Exodus Chapter 39

Commentary

The Ephod

(Exodus 28:6-14)

1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.

2And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. 4They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. 5And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.

6And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. 7And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece

(Exodus 28:15-30)

8And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. 10And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. 11And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. 14And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 15And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. 16And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. 17And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. 18And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. 19And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. 20And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 21And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Additional Priestly Garments

(Exodus 28:31-43)

22And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 24And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; 26A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.

27And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 31And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Moses Approves the Work

32Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. 33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets, 34And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, 35The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, 36The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, 37The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light, 38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, 40The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office. 42According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Ephod
(Exodus 28:6–14)

1 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. 4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. At the two ends it was joined together. 5 The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. 7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece
(Exodus 28:15–30)

8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its breadth a span, being double. 10 They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; 11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. 14 The stones were 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, for the twelve tribes. 15 They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. 16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front. 19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. 20 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Additional Priestly Garments
(Exodus 28:31–43)

22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 The opening of the robe in its midst was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn. 24 They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25 They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates; 26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

27 They made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29 and the sash of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it a writing, like the engravings of a signet: “HOLY TO YAHWEH.” 31 They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Moses Approves the Work

32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses; so they did. 33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 34 the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen, 35 the ark of the testimony with its poles, the mercy seat, 36 the table, all its vessels, the show bread, 37 the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light, 38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent, 39 the bronze altar, its grating of brass, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base, 40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting, 41 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. 42 According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. 43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as Yahweh had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

The Ephod
(Exodus 28:6–14)

1 From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

2 Bezalel made a the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. 4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 5 And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. 7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece
(Exodus 28:15–30)

8 He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. 9 It was square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide. b

10 And they mounted on it four rows of gemstones: c

The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;

11 the second row had a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

12 the third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

13 and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings.

14 The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

15 For the breastpiece they made braided chains like cords of pure gold. 16 They also made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the two rings to the two corners of the breastpiece. 17 Then they fastened the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 18 and they fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

19 They made two more gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.

20 They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband. 21 Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Additional Priestly Garments
(Exodus 28:31–43)

22 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, the work of a weaver, 23 with an opening in the center of the robe like that of a garment, d with a collar around the opening so that it would not tear.

24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe. 25 They also made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates, 26 alternating the bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe to be worn for ministry, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

27 For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, 28 as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen, 29 and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

30 They also made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal:

HOLY TO THE LORD. e

31 Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Moses Approves the Work

32 So all the work for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses:

the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;

34 the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, f and the veil of the covering;

35 the ark of the Testimony g with its poles and the mercy seat;

36 the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;

37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;

38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;

39 the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils;

the basin with its stand;

40 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases;

the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;

41 and the woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.

42 The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 43 And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

 

Footnotes:

2 a Literally He made
9 b The breastpiece, when folded over, was approximately 9 inches or 22.9 centimeters in both length and width.
10 c The precise identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.
23 d The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; possibly a coat of mail .
30 e That is, the LORD
34 f Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals
35 g That is, the ark of the covenant

The Ephod

(Exodus 28:6-14)

1And of the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, they made coloured garments, to minister in the sanctuary; and they make the holy garments which are for Aaron, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

2And he maketh the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, 3and they expand the plates of gold, and have cut off wires to work in the midst of the blue, and in the midst of the purple, and in the midst of the scarlet, and in the midst of the linen -- work of a designer; 4shoulder-pieces they have made for it, joining; at its two ends it is joined. 5And the girdle of his ephod which is on it is of the same, according to its work, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

6And they prepare the shoham stones, set, embroidered with gold, opened with openings of a signet, by the names of the sons of Israel; 7and he setteth them on the shoulders of the ephod -- stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece

(Exodus 28:15-30)

8And he maketh the breastplate, work of a designer, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen; 9it hath been square; double they have made the breastplate, a span its length, and a span its breadth, doubled. 10And they fill in it four rows of stones; a row of a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle is the one row; 11and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 12and the third row an opal, an agate, and an amethyst; 13and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper -- set, embroidered with gold, in their settings. 14And the stones, according to the names of the sons of Israel, are twelve, according to their names, openings of a signet, each according to his name, for the twelve tribes. 15And they make on the breastplate wreathed chains, work of thick bands, of pure gold; 16and they make two embroidered things of gold, and two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate, 17and they put the two thick bands of gold on the two rings on the ends of the breastplate; 18and the two ends of the two thick bands they have put on the two embroidered things, and they put them on the shoulders of the ephod, over-against its front. 19And they make two rings of gold, and set them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its border, which is on the side of the ephod within; 20and they make two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulders of the ephod below, over-against its front, over-against its joining, above the girdle of the ephod; 21and they bind the breastplate by its rings unto the rings of the ephod, with a ribbon of blue, to be above the girdle of the ephod, and the breastplate is not loosed from off the ephod, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

