1 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.

2And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

3And 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.

4And 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.

5And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

6And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, ofscarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

7It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

8And 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.

9And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

10Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

11With 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.

12And 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.

13And thou shalt make ouches of gold;

14And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

15And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, ofblue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it..

16Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

17And 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.

18And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

19And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

20And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

21And 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.

22And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends ofwreathen work of pure gold.

23And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

24And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.

25And 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.

26And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which isin the side of the ephod inward.

27And 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.

28And 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.

29And 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.

30And 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.

31And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

32And 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.

33And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates ofblue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:

34A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.

35And 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.

36And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

37And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.

38And 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.

39And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle ofneedlework.

40And 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.

41And 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.

42And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

43And 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.

1 And take thou vnto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sonnes with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister vnto me in the Priests office, euen Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aarons sonnes.

2And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.

3And thou shalt speake vnto all that are wise hearted, whom I haue filled with the spirit of wisedome, that they may make Aarons garments to consecrate him, that hee may minister vnto me in the Priests office.

4And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an Ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a Miter, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sonnes, that hee may minister vnto mee in the Priestes office.

5And they shall take gold, and blew, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linnen.

6 And they shall make the Ephod of gold, of blew and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linnen, with cunning worke.

7It shall haue the two shoulder pieces thereof, ioyned at the two edges thereof; and so it shall bee ioyned together.

8And the curious girdle of the Ephod which is vpon it, shall bee of the same, according to the worke thereof, euen of gold, of blew, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linnen.

9And thou shalt take two Onix stones, and graue on them the names of the children of Israel:

10Sixe of their names on one stone, and the other sixe names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth:

11With the worke of an engrauer in stone; like the engrauings of a signet shalt thou engraue the two stones, with the names of the children of Israel; thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

12And thou shalt put the two stones vpon the shoulders of the Ephod, for stones of memoriall vnto the children of Israel. And Aaron shall beare their names before the Lord, vpon his two shoulders for a memoriall.

13 And thou shalt make ouches of gold;

14And two chaines of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen worke shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chaines to the ouches.

15 And thou shalt make the brestplate of Iudgement, with cunning worke, after the worke of the Ephod thou shalt make it: of gold, of blew, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linnen shalt thou make it.

16Foure square it shall be being doubled; a spanne shalbe the length thereof, and a span shalbe the breadth thereof.

17And thou shalt set in it settings of stones; euen foure rowes of stones: the first row shalbe a Sardius, a Topaz, and a Carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

18And the second row shall be an Emeraude, a Saphir, and a Diamond.

19And the third row a Lygure, an Agate, and an Amethist.

20And the fourth row, a Berill, and an Onix, and a Iasper: they shalbe set in gold in their inclosings.

21And the stones shall bee with the names of the children of Israel, twelue, according to their names, like the engrauings of a signet: euery one with his name shall they bee according to the twelue tribes.

22 And thou shalt make vpon the brestplate chaines at the ends, of wreathen worke, of pure gold.

23And thou shalt make vpon the brestplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two endes of the brestplate.

24And thou shalt put the two wreathen chaines of gold in the two rings, which are on the ends of the brestplate.

25And the other two endes of the two wreathen chaines, thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the Ephod before it.

26 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them vpon the two ends of the breastplate, in the border thereof, which is in the side of the Ephod inward.

27And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the Ephod vnderneath towards the forepart thereof, ouer against the other coupling thereof, aboue the curious girdle of the Ephod.

28And they shall bind the brestplate by the rings thereof, vnto the rings of the Ephod with a lace of blewe, that it may be aboue the curious girdle of the Ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the Ephod.

29And Aaron shal beare the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of iudgement, vpon his heart, when hee goeth in vnto the holy place, for a memoriall before the Lord continually.

30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of iudgement, the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall bee vpon Aarons heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall beare the iudgement of the children of Israel vpon his heart, before the Lord continually.

31 And thou shalt make the robe of the Ephod all of blew.

32And there shall bee an hole in the top of it, in the mids thereof: it shall haue a binding of wouen worke, round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.

33 And beneath vpon the hemme of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blew, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hemme thereof, and belles of gold betweene them round about.

34A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, vpon the hemme of the robe round about.

