Exodus 28:15–43

The Breastpiece

¹⁵“You ^tare to make an embroidered breastpiece for making decisions. ^uMake it with the same workmanship as the ephod; make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. ¹⁶It must be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. ^v17Place a setting of gemstones ^won it, four rows of stones:

The first row should be

a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald; ^x

¹⁸the second row,

a turquoise, ^ya sapphire, ^zand a diamond; ^a

¹⁹the third row,

a jacinth, ^ban agate, and an amethyst;

²⁰and the fourth row,

a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

They should be adorned with gold filigree in their settings. ²¹The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.

²²“You are to make braided chains ^cof pure gold cord work for the breastpiece. ²³Fashion two gold rings for the breastpiece and attach them to its two corners. ²⁴Then attach the two gold cords to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece. ²⁵Attach the other ends of the two cords to the two filigree settings, and in this way attach them to the ephod’s shoulder pieces in the front. ²⁶Make two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. ²⁷Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam, ^dand above the ephod’s woven waistband. ²⁸The craftsmen are to tie the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the ephod’s waistband and does not come loose from the ephod.

²⁹“Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord. ³⁰Place the Urim and Thummim ^ein the breastpiece for decisions, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the Lord. Aaron will continually carry the means of decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

The Robe

³¹“You ^fare to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue yarn. ³²There should be an opening at its top in the center of it. Around the opening, there should be a woven collar with an opening like that of body armor ^gso that it does not tear. ³³Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn ^hon its lower hem and all around it. Put gold bells between them all the way around, ³⁴so that gold bells and pomegranates alternate around the lower hem of the robe. ³⁵The robe must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the Lord and when he exits, so that he does not die.

The Turban

³⁶“You are to make a pure gold medallion and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal: ⁱ

HOLY TO THE LORD.

³⁷Fasten it to a cord of blue yarn so it can be placed on the turban; the medallion is to be on the front of the turban. ³⁸It will be on Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the guilt ^jconnected with the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate as all their holy gifts. It is always to be on his forehead, so that they may find acceptance with the Lord.

Other Priestly Garments

³⁹“You are to weave the tunic from fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make an embroidered sash. ⁴⁰Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons to give them glory and beauty. ^k41Put these on your brother Aaron and his sons; then anoint, ^lordain, ^mand consecrate ⁿthem, so that they may serve Me as priests. ⁴²Make them linen undergarments ^oto cover their naked bodies; they must extend from the waist ^pto the thighs. ⁴³These must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary area, so that they do not incur guilt ^qand die. This is to be a permanent statute ^rfor Aaron and for his future descendants.