Additional Priestly Garments

(Exodus 28:31-43)

22And he maketh the upper robe of the ephod, work of a weaver, completely of blue; 23and the opening of the upper robe is in its midst, as the opening of a habergeon, a border is to its opening round about, it is not rent; 24and they make on the hems of the upper robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, twined. 25And they make bells of pure gold, and put the bells in the midst of the pomegranates, on the hems of the upper robe, round about, in the midst of the pomegranates; 26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, are on the hems of the upper robe, round about, to minister in, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

27And they make the coats of linen, work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons, 28and the mitre of linen, and the beautiful bonnets of linen, and the linen trousers, of twined linen, 29and the girdle of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, work of an embroiderer, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

30And they make the flower of the holy crown of pure gold, and write on it a writing, openings of a signet, 'Holy to Jehovah;' 31and they put on it a ribbon of blue, to put it on the mitre above, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

Moses Approves the Work

32And all the service of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting is completed; and the sons of Israel do according to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses; so they have done. 33And they bring in the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all its vessels, its hooks, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets; 34and the covering of rams' skins, which are made red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering; 35the ark of the testimony and its staves, and the mercy-seat; 36the table, all its vessels, and the bread of the presence; 37the pure candlestick, its lamps, the lamps of arrangement, and all its vessels, and the oil for the light. 38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the spice-perfume, and the covering of the opening of the tent; 39the brazen altar and the brazen grate which it hath, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base. 40The hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets; and the covering for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pins; and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; 41the coloured clothes to minister in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to act as priest in. 42According to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses, so have the sons of Israel done all the service; 43and Moses seeth all the work, and lo, they have done it as Jehovah hath commanded; so they have done. And Moses doth bless them.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Exodus 39?
2Introduction to Exodus 39
3Context of Exodus 39
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Exodus 39 Unique Insights
7Exodus 39 Connections to Yeshua
8Exodus 39 Scriptural Echoes
9Exodus 39 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Exodus 39?

Introduction to Exodus 39

Exodus 39 stands as a masterful demonstration of sacred craftsmanship and meticulous attention to divine detail in the construction of the priestly garments. This chapter provides an intricate description of how Bezalel, Oholiab, and their skilled craftsmen created the sacred vestments for Aaron and his sons, following the exact specifications given by יהוה (Yahweh) to Moses on Mount Sinai. The precision and repetition in this chapter underscore the supreme importance of obedience in worship and service to the Holy One of Israel.

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The recurring phrase “as יהוה commanded Moses” appears seven times in this chapter, emphasizing the fundamental principle that true worship must align precisely with divine instruction. This chapter serves as a bridge between the giving of the Law and the establishment of the tabernacle service, showing how divine blueprints become sacred reality through faithful human hands.

Context of Exodus 39

This chapter falls near the conclusion of the book of Exodus, serving as part of the extended narrative describing the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 35-40). It specifically follows the detailed account of gathering materials and crafting various tabernacle components, focusing on the priestly garments that would be essential for proper worship service.

Within the broader biblical narrative, Exodus 39 represents a pivotal moment in Israel’s journey from slavery to sacred service. The Israelites have moved from building pyramids for Pharaoh to crafting sacred garments for יהוה’s priests – a powerful symbol of their transformation from slaves to a kingdom of priests. This chapter also foreshadows the more permanent Temple worship that would later be established in Jerusalem, while simultaneously pointing forward to the ultimate High Priestly ministry of the Messiah as described in Hebrews 8:1-2.