35And it shall be vpon Aaron, to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in vnto the holy place before the Lord, and when he commeth out, that he die not.

36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and graue vpon it, like the engrauings of a signet, HOLINES TO THE LORD.

37And thou shalt put it on a blewe lace, that it may be vpon the miter; vpon the forefront of the miter it shall be.

38And it shall be vpon Aarons forehead, that Aaron may beare the iniquitie of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow, in all their holy gifts: and it shall be alwayes vpon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.

39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linnen, and thou shalt make the miter of fine linnen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needle worke.

40 And for Aarons sonnes thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beautie.

41And thou shalt put them vpon Aaron thy brother, and his sonnes with him: and shalt annoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctifie them, that they may minister vnto mee in the Priests office.

42And thou shalt make them linnen breeches, to couer their nakednes, from the loines euen vnto the thighes they shall reach.

43And they shall be vpon Aaron, & vpon his sonnes, when they come in vnto the Tabernacle of the Congregation, or when they come neere vnto the Altar to minister in the holy place, that they beare not iniquitie, and die. It shall be a statute for euer vnto him and his seede after him

I == Num 18:7 ; Neb 5:1 , 4

 

 

 

II == Ex 29:5 , 29 ; 31:10 ; 39:1-2 ; Lev 8:7 , 30 ; Num 20:26 , 28

III == Ex 31:3 , 6 ; 35:30-31 ; 36:1

 

 

 

IV == Ex 28:6 , 15 , 31 , 39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Ex 39:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XII == Ex 28:29 ; 39:7 ; Josh 4:7 ; Zech 6:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Ex 39:8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Ex 39:10-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXI === Rev 21:12,13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIX == Ex 28:12

 

 

 

XXX == Lev 8:8 ; Num 27:21 ; Deut 33:8 ; 1st Sam 28:6 ; Ezra 2:63 ; Neh 7:65

 

 

 

XXXI == Ex 39:22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVI == Ex 39:30 ; Zech 14:20

 

 

 

XXXVIII == Ex 28:43 ; Lev 1:4 ; 10:17 ; 22:9 , 27 ; 23:11 ; Num 18:1 ; Isa 53:11 ; 56:7 ; Ezek 4:4-6 ; Jonm 1:29 ; Heb 9:28 ; 1st Peter 2:24

 

 

 

 

XL == Ex 28:4 ; 39:27-29 , 41 ; Ezek 44:17-18

 

 

XLI == Ex 29:7 , 9-35 ; 30:30 ; 40:15 ; Lev 8:1-30 ; 10:7 ; Heb 7:28

 

XLII == Ex 39:28 ; Lev 6:10 ; 16:4 ; Ezek 44:18

 

XLIII == Ex 20:26 ; 27:21 ; Lev 5:1 , 17 ; 17:7 ; 20:19-20 ; 22:9 ; Num 9:13 ; 18:22

1 "From among the Israelites have your brother Aaron, together with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, brought to you, that they may be my priests.

2 For the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron you shall have sacred vestments made.

3 Therefore, to the various expert workmen whom I have endowed with skill, you shall give instructions to make such vestments for Aaron as will set him apart for his sacred service as my priest.

4 These are the vestments they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a brocaded tunic, a miter and a sash. In making these sacred vestments which your brother Aaron and his sons are to wear in serving as my priests,

5 they shall use gold, violet, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

6 "The ephod they shall make of gold thread and of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, embroidered on cloth of fine linen twined.

7 It shall have a pair of shoulder straps joined to its two upper ends.

8 The embroidered belt of the ephod shall extend out from it and, like it, be made of gold thread, of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined.

9 "Get two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:

10 six of their names on one stone, and the other six on the other stone, in the order of their birth.

11 As a gem-cutter engraves a seal, so shall you have the two stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel and then mounted in gold filigree work.

12 Set these two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod as memorial stones of the sons of Israel. Thus Aaron shall bear their names on his shoulders as a reminder before the LORD.

13 Make filigree rosettes of gold,

14 as well as two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, and fasten the cordlike chains to the filigree rosettes.

15 "The breastpiece of decision you shall also have made, embroidered like the ephod with gold thread and violet, purple and scarlet yarn on cloth of fine linen twined.

