Exodus 28:15-30

Contemporary English Version

The Breastpiece for the High Priest

(Exodus 39.8-21)

The Lord said:

¹⁵ From the same costly material make a breastpiece for the high priest to use in finding out what I want my people to do. ¹⁶ It is to be 22 centimeters square and folded double ¹⁷ with four rows of three precious stones: In the first row put a carnelian, a chrysolite, and an emerald; ¹⁸ in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; ¹⁹ in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; ²⁰ and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.^[a] Mount the stones in delicate gold settings ²¹ and engrave on each of them the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

^22-25 Attach two gold rings to the upper front corners of the breastpiece and fasten them with two braided gold chains to gold settings on the shoulder straps. ²⁶ Attach two other gold rings to the lower inside corners next to the vest ²⁷ and two more near the bottom of the shoulder straps right above the sash. ²⁸ Then take a blue cord and tie the two lower rings on the breastpiece to those on the vest. This will keep the breastpiece in place.

²⁹ In this way Aaron will have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on his heart each time he enters the holy place, and I will never forget my people. ^30 (A) He must also wear on his breastpiece the two small objects^[b] that he uses to receive answers from me.