The positioning of this chapter just before the actual assembly of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40) is significant, as it demonstrates how the priests needed to be properly attired before they could begin their sacred service. This principle of proper preparation before divine service echoes throughout Scripture, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • Ephod (אֵפוֹד): This sacred vestment, mentioned prominently in verses 2-7, comes from the root word meaning “to bind” or “to gird.” The ephod served as the foundation garment for the High Priest’s most important ceremonial duties. Its construction from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns with fine twisted linen represented the melding of heavenly and earthly elements in the priest’s mediatorial role.
  • Woven (חֹשֵׂב): The term used in verse 3 describes not just simple weaving but artistic design work. The root word implies deep thought and planning, suggesting that the craftsmanship itself was a form of worship requiring mental and spiritual engagement.
  • Onyx Stones (אַבְנֵי־שֹׁהַם): These precious stones mentioned in verse 6 were traditionally believed to be black or dark green. The root word suggests a stone that captures and reflects light, symbolizing how the priests were to reflect God’s glory to the people.
  • Engraved (פִּתּוּחֵי): Used in verse 6, this term comes from a root meaning “to open up” or “to set free.” The engraving of names on stones represented more than identification – it symbolized the opening of a channel of blessing between God and His people.
  • Breastpiece (חֹשֶׁן): Appearing in verses 8-21, this word possibly derives from a root meaning “to contain” or “to hold,” appropriate for an item that contained the Urim and Thummim used for divine guidance.
  • Settings (מִשְׁבְּצֹת): The term in verse 13 refers to gold filigree settings but comes from a root meaning “to weave” or “to interlock,” suggesting the interconnected nature of the priest’s responsibility to both God and people.
  • Pomegranates (רִמֹּנֵי): Mentioned in verse 24, these decorative elements symbolized fruitfulness and blessing. The Hebrew word is related to “uprising” or “exaltation,” suggesting spiritual elevation.
  • Pure (טָהוֹר): Used multiple times regarding the gold, this term goes beyond physical purity to indicate ritual and moral cleanness, emphasizing the holiness required in divine service.
  • Bell (פַעֲמֹן): The golden bells in verse 25 come from a root meaning “to strike” or “to move,” symbolizing the active nature of priestly service and the continuous witness of their ministry.
  • Holy to יהוה (קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה): This phrase engraved on the golden plate (verse 30) represents complete consecration. The term “holy” (קֹדֶשׁ) means “set apart” or “distinct,” emphasizing the unique nature of priestly service.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1 begins with “From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarns…” rather than listing gold first (as in previous chapters). This ordering emphasizes the symbolic colors of heavenly service (blue), royalty (purple), and sacrifice (scarlet) before mentioning the precious metals, suggesting that spiritual values precede material worth in God’s economy.
  • The phrase “as יהוה commanded Moses” in verse 5 could have been shortened to “as commanded” but is repeated in full seven times to emphasize the divine origin and authority of every detail. This repetition creates a liturgical rhythm that underscores the sacred nature of the work.
  • In verse 6, the names of Israel’s sons are engraved on onyx stones rather than written with ink, symbolizing the permanence of Israel’s covenant relationship with יהוה. The Hebrew verb “to engrave” (פָּתַח) was chosen over “to write” (כָּתַב) to emphasize this permanence.
  • The breastpiece’s construction (verses 8-21) mirrors the ephod’s materials but adds precious stones, suggesting that while the priest’s authority (ephod) comes from God, his heart (breastpiece) must carry the people before God.
  • The robe’s hem (verses 24-26) alternates pomegranates with bells rather than using just one or the other. This specific pattern creates a harmony between visible fruit (pomegranates) and audible testimony (bells) in priestly service.
  • The plate inscription “Holy to יהוה” (verse 30) uses the divine name rather than a title like Elohim, emphasizing the personal covenant relationship between God and His priests.
  • The final inspection (verses 32-43) uses military inspection terminology, highlighting the serious nature of preparing for divine service.
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Exodus 39 Unique Insights

The rabbinical tradition finds profound significance in the seven-fold repetition of “as יהוה commanded Moses” in this chapter. The Midrash Rabbah connects these seven instances to the seven days of creation, suggesting that the making of the priestly garments was considered a kind of new creation – transforming ordinary materials into vessels of divine service.

The early church father Origen saw in the High Priest’s garments a prefiguring of the Messiah’s incarnation. He particularly noted how the mixing of gold threads with colored yarns (verse 3) represented the joining of divine and human natures in the person of Yeshua. This interpretation gains additional weight when we consider that the Greek Septuagint uses the term λόγος (logos) to translate the Hebrew חֹשֵׁב (skillfully worked), the same term used in John 1:1 to describe the divine Word becoming flesh.

The Jewish mystical tradition finds significance in the fact that the ephod and breastpiece were joined by gold chains and rings. The numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew words for these fasteners equals 318, the same as the word for “life-giving” (מחיה), suggesting that the priest’s service was meant to bring spiritual life to Israel.