16 It is to be square when folded double, a span high and a span wide.

17 On it you shall mount four rows of precious stones: in the first row, a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald;

18 in the second row, a garnet, a sapphire and a beryl;

19 in the third row, a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;

20 in the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. These stones are to be mounted in gold filigree work,

21 twelve of them to match the names of the sons of Israel, each stone engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22 "When the chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, have been made for the breastpiece,

23 you shall then make two rings of gold for it and fasten them to the two upper ends of the breastpiece.

24 The gold cords are then to be fastened to the two rings at the upper ends of the breastpiece,

25 the other two ends of the cords being fastened in front to the two filigree rosettes which are attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod.

26 Make two other rings of gold and put them on the two lower ends of the breastpiece, on its edge that faces the ephod.

27 Then make two more rings of gold and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps next to where they join the ephod in front, just above its embroidered belt.

28 Violet ribbons shall bind the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod, so that the breastpiece will stay right above the embroidered belt of the ephod and not swing loose from it.

29 "Whenever Aaron enters the sanctuary, he will thus bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart as a constant reminder before the LORD.

30 In this breastpiece of decision you shall put the Urim and Thummim, that they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus he shall always bear the decisions for the Israelites over his heart in the LORD'S presence.

31 "The robe of the ephod you shall make entirely of violet material.

32 It shall have an opening for the head in the center, and around this opening there shall be a selvage, woven as at the opening of a shirt, to keep it from being torn.

33 All around the hem at the bottom you shall make pomegranates, woven of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen twined, with gold bells between them;

34 first a gold bell, then a pomegranate, and thus alternating all around the hem of the robe.

35 Aaron shall wear it when ministering, that its tinkling may be heard as he enters and leaves the LORD'S presence in the sanctuary; else he will die.

36 "You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, as on a seal engraving, 'Sacred to the LORD.'

37 This plate is to be tied over the miter with a violet ribbon in such a way that it rests on the front of the miter,

38 over Aaron's forehead. Since Aaron bears whatever guilt the Israelites may incur in consecrating any of their sacred gifts, this plate must always be over his forehead, so that they may find favor with the LORD.

39 "The tunic of fine linen shall be brocaded. The miter shall be made of fine linen. The sash shall be of variegated work.

40 "Likewise, for the glorious adornment of Aaron's sons you shall have tunics and sashes and turbans made.

41 With these you shall clothe your brother Aaron and his sons. Anoint and ordain them, consecrating them as my priests.

42 You must also make linen drawers for them, to cover their naked flesh from their loins to their thighs.

43 Aaron and his sons shall wear them whenever they go into the meeting tent or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary, lest they incur guilt and die. This shall be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants.

v 1,2. Aaron had been a prophet under Moses, now he is to be a priest. The sons have equal privilege and responsibility, but we see in Lev. 10:1 how Nadab and Abihu transgressed. Glory here could be translated honor and set Aaron apart from the other people. The garments were very beautiful.

 

v 3-5. It is not likely these Egyptian slaves had previous training, the Lord granted special wisdom to workers to perform this work. These six pieces of the garment are detailed in the rest of the chapter. They are of the same material as the curtains of the tabernacle. The colors and materials in the tabernacle and garments represented:
Blue - Heavenly nature
Purple - Royalty
Scarlet - Sacrifice
Gold - Deity 
Silver - Redemption 
Brass - Judgment 
Fine Linen - Righteousness (Could see the tent, but could not enter court of God’s righteousness except through the one door, Jesus Christ, Jn. 10:7,9.)
Oil - Holy Spirit 
Wood (Acacia, an “incorruptible” wood) - Humanity of Christ
Wood overlaid with gold, each were distinct as were Christ’s deity and humanity 
Ram’s skins and Goats hair - Atonement
Badger’s skins - Humanity or outward appearance of Christ

 

v 6-14, . The ephod was a sleeveless outer garment covering upper body to below the waist, and to which the breastplate was to be attached. Front and back pieces were fastened at the shoulders with an onyx stone like a button. These mounted on each shoulder piece had names of the 12 tribes, 6 on a side, as a memorial to show the high priest was bearing the burden of all of them before the Lord. Christ also bears us. It had an opening in the chest the size to admit the breastplate, and was to be fastened at the waist with a girdle or belt.

