Exodus 28

1 “Next, have your brother [relative, close kin] Aaron [the brother of Moses and first high priest] brought to you from among the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob], along with his sons [male descendants, heirs] Nadab [generous], Abihu [my father is he], Eleazar [God has helped], and Ithamar [island of palms, or coast of palms], to serve [minister, attend] Me [the Lord, God Almighty] as priests [spiritual leaders, mediators]. word study 2 Make [create, bring into existence] holy [set-apart, sacred] garments [clothing, robes] for your brother [male sibling, close relative] Aaron [the first high priest], to give him [bestow upon him] glory [great honor, splendor] and [along with] splendor [beauty, dignity]. word study 3 You are to instruct [speak to, command] all the skilled [wise-hearted, cunning] craftsmen, whom I have filled [made full of, endowed with] with a spirit [breath of life, divine influence] of wisdom [prudence, good judgment], to make [create, construct] garments [clothing, robes] for Aaron’s [the first high priest] consecration [sanctification, setting apart], so that he may serve [minister, officiate] Me as priest [one who mediates between God and man]. word study 4 These [specific, appointed] are the garments [holy vestments, sacred clothing] that they shall make: a breastpiece [sacred pouch, for holding the Urim and Thummim], an ephod [special vest, ceremonial garment], a robe [outer garment, long coat], a woven [broidered, embroidered] tunic [long shirt, undergarment], a turban [mitre, head-dress], and a sash [girdle, belt]. They are to make these holy [set-apart, sacred] garments for your brother Aaron [the first high priest] and his sons, so that they may serve [minister, officiate] Me as priests [spiritual leaders, mediators]. word study 5 They [the skilled workmen] shall use gold [a valuable metal], along with blue [describing the color obtained from a specific type of mussel], purple [the color of royal garments], and scarlet [a deep red color, like crimson] yarn [or thread], and fine linen [luxurious clothing]. word study 6 They are to make the ephod [a special vest worn by priests] of finely spun linen [fine twined linen, luxurious clothing] embroidered with gold [a valuable metal], and with blue [describing the color obtained from a specific type of mussel], purple [royal color, describing dyed fabric], and scarlet [deep red color, from the coccus ilicis insect] yarn [thread, twisted fiber]. word study 7 It shall have two [a pair, dual] shoulder pieces [upper ends of the arm, where garments hang] attached at two [a pair, dual] of its corners [ends, edges], so it can be [to unite, join together, charming or spellbinding] fastened [joined together, closed]. word study 8 And the skillfully woven [beautifully worked, intricate] waistband [girdle, sash] of the ephod [a special priestly garment] must be of one piece, of the same workmanship [deed, craftsmanship]—with gold [a valuable metal], with blue [a blue-violet dye], purple [a deep rich color], and scarlet [shani, a bright red color] yarn, and with finely spun [twined, twisted] linen [a fine white fabric]. word study 9 Take [get, acquire] two [a pair, a duo] onyx stones [shoham, precious gems] and engrave [carve, open] on them [upon, above] the names [identities, reputations] of the sons [descendants, children] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people]: word study 10 six [a specific number, exactly half] of their names [identities] on one [the first, singular] stone [a precious gem] and the remaining [left over, still to be inscribed] six [the other half, completing the total] on the other [second, additional], in the order [sequence, arrangement] of their birth [generation, lineage, as a family]. word study 11 Engrave [cut or carve, like a signet] the names [identities, reputations] of the sons [descendants, children] of Israel [God’s chosen people] on the two [a pair, dual] stones [precious gems, rocks] the way [in the manner of] a gem cutter [jeweller, skilled artisan] engraves [cuts, carves] a seal [signet, official mark]. Then mount [set, enclose] the stones in gold [precious metal, valuable resource] filigree [intricate, ornate] settings [frames, enclosures]. word study 12 Fasten both stones [as reminders, for memorial] on the shoulder pieces [upper ends of the arm, where garments hang] of the ephod [a special vest] as memorial stones [reminders of important events] for the sons [descendants, children] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest] is to bear [lift, carry, represent] their names [identities, characters] on his two shoulders [a reminder of his role] as a memorial [a reminder] before [in the presence of] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, The covenant Name of God]. word study 13 Fashion [make, create] gold [valuable, brilliant] filigree [intricate, embroidered] settings [ornamental, ouches] word study 14 and two [a pair, a duo] chains of pure [unmixed, refined] gold, made of braided [twisted, intertwined] cord work [like a wreath or garland]; and attach [fasten, join] these chains