 'Holy to the Lord.'
Scripture
Exodus 28
The Priestly Garments
Study note
God appointed Aaron and his sons as priests. Special clothing were needed to set them apart for their sacred role. These clothes were to be made by skilled craftsmen using the finest materials.
1 "From among all the Israelites, bring forward your brother Aaron and his sons — Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They will serve me as priests." And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
2 "Make holy clothing for your brother Aaron that will show honor and beauty." And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
3 "Talk to every gifted craftsman — the ones I have filled with special wisdom — and have them create Aaron's clothing. These clothes will mark him as someone set apart to serve me as priest." And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
4 "Here is what they need to make: a breastpiece, a priestly vest, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. These sacred clothing are for Aaron and his sons so they can serve me as priests." 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.
5 "The materials they should use are gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen." And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
The Priestly Vest and Shoulder Stones
Study note
The priestly vest, called an ephod, was a beautifully crafted garment of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Two onyx stones were set on the shoulders, each engraved with six names of the twelve tribes. This symbolized the high priest carrying the people before God.
6 "Make the priestly vest using gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen. It must all be skillfully woven together." And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
7 "Attach two shoulder straps at the top edges so the vest can be fastened together." It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.
8 "The belt around the waist must be one piece with the vest. Use the same things to make it. Use gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine twisted linen." And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9 "Get two onyx stones and engrave the names of Israel's twelve sons on them." And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
10 "Put six names on each stone, arranged in birth order." Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.
11 "Have a professional gem engraver carve the names into the stones the way someone carves a seal. Then set the stones in gold frames." With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
12 "Secure these two stones onto the shoulder straps of the priestly vest. Aaron will carry the names of Israel's sons on his shoulders whenever he enters the Lord's presence — as a constant reminder." And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.
13 "Create gold settings for the stones," And thou shalt make ouches of gold;
14 "and fashion two chains of pure gold, braided like rope. Attach these gold chains to the settings." And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.
The Breastpiece of Decision
Study note
The breastpiece was a square pocket of fabric holding twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of an Israelite tribe. It also contained the Urim and Thummim, sacred objects used to determine God's will in important decisions. The high priest wore this over his heart, symbolizing that he brought the people's needs before God.
15 "Create a breastpiece that will be used for seeking God's decisions. It should be crafted with the same expert skill as the priestly vest — using gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen." 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 "Make it square and folded double — nine inches by nine inches." Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
17 "Mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row: a ruby, a topaz, and a beryl." 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 "The second row: a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald." And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 "The third row: a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst." And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 "The fourth row: a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount each gem in a gold frame." And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21 "There should be twelve stones total, one representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Engrave each stone like a seal with the name of its corresponding tribe." 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 "For the breastpiece, create braided chains of pure gold, twisted like rope." And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.
23 "Attach two gold rings to the two top corners of the breastpiece." 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 "Thread the two gold rope chains through the rings at the top corners of the breastpiece." And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25 "Connect the other ends of both chains to the two gold settings that sit on the shoulder straps of the priestly vest, at the front." 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 "Make two more gold rings. Fasten them to the lower inside corners of the breastpiece, on the side facing the priestly vest." 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 "Make two more gold rings. Attach them to the front of the priestly vest, near the bottom of the shoulder straps, right near the seam above the belt." 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 "Use blue cord to tie the bottom rings of the breastpiece to the rings on the vest. This keeps the breastpiece snug against the belt and prevents it from swinging loose." 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 "Aaron will go into the Holy Place. He will wear the breastpiece with the names of Israel's twelve sons over his heart. He will keep them always before the Lord." 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 "Put the Urim and Thummim inside the breastpiece so they rest over Aaron's heart when he comes before the Lord. This way, Aaron will always carry the way of learning God's choices for the Israelites right over his heart in the Lord's presence." 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.
Other Priestly Garments
Study note
The robe was entirely blue with pomegranates and gold bells around the hem. The bells sounded as the high priest moved, indicating he was alive and acceptable before God. A gold plate on his turban was engraved 'Holy to the Lord.' All of Aaron's sons also received tunics, sashes, and caps for their priestly service.
31 "Make the robe that goes under the priestly vest entirely from blue fabric." And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32 "Leave an opening at the top for the head, centered in the garment. Reinforce the opening with a woven collar so the fabric does not tear." And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
33 "Around the bottom hem of the robe, attach pomegranates made from blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Place gold bells between them all around." And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34 "Go all the way around the hem. Alternate like this: gold bell, then fruit shape. Gold bell, then fruit shape. Keep going around the entire bottom edge." A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
35 "Aaron must wear this robe whenever he ministers as priest. People will hear the bells chiming when he walks into the Holy Place before the Lord and when he walks out. This will keep him safe from death." And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and 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.
36 "Shape a plate from pure gold and engrave on it — just like carving a seal — the words: HOLY TO THE LORD." And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37 "Attach it to the front of the turban using a blue cord." And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
38 "It will rest on Aaron's forehead. By wearing it, Aaron takes on any blame tied to the holy offerings that the Israelites bring. It must stay on his forehead at all times. That way the Lord will accept the offerings." And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
39 "Weave a tunic from fine linen. Craft the turban from fine linen as well. And make the sash with colorful embroidered work." And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
40 "For Aaron's sons, make tunics, sashes, and head coverings. These will give them a proper, honored look." And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
41 "Dress your brother Aaron and each of his sons in these clothing. Then anoint them, formally install them in their roles, and set them apart as holy — so they can serve me as priests." And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
42 "Also make linen underclothes for them. They should cover from the waist to the thighs, so their bodies are properly covered." And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
43 "Aaron and his sons must always wear these when entering the Tent of Meeting or when approaching the altar to minister in the Holy Place. If they do not, they will be held guilty and will die. This is a permanent rule for Aaron and every priest who comes after him." And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.
Key Themes
Themes in Exodus 28
The priesthood as mediators between God and peopleSacred garments reflecting holiness and beautyThe high priest carries the people on his heartDetailed preparation for serving God
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Exodus 9-12 Hebrews 7:24-25
Aaron's role as high priest who carries the people before God foreshadows Jesus, who 'always lives to intercede' for His people.
Exodus 36 Revelation 22:4
The gold plate inscribed 'Holy to the Lord' on Aaron's turban foreshadows the day when God's name will be written on the foreheads of His people.
Apply This Today
Living Exodus 28
Aaron wore the names of the twelve tribes on his shoulders and over his heart. Every time He entered God's presence, He carried the people with Him. This is a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for us — He carries our names before the Father, interceding for us with a love that never stops.
Go Deeper
Study Exodus in Covenant Path
Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.