 

 

 

v 15-29, The breast piece was doubled so as to make a pocket of a span or up to 9 inches square in which were placed the Urim and Thummim, which were some how used to determine God’s will. The twelve precious stones in gold settings were in four rows of three. A name of each tribe was on each, probably in the same order as on the shoulders. Some question whether the name of Levi was used, or Joseph was omitted with Ephraim and Manasseh in his place, but Josephus confirms the Biblical implication that the twelve sons of Jacob are listed in order of their birth. It was over the heart, as Christ loves us and has us on His heart.
Because of the weight of the stones, two gold chains in large upper rings attached the breastplate securely to the shoulder pieces, but according to Josephus, the chains did not attach to the lower rings as most scholars picture it. Cords of blue secure all the rings to the rings of the ephod, and blue cord was used to fill the opening in the ephod, according to Josephus. The rings were on both the breastplate and the ephod and were hidden on the underside of each.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 30. The names of the tribes were thus upon Aaron’s heart when he went before the Lord. They were over the priest’s heart, as Christ loves us and has us engraved upon His hear, not just His hands, as in Isa. 49:16. The breastplate is called the breastplate of judgment because of the Urim and Thummim. Even Josephus did not know how the unspecified articles, Urim and Thummim worked. Some think they were just direct illumination from the Lord to the mind of the chief priest, but they were definite stone or other objects placed in the pocket according to Lev. 8:8. There was no priest with them in Ezra 2:63 and Neh. 7:65. They mean Lights and Perfection, a definite reference to God, but any explanations are pure speculation.

 

v 31-35, The robe was a long sleeveless garment of blue coming below the knees, and with an opening for the head and binding to keep it from tearing. Josephus says that the opening was slit for a ways down the chest and the back, and being born into the priest family, he should know. As in verse 43, they are to be properly attired when they go in before the Lord or they will die. Some say that a rope was tied to the high priest, and when he went into the Most Holy Place annually, if the bells stopped ringing, they would know he was dead and drag him out. This is totally incorrect as he did not wear this garment when he went in there. He took it off and put on a white linen garment before he entered Lev. 16:4, 23, 24. The bells between the pomegranates would ring when he walked so those outside would know he was performing his duties. The book of Josephus says that he shook the garment so the bells rang when he went to burn incense and offer prayers to the Lord. At that sound, those outside would drop to their knees and pray. Some have even said the clappers of the bells were the pomegranates, but this is not only unscriptural because of their placement, but the bells were pure gold and the pomegranates were of blue, purple and scarlet and twined linen, 39:24,25.

 

v 36-38, The miter, or turban, is made of linen and shaped like the inverted calyx of a flower. Fastened on the front with a blue cord was a gold plate engraved, Holiness To The Lord. It expressed the need of purity before God, and as a representative of the people, he bore their guilt when he appeared before the Lord. He was constantly reminded, Be ye holy for I am holy, Lev. 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:16.

 

v 39-43, To the other garments is added the coat, or tunic. It was white linen reaching nearly to the feet, but they were barefoot as they ministered before the Lord, as Moses was told to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground, Ex. 3:5. The girdle, v 40 is described in 39:29, These are given in reverse order from that which they were actually put on, see 29:5, but this is the order in which they are most important to God. Also of great importance was the breeches, or as we might say short trousers, or underwear, to cover the private area. Even this unseen garment was so important to the Lord, that it’s omission would result in death of the high priest. Verse 40 gives the simplicity of the garments of the other priests, being merely the first garment put on by the high priest. The garments of any of the priests was to be worn only when they were ministering, not at other times. None of these were of wool to cause them to sweat, Ezek. 44:18.
The tabernacle is a picture of the tabernacle in heaven, the colors and materials in the garments point to Christ, and the high priest himself is a picture of Christ. See Heb. 7-9. As we consider these garments, remind ourselves how we should be clothed in order to serve the Lord, Eph. 6:13-18.
(Josephus was a priest himself for many years, knew some things first hand, and he merely confirms that which the Scriptures do not clearly state.)