to the settings [filigree, intricate jewelry work]. word study 15 You are also to make a breastpiece [sacred pouch] of judgment with the same workmanship [cunning work, skillful design] as the ephod [special vest, priestly garment]. Construct it with gold [valuable metal], with blue [violet dye], purple [royal color], and scarlet [worm-based dye, deep red] yarn, and with finely spun [twined, intricately woven] linen [fine white fabric, luxurious material]. word study 16 It must be [foursquare, perfectly square] square when folded over [doubled, repeated] double, a [distance from thumb to little finger, half a cubit] span long and a [same measure, equal width] span wide. word study 17 And mount on it a setting [arrangement, enclosure] of gemstones [precious stones, jewels], four [a simple counting number, a quantity of things] rows [lines, sequences] of stones: In the first row [initial line, beginning sequence] there shall be a ruby [sardius, red gemstone], a topaz [yellow gemstone], and an emerald [carbuncle, green gemstone]; word study 18 in the second row [of precious stones] a turquoise [or emerald, green gemstone], a sapphire [blue gemstone], and a diamond [or jasper, very hard stone]; word study 19 in the third row a jacinth [a precious gem, possibly ligure], an agate [a sparkling gemstone, possibly turquoise or hematite], and an amethyst [a purple gemstone, possibly opal]; word study 20 and in the fourth [last of a series] row a beryl [possibly a topaz or yellow jasper], an onyx [a precious gemstone, possibly green or blue], and a jasper [a valuable stone]. Mount these stones in gold [a valuable metal] filigree [intricately woven, embroidered] settings [enclosures, frames]. word study 21 The twelve [according to their names] stones are to correspond to the names [fame, renown, reputation] of the sons [descendants, children] of Israel, each engraved [with intricate designs, like the engravings of a signet] like a seal [a ring used to sign important documents] with the name [fame, renown, reputation] of one of the twelve tribes [clans, families]. word study 22 For the breastpiece [sacred pouch, priest’s bag], make braided chains [twisted lace] like cords [wreathed work, intertwined threads] of pure [clean, ceremonially untainted] gold [valuable metal]. word study 23 You are also to make [create, bring into existence] two [a pair, dual] gold [valuable, precious] rings [signets] and fasten [attach, put] them to the two [a pair, dual] corners [ends, edges] of the breastpiece [sacred pouch, the high priest’s garment]. word study 24 Then fasten [attach, put] the two [a pair, dual] gold [valuable, brilliant] chains [cords, wreathen] to the two [a pair, dual] gold [precious, yellow] rings [signets, ornaments] at the corners [ends, edges] of the breastpiece [sacred pouch, high priest’s garment], word study 25 and fasten the other ends [opposite, terminal points] of the two [a pair, dual] chains to the two filigree [intricate, woven] settings, attaching them to the shoulder [upper arm, joint] pieces of the ephod [sacred vest, priestly garment] at the front [before, in the presence of]. word study 26 Make [create, bring into being] two more gold [valuable, brilliant] rings [a ring or signet] and attach them to the other two corners [ends, edges] of the breastpiece [sacred pouch, containing the Urim and Thummim], on the inside edge [lip, border] next to [toward, adjacent to] the ephod [special vest, priestly garment]. word study 27 Make two additional [further, more] gold [valuable, precious] rings and attach them to the bottom [lower part, underneath] of the two shoulder pieces [upper ends of the arm, where garments hang] of the ephod [special vest, priestly garment], on its front [face, presence], near its seam [joining, connection] just above [higher than, over] its woven [skilfully made, intricate] waistband [decorative belt, strap]. word study 28 The rings [signets] of the breastpiece [sacred pouch, containing the Urim and Thummim] shall be tied [bound, fastened securely] to the rings [signets] of the ephod [special vest, priestly garment] with a cord [thread, ribbon] of blue [violet, heavenly color] yarn, so that the breastpiece [sacred pouch, containing the Urim and Thummim] is above [upon, resting on] the waistband [decorative belt, artwork] of the ephod [special vest, priestly garment] and does not swing out [loosen, displace] from the ephod [special vest, priestly garment]. word study 29 Whenever Aaron [the first high priest] enters the Holy Place [a sacred or set-apart area], he shall bear [carry, lift up] the names [identities, reputations] of the sons [descendants, children] of Israel [God’s chosen people] over his heart [inner being, emotions] on the breastpiece [a sacred pouch] of judgment [justice, righteousness], as a continual [constant, ongoing] reminder [memorial, remembrance] before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 30 And place the Urim [sacred stones, objects of divine decision] and Thummim [perfect truths, revelations of God’s will] in the breastpiece [sacred pouch] of judgment [justice, righteous decision], so