Aaron transforms from Moses' spokesperson into God's high priest through garments that literally bear Israel's twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart, making him a walking embodiment of intercession.
1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.
2He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in with the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.
4They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends.
5The 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 the LORD commanded Moses.
6They 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.
7He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
8He 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.
9It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double.
10They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
11and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
12and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
13and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
14The 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.
15They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
16They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
17They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
18The 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.
19They 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.
20They made two more 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.
21They 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 the LORD commanded Moses.
22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
23The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates;
26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses.
27They made the tunics of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons,
28the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands of fine linen, the linen trousers of fine twined linen,
29the sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
30They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet: “HOLY TO THE LORD”.
31They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as the LORD commanded Moses.
32Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they did.
33They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
34the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
35the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
36the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
37the pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
38the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,
39the bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
40the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,
41the 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.
42According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
43Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded. They had done so; and Moses blessed them.
Exodus 39 describes the meticulous crafting of the high priest's sacred garments, including the ephod with its onyx stones bearing the names of Israel's twelve tribes, and the jeweled breastplate for divine consultation. The chapter emphasizes the skilled workmanship and precious materials used, repeatedly noting that everything was made 'as the LORD commanded Moses.' This detailed account demonstrates Israel's faithful obedience to God's instructions and the completion of the tabernacle's furnishings, preparing for God's presence to dwell among his people.
Context
This chapter concludes the detailed construction account that began in chapter 35, setting the stage for the tabernacle's consecration and God's glory filling it in chapter 40.
Key Themes
Outline
Creation of the elaborate priestly garments including the ephod and breastplate with precious stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These sacred vestments set apart Aaron and his sons for their holy service as mediators between God and the people.
person_contrast
Aaron transforms from Moses' spokesperson into God's high priest through garments that literally bear Israel's twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart, making him a walking embodiment of intercession.
The Israelites complete all the work of the tabernacle according to God's commands, bringing everything to Moses who inspects and blesses their faithful obedience.
person_contrast
Moses blesses the Israelites' completed tabernacle work—the only instance where he pronounces blessing rather than delivering law or judgment.
Aaron transforms from Moses' spokesperson into God's high priest through garments that literally bear Israel's twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart, making him a walking embodiment of intercession.
Moses blesses the Israelites' completed tabernacle work—the only instance where he pronounces blessing rather than delivering law or judgment.
Connected passages across Scripture
the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of…
“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet,…
“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workm…
The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet,…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a…
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to t…
“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’
The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravi…
For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscriptio…
You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel.
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workm…
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length, and a span its width.
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
He measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house.
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.
and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, s…
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to t…
You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravi…
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to t…
“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’
You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the set…
You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is towar…
You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of t…
You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is towar…
You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of t…
You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart…
and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the set…
You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is towar…
You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillf…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart…
They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillf…
The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of t…
You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is towar…
They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillf…
You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clot…
You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart…
You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is towar…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold be…
“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workm…
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, all around its hem; with bells of gold be…
You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding arou…
You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around i…
He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and…
They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and shall have linen trousers on their waists. They shall not clothe thems…
You shall make them linen pants to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the waist even to the thighs.
He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’
He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as the LORD commande…
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to t…
The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravi…
He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and ou…
This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its ba…
They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the s…
They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the ser…
from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of M…
from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of M…
the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;
The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its i…
This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its ba…
Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pill…
the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all the…
You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, br…
He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy…
You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you.
You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on th…
the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread;
Solomon made all the vessels that were in the LORD’s house: the golden altar and the table that the show bread was on, o…
Solomon made all the vessels that were in God’s house: the golden altar, the tables with the show bread on them,
“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all…
the lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;
He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand before the LORD continually.
They burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also set the show bread in…
“Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn con…
and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of t…
The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the Tent…
You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant, and put the screen of the door to the taberna…
oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal o…
the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of M…
the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its base.
He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to san…
the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the al…
the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all the…
the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its…
the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;
the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of…
the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s…
You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the…
These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. The…
You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garmen…
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