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The Priests’ Garments

28 “Now as for you, (A)bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priests to Me—Aaron, (B)Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. You shall make (C)holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all those [a](D)wise at heart (E)whom I have filled with [b]the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to set him apart as holy, in order for him to minister as priest to Me. These are the garments which they shall make: a [c](F)breastpiece and an ephod and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash, and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, in order for him to minister as priest to Me. They shall take (G)the gold and the [d]blue and the purple and the scarlet material and the fine linen.

“They shall also make (H)the ephod of gold, of [e]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful designer. It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined. The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, [f]of the same material: of gold, of [g]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the second stone, according to their birth. 11 [h]As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them all around in filigree settings of gold. 12 You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall (I)bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders (J)for remembrance. 13 (K)You shall make filigree settings of gold, 14 and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them a twisted work of cords, and you shall put the chains of cords on the filigree settings.

15 (L)You shall make a [i]breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful designer; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of [j]blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it. 16 It shall be square, having been folded double, a [k]span [l]in length and a [m]span in width. 17 You shall [n]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 [o]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 (M)according to his name for the twelve tribes. 22 You shall make on the [p]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 [q]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 (N)You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the [r](O)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.

31 (P)You shall make the robe of the ephod entirely of [s]blue. 32 There shall be an opening [t]at its top in the middle of it; around the edge of its opening there shall be a binding of woven work, like the opening of a coat of mail, so that it will not be torn. 33 You shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around on the hem of the robe. 35 It shall be on Aaron [u]when he ministers; and its sound shall be heard when he comes into the holy place before Yahweh and when he goes out, so that he will not die.

36 “You shall also make (Q)a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘(R)Holy to Yahweh.’ 37 You shall [v]fasten it on a [w]blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban. 38 It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall [x](S)take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel set apart as holy, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall continually be on his forehead, that (T)they may be accepted before Yahweh.

39 “You shall weave (U)the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of a [y]weaver.

40 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make (V)tunics; you shall also make sashes for them, and you shall make [z](W)caps for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall (X)anoint them and [aa]ordain them and set them apart as holy, that they may minister to Me as priests. 42 You shall make for them (Y)linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh; they shall [ab]reach from the loins even to the thighs. 43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tent of meeting or (Z)when they approach the altar to minister in the holy place, so that they do not incur [ac]guilt and die. (AA)It shall be a perpetual statute to him and to his seed after him.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 28:3 Or skillful
  2. Exodus 28:3 Artistic skill
  3. Exodus 28:4 Or pouch
  4. Exodus 28:5 Or violet
  5. Exodus 28:6 Or violet
  6. Exodus 28:8 Lit from it
  7. Exodus 28:8 Or violet
  8. Exodus 28:11 Lit Work of a craftsman of stone
  9. Exodus 28:15 Or pouch
  10. Exodus 28:15 Or violet
  11. Exodus 28:16 A span was approx. 9 in. or 23 cm
  12. Exodus 28:16 Lit its
  13. Exodus 28:16 A span was approx. 9 in. or 23 cm
  14. Exodus 28:17 Lit fill in a setting of stones, four rows of stones
  15. Exodus 28:20 Lit interwoven with gold in their settings
  16. Exodus 28:22 Or pouch, so through v 30
  17. Exodus 28:28 Or violet
  18. Exodus 28:30 Lit lights and perfections
  19. Exodus 28:31 Or violet
  20. Exodus 28:32 Or for his head
  21. Exodus 28:35 Lit for ministering
  22. Exodus 28:37 Lit place
  23. Exodus 28:37 Or violet
  24. Exodus 28:38 Or bear
  25. Exodus 28:39 A weaver in colors; lit variegator
  26. Exodus 28:40 Lit headgear
  27. Exodus 28:41 Lit fill their hand
  28. Exodus 28:42 Lit be
  29. Exodus 28:43 Or iniquity

Instructions for the priests’ clothing

28 Summon to you your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, and Eleazar and Ithamar. Make holy clothing that will give honor and dignity to your brother Aaron. Tell all who are skilled, to whom I have given special abilities, to make clothing for Aaron for his dedication to serve me as a priest. These are the articles of clothing that they should make: a chest pendant, a vest, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. When they make this holy clothing for your brother Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests, they should use gold, blue, purple, and deep red yarns and fine linen.

