^28:4Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece,¹¹ an ephod,¹² a robe, a fitted¹³ tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons, that they may minister as my priests. ^28:5The artisans¹⁴ are to use¹⁵ the gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.

^28:6“They are to make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, the work of an artistic designer. ^28:7It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be joined together.¹⁶^28:8The artistically woven waistband¹⁷ of the ephod that is on it is to be like it, of one piece with the ephod,¹⁸ of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen.

^28:9“You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,¹⁹^28:10six²⁰ of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the second stone, according to the order of their birth.²¹^28:11You are to engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel with the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a seal;²² you are to have them set²³ in gold filigree²⁴ settings. ^28:12You are to put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod, stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron will bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial.²⁵^28:13You are to make filigree settings of gold ^28:14and two braided chains of pure gold, like a cord, and attach the chains to the settings.

^28:15“You are to make a breastpiece for use in making decisions,²⁶ the work of an artistic designer; you are to make it in the same fashion as the ephod; you are to make it of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen. ^28:16It is to be square²⁷ when²⁸ doubled, nine inches²⁹ long and nine inches wide. ^28:17You are to set in it a setting for stones, four rows of stones, a row with a ruby, a topaz, and a beryl—the first row; ^28:18and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; ^28:19and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; ^28:20and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper.³⁰ They are to be enclosed in gold in their filigree settings. ^28:21The stones are to be for the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, according to the number of³¹ their names. Each name according to the twelve tribes is to be like³² the engravings of a seal.

^28:22“You are to make for the breastpiece braided chains like cords of pure gold, ^28:23and you are to make for the breastpiece two gold rings and attach³³ the two rings to the upper³⁴ two ends of the breastpiece. ^28:24You are to attach the two gold chains to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece; ^28:25the other³⁵ two ends of the two chains you will attach to the two settings and then attach them³⁶ to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it. ^28:26You are to make two rings of gold and put them on the other³⁷ two ends of the breastpiece, on its edge that is on the inner side of the ephod. ^28:27You are to make two more³⁸ gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the juncture above the waistband of the ephod. ^28:28They are to tie the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod by blue cord, so that it may be above the waistband of the ephod, and so that the breastpiece will not be loose from the ephod.

Read in Logos

Exodus 28:4: These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.

Footnotes

11 The breastpiece seems to have been a pouch of sorts or to have had a pocket, since it was folded in some way (28:16; 39:9) and contained the Urim and Thummim (Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8).
12 The word “ephod” is taken over directly from Hebrew, because no one knows how to translate it, nor is there agreement about its design. It refers here to a garment worn by the priests, but the word can also refer to some kind of image for a god (Judg 8:27).
13 The word תָּשְׁבֵּץ (tashbets), which describes the tunic and which appears only in this verse, is related to a verb (also rare) of the same root in 28:39 that describes making the tunic. Their meaning is uncertain (see the extended discussion in C. Houtman, Exodus, 3:473–75). A related noun describes gold fasteners and the “settings,” or “mountings,” for precious stones (28:11, 13, 14, 20, 25; 36:18; 39:6, 13, 16, 18; cf. Ps 45:14). The word “fitted” in 28:4 reflects the possibility that “the tunic is to be shaped by sewing, … so that it will fit tightly around the body” (C. Houtman, Exodus, 3:475).
14 Heb “and they.” The word “artisans” is supplied as the referent of the pronoun, a connection that is clearer in Hebrew than in English.
15 Heb “receive” or “take.”
16 Here the Pual perfect with the vav (ו) consecutive provides the purpose clause (equal to a final imperfect); the form follows the use of the active participle, “attached” or more Heb “joining.”
17 This is the rendering of the word חֵשֶׁב (kheshev), cognate to the word translated “designer” in v. 6. Since the entire ephod was of the same material, and this was of the same piece, it is unclear why this is singled out as “artistically woven.” Perhaps the word is from another root that just describes the item as a “band.” Whatever the connection, this band was to be of the same material, and the same piece, as the ephod, but perhaps a different pattern (S. R. Driver, Exodus, ). It is this sash that attaches the ephod to the priest’s body, that is, at the upper border of the ephod and clasped together at the back.
18 Heb “from it” but meaning “of one [the same] piece”; the phrase “the ephod” has been supplied.
19 Although this is normally translated “Israelites,” here a more literal translation is clearer because it refers to the names of the twelve tribes—the actual sons of Israel.
20 This is in apposition to the direct object of the verb “engrave.” It further defines how the names were to be engraved—six on one and the other six on the other.
21 Heb “according to their begettings” (the major word in the book of Genesis). What is meant is that the names would be listed in the order of their ages.
22 Expert stone or gem engravers were used to engrave designs and names in identification seals of various sizes. It was work that skilled artisans did.
23 Or “you will mount them” ( similar).
24 Or “rosettes,” shield-like frames for the stones. The Hebrew word means “to plait, checker.”
25 This was to be a perpetual reminder that the priest ministers on behalf of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their names would always be borne by the priests.
26 Heb “a breastpiece of decision” (חֹשֶׁן מִשְׁפָּט, khoshen mishpat; so ). The first word, rendered “breastpiece,” is of uncertain etymology. This item was made of material similar to the ephod. It had four rows of three gems on it, bearing the names of the tribes. In it were the urim and thummim. J. P. Hyatt refers to a similar object found in the Egyptian reliefs, including even the twisted gold chains used to hang it from the priest (Exodus [], 282).
27 Heb “four.”
28 “when” is added for clarification (U. Cassuto, Exodus, ).
29 The word זֶרֶת (zeret) is half a cubit; it is often translated “span.”
30 U. Cassuto (Exodus, ) points out that these are the same precious stones mentioned in Ezek 28:13 that were to be found in Eden, the garden of God. So the priest, when making atonement, was to wear the precious gems that were there and symbolized the garden of Eden when man was free from sin.
31 For clarity the words “the number of” have been supplied.
32 The phrase translated “the engravings of a seal” is an adverbial accusative of manner here.
33 Heb “give, put.”
34 Here “upper” has been supplied.
35 Here “the other” has been supplied.
36 Here “them” has been supplied.
37 Here “other” has been supplied.
38 Here “more” has been supplied.