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15 (A)You shall make a [a]breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful designer; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of [b]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. 16 It shall be square, having been folded double, a [c]span [d]in length and a [e]span in width. 17 You shall [f]mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald; 18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be [g]set in gold settings. 21 The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a signet, each (B)according to his name for the twelve tribes. 22 You shall make on the [h]breastpiece chains of a twisted work of cords in pure gold. 23 You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and you shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece. 24 You shall put the two cords of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. 25 You shall put the two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, and you shall put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it. 26 You shall make two rings of gold and shall place them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on the edge of it, which is toward the inner side of the ephod. 27 You shall make two rings of gold and put them on the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on the front of it close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 28 They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a [i]blue cord, so that it will be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod. 29 Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he comes into the holy place, for a remembrance before Yahweh continually. 30 (C)You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the [j](D)Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron’s heart when he comes in before Yahweh; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before Yahweh continually.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 28:15 Or pouch
  2. Exodus 28:15 Or violet
  3. Exodus 28:16 A span was approx. 9 in. or 23 cm
  4. Exodus 28:16 Lit its
  5. Exodus 28:16 A span was approx. 9 in. or 23 cm
  6. Exodus 28:17 Lit fill in a setting of stones, four rows of stones
  7. Exodus 28:20 Lit interwoven with gold in their settings
  8. Exodus 28:22 Or pouch, so through v 30
  9. Exodus 28:28 Or violet
  10. Exodus 28:30 Lit lights and perfections

The Breastpiece(A)

15 “Fashion a breastpiece(B) for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 16 It is to be square—a span[a] long and a span wide—and folded double. 17 Then mount four rows of precious stones(C) on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite(D) and beryl; 18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper.[b] Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel,(E) each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.(F)

22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. 23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. 24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. 27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place,(G) he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim(H) in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 28:16 That is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters
  2. Exodus 28:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.