Exodus 28
Exodus 28 gives detailed instructions about the special garments that the priests are to wear when they serve before God. The chapter describes the high priest’s garments—including the ephod, breastpiece, robe, turban, and other elements—as well as the garments of the other priests. The overall theme is that those who draw near to God in priestly service must be set apart in holiness.
1verse“Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office: Aaron, with Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
2verseYou shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3verseYou shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
4verseThese are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
5verseThey shall use the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
6verse“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
7verseIt shall have two shoulder straps joined to the two ends of it, that it may be joined together.
8verseThe skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9verseYou shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel.
10verseSix of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth.
11verseWith the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel. You shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold.
12verseYou shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial.
13verseYou shall make settings of gold,
14verseand two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the settings.
15verse“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it.
16verseIt shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length, and a span its width.
17verseYou shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
18verseand the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
19verseand the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20verseand the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.
21verseThe stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes.
22verseYou shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
23verseYou shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24verseYou shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
25verseThe other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart.
26verseYou shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.
27verseYou shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
28verseThey shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod.
29verseAaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
30verseYou shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before the LORD continually.
31verse“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32verseIt shall have a hole for the head in the middle of it. It shall have a binding of woven work around its hole, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it not be torn.
33verseOn its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold between and around them:
34versea golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
35verseIt shall be on Aaron to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before the LORD, and when he comes out, that he not die.
36verse“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’
37verseYou shall put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be on the sash. It shall be on the front of the sash.
38verseIt shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
39verseYou shall weave the tunic with fine linen. You shall make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of the embroiderer.
40verse“You shall make tunics for Aaron’s sons. You shall make sashes for them. You shall make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty.
41verseYou shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office.
42verseYou shall make them linen pants to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the waist even to the thighs.
43verseThey shall be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy place, that they don’t bear iniquity, and die. This shall be a statute forever to him and to his offspring after him.
The Composition and Symbolism of the Priestly Garments
The priestly garments mentioned in the passage carry symbolic meaning in each part. On the ephod and the breastpiece, the names of the twelve tribes are engraved on stones, indicating that the priest represents the whole people. Every item of clothing—such as the inner garments, the outer robe, the sash, and the turban—is specified with great precision, emphasizing the purity and distinctness of the one who comes before God. It is especially worth noting that the Urim and Thummim are placed inside the breastpiece so that the priest can inquire into God’s will.
The Holiness and Responsibility of the Priestly Office
Chapter 28 repeatedly emphasizes the sacredness and responsibility of the priestly office through phrases such as “to make them holy” and “let them perform their duties for Me.” It shows that this is not merely about outward splendor, but that the priest must be set apart as holy—not only spiritually but also morally—so that he can serve as a mediator between God and the people.
Reflection Points
- What attitude of heart and way of life should one have when approaching God’s presence? This prompts you to reflect on the value of holiness.
- In the life of a believer today, you can also think about what it means to be “set apart as holy.”
Personal Application
- Today, consider what kind of holiness God wants to display through your life and how you can practice it in ordinary situations.
- When you come before God, prepare your heart and actions, and choose to live with reverence.