The Talmud (Zevachim 88b) associates each of the High Priest’s garments with atonement for specific sins: the tunic atoned for bloodshed, the trousers for sexual immorality, the turban for arrogance, and so forth. This understanding adds layers of meaning to the New Testament’s description of Yeshua as our Great High Priest who “offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12).

Exodus 39 Connections to Yeshua

The elaborate priestly garments described in this chapter find their ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah, our Great High Priest. Just as Aaron bore the names of Israel’s tribes on his shoulders (the place of strength) and over his heart (the place of love), Yeshua bears our names before the Father with both power to save and compassionate love. The book of Hebrews makes this connection explicit, describing Yeshua as “a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20).

The golden plate inscribed with “Holy to יהוה” foreshadows how Yeshua would be “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). The bells and pomegranates on the hem of the robe, which announced the High Priest’s movements and symbolized fruitfulness, point to how the Messiah’s ministry would both proclaim God’s presence and produce abundant spiritual fruit in believers’ lives.

The perfect obedience demonstrated in making these garments “as יהוה commanded Moses” finds its ultimate expression in Yeshua, who declared, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).

Exodus 39 Scriptural Echoes

The attention to detail and divine specifications in this chapter echoes the creation account in Genesis 1, where God brought order from chaos according to His perfect plan. This parallel suggests that the priestly garments were part of a new creation, establishing order in Israel’s worship life.

The precious stones on the breastpiece recall the stones in the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13) and anticipate the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19-20). This connection spans the Bible’s narrative from paradise lost to paradise restored.

The phrase “Holy to יהוה” engraved on the golden plate connects to the future prophecy in Zechariah 14:20, where even ordinary objects will bear this inscription, suggesting a time when all of life will be consecrated to God.

The careful inspection and approval of the completed work (verses 32-43) parallels God’s evaluation of creation as “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and anticipates the final judgment when all our works will be examined (1 Corinthians 3:13).

Exodus 39 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider the quality and intentionality of our service to God. Just as every thread and stone in the priestly garments was specifically chosen and carefully placed, we should examine whether we are serving God according to His instructions rather than our own preferences or convenience.

The repeated phrase “as יהוה commanded Moses” reminds us that true worship isn’t about creative innovation but faithful obedience. In our modern context, while we have freedom in many aspects of worship, we must remain grounded in God’s revealed will through Scripture.

The beautiful materials and intricate craftsmanship teach us that offering our best to God isn’t about impressing others but about expressing love and reverence for Him. This challenges us to examine our motives in service and give God our finest efforts in whatever we do.

The priestly garments were designed to remind both the priest and the people of their covenant relationship with God. Similarly, we should consider how our daily choices and actions either reflect or obscure our identity as God’s people to those around us.

Did You Know

  • The gold used in the priestly garments was beaten into thin threads by hand – an incredibly labor-intensive process that required hammering gold into sheets approximately 0.2 millimeters thick before cutting it into threads.
  • The blue dye (תְּכֵלֶת) used in the garments came from a specific species of snail found in the Mediterranean Sea. It took approximately 12,000 snails to produce 1.4 grams of dye.
  • The High Priest’s garments contained 72 bells and 72 pomegranates, with the number 72 corresponding to the traditional number of Divine Names in Jewish mystical tradition.
  • The twelve stones in the breastpiece were arranged in four rows of three, possibly reflecting the camp arrangement of Israel’s tribes in the wilderness.
  • The term translated as “skillfully worked” (חֹשֵׁב) in verse 8 is related to the modern Hebrew word for “computer” (מַחְשֵׁב), both sharing the root meaning of “to think” or “to calculate.”
  • The total weight of gold used in the priestly garments would have been approximately 30 kilograms, worth over $1.8 million in today’s values.
  • The purple dye used in the garments was so expensive in ancient times that it was worth more than its weight in gold, leading to laws in some societies restricting its use to royalty.
  • The inscription “Holy to יהוה” on the golden plate was believed by some rabbinical sources to be miraculously engraved all the way through the metal while remaining readable from both sides.
  • The pomegranates on the hem of the robe were hollow, according to traditional Jewish sources, symbolizing the idea that even empty vessels can serve a holy purpose.
  • The breastpiece was folded double to create a pocket for the Urim and Thummim, mysterious objects used for determining God’s will that are never fully described in Scripture.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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