that they will also be over Aaron’s [the high priest, leader of Israel] heart [inner being, conscience, emotions] whenever he comes before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. Aaron will continually [constantly, without interruption] carry the judgment [decisions, discernment] of the sons of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] over his heart [inner being, conscience, emotions] before the LORD [in God’s presence, under divine scrutiny]. word study 31 You are to make [create, bring into existence] the robe [outer garment] of the ephod [special vest, priestly garment] entirely [completely, all of] of blue [violet] cloth [fabric, material], word study 32 with an opening [at the top, in the midst] at its top in the center [of the garment]. Around the opening [like the hole of a coat of mail, a garment] shall be a woven [as it were, a work of a weaver] collar with an opening [edged with a band, to make it strong] like that of a garment [or habergeon, a type of armor], so that it will not [be rent or] tear. word study 33 Make pomegranates [purple, and scarlet, like royal garments] of blue [a deep blue-violet color], purple [a rich purple dye], and scarlet [a deep red color from the worm] yarn all the way around [surrounding, encompassing] the lower hem [the bottom edge of the robe], with gold [a valuable, brilliant metal] bells [a struck bell] between them [in their midst, centrally located], word study 34 alternating [in a regular pattern, one after another] the gold [valuable, highly esteemed] bells [a struck sound maker] and pomegranates [a fruit] around [encompassing, surrounding] the lower [bottom edge, skirt] hem [the edge of a garment, a border] of the robe [a long outer garment]. word study 35 Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] must wear the robe [a sacred garment] whenever he ministers [serves, performs his priestly duties], and its sound [a ringing, a voice] will be heard [clearly audible, a warning signal] when he enters [goes into, approaches] or exits [comes out, departs from] the sanctuary [the Holy Place, a sacred area] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], so that he will not die [perish, suffer the penalty of death]. word study 36 You are to make [create, bring into being] a plate of pure [clean, untainted] gold [a valuable, brilliant metal] and engrave [carve, cut] on it as on a seal [signet, official ring]: HOLY [set apart, dedicated] TO THE LORD [Yehovah, the one true God]. word study 37 Fasten to it a blue [violet] cord [thread, lace] to mount it on the [turban, miter, diadem] turban; it shall be on the front [forefront, face] of the turban [head-dress, mitre]. word study 38 And it will be worn on Aaron’s [the first high priest] forehead, so that he may bear [lift, carry, and atone for] the iniquity [moral evil, sin] of the holy things [set-apart gifts, sacred offerings] that the sons of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] consecrate [set apart, sanctify] with regard to all [everything, every aspect] their holy gifts [sacrificial offerings, presents to God]. It shall always [continually, constantly] be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable [pleasing, delightful] before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 39 You are to weave [with intricate patterns, embroider] the tunic [long, shirt-like garment] with fine linen [white, luxurious fabric], make the turban [diadem] of fine linen [pure white], and fashion [create, make] an embroidered [with needlework, woven] sash [girdle, belt]. word study 40 Make [long, shirt-like] tunics, sashes, and [turbans or] headbands for Aaron’s [first high priest] sons, to give them [great honor or] glory and [lovely, glorious] splendor. word study 41 After you put [clothe, wrap around] these garments on your brother Aaron [the first high priest, Moses’ brother] and his sons, anoint [rub oil on, set apart] them, ordain [consecrate, appoint] them, and consecrate [set apart as holy, sanctify] them so that they may serve Me [as their Lord, in a priestly role] as priests [ministers, spiritual leaders]. word study 42 Make [linen breeches, undershorts] linen undergarments [to conceal private parts, for modesty] to cover [hide from view, conceal] their bare [naked, exposed] flesh [body, physical form], extending [reaching, going] from waist [loins, small of the back] to thigh [side, area of strength]. word study 43 Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] and his sons must wear them whenever they enter [come into, go in to] the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle of the congregation, a sacred place] or approach [draw near, come near to] the altar [a place of sacrifice] to minister [serve, worship, offer sacrifices] in the Holy Place [a sacred or set-apart area, the temple], so that they will not incur [bear, commit] guilt [iniquity, moral evil, sin] and die [be put to death, suffer the consequences]. This is to be a permanent [lasting, eternal, forever] statute [law, ordinance, rule] for Aaron and his descendants [seed, offspring, those who come after him]. word study