Priest’s ornamental vest

They should make the vest of gold, of blue, purple, and deep red yarns and of fine twisted linen with embroidered designs. The vest will have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges so that they may be joined together. The vest’s belt should be attached to it and made in the same way of gold, of blue, purple, and deep red yarns and fine twisted linen. Take two gemstones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons, 10 six names on one stone and the other six names on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 Like a gem cutter who engraves official seals, you will engrave the two stones with the names of Israel’s sons. Mount them in gold settings. 12 Attach the two stones to the vest’s shoulder pieces as stones of reminder for the Israelites. Aaron will carry into the Lord’s presence their names on his two shoulders as a reminder. 13 Then make gold settings 14 along with two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords. Attach the corded chains to the gold settings.

Priest’s chest pendant used for making decisions

15 Make an embroidered chest pendant used for making decisions. Make it in the style of the vest, using gold, blue and purple and deep red yarns, and fine twisted linen. 16 It will be square and doubled, nine inches long and nine inches wide. 17 Set in it four rows of gemstone settings. The first row will be a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald stones. 18 The second row will be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a moonstone. 19 The third row will be a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 The fourth row will be a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Their settings will be made of decorative gold. 21 There will be twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of Israel’s sons. They will be engraved like official seals, each with its name for the twelve tribes.

22 Make chains of pure gold twisted like cords for the chest pendant. 23 Make two gold rings for the chest pendant and attach the two rings to the two edges of the chest pendant. 24 Attach the two gold cords to the two rings at the edges of the chest pendant. 25 Then fasten the two ends of the cords to the two settings, which you should attach to the vest’s two front shoulder pieces. 26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the two ends of the chest pendant on its inside edge facing the vest. 27 Make two gold rings and fasten them on the front of the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the vest, at its seam just above the vest’s belt. 28 The chest pendant should be held in place by a blue cord binding its rings to the vest’s rings so that the chest pendant rests on the vest’s belt and won’t come loose from the vest. 29 In this way, Aaron will carry the names of Israel’s sons on the chest pendant for making decisions over his heart when he goes into the sanctuary as a reminder before the Lord at all times. 30 Put into the chest pendant used for making decisions the Urim and the Thummim, so they will be over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will carry the means to make decisions for the Israelites over his heart when in the Lord’s presence at all times.

Instructions for other priestly clothing

31 You will make the robe for the vest all of blue. 32 The opening for the head should be in the middle of it. The opening should be reinforced by a woven binding, a strong border so that it doesn’t tear. 33 On its lower hem add pomegranates made of blue, purple, and deep red yarns all around the lower hem, with gold bells between the pomegranates all around it. 34 A gold bell and a pomegranate should alternate all around the lower hem of the robe. 35 Aaron will wear the robe when he ministers as a priest. Its sound will be heard when he goes into the sanctuary in the Lord’s presence and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

36 Make a flower ornament of pure gold and engrave on it like an official seal: “Holy to the Lord.” 37 You should fasten it on the turban with a blue cord. It should be on the front of the turban. 38 It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will take on himself any guilt connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites give as their sacred donations. It will always be on his forehead so that the people may be remembered favorably in the Lord’s presence.

39 Weave the tunic out of fine linen. Make the turban out of fine linen. Make a sash decorated with needlework. 40 For Aaron’s sons, you should also make tunics, sashes, and turbans to mark their honor and dignity. 41 Put these garments on your brother Aaron and on his sons with him. Anoint them with oil, ordain them, and make them holy to serve me as priests. 42 You should also make linen undergarments for them to cover their naked skin from their hips to their thighs. 43 Aaron and his sons should wear this clothing when they go into the meeting tent or when they approach the altar to minister as priests in the sanctuary. Otherwise, they will bring guilt on themselves and die. This will be a permanent regulation for him and for his descendants after him.