Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 28
Exodus 28:2And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
This verse establishes the purpose of the garments: they are not for personal vanity but to reflect the glory and beauty of the God they serve.Exodus 28:29So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.
Here, the representative role of the priest is made clear. He carries the people on his heart, showing that his service is on their behalf and born out of a deep connection to them.Exodus 28:36-38“You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ You shall fasten it on a cord of blue and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.
The golden plate on the turban, inscribed with 'Holy to the Lord,' signifies that the priest's primary characteristic must be holiness, enabling him to bear the people's guilt and secure their acceptance before God.
Historical & Cultural Context
Establishing the Holy Priesthood
After receiving the blueprints for the Tabernacle - God's dwelling place among the Israelites - the scene on Mount Sinai now turns to the personnel. God is building a house. He is establishing a household with specific roles. In this chapter, God officially calls Aaron and his sons to be the first priests, setting them apart from the rest of Israel for this sacred duty.
Crafting Garments for Glory and Beauty
The focus then becomes intensely practical and symbolic, detailing the creation of the priestly garments. God enlists the most gifted artisans, filling them with a 'spirit of skill' to craft these intricate pieces. This is a holy commission. Human craftsmanship, empowered by divine wisdom, creates objects fit for service in God's presence.
A Detailed Look at the Priestly Garments
In Exodus 28, God gives Moses a divine dress code for Aaron and his sons. This concerns function and symbolism, not fashion. Each piece of clothing is meticulously described, from the precious materials to the intricate designs, revealing its part in preparing the priests to minister before a holy God and represent His people.
The Call to Priesthood and the Commission for Garments (Exodus 28:1-5)
1 "Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests - Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.
4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.
5 They shall take the gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
Commentary:
God calls Aaron and his sons as priests and commands that special, beautiful garments be made for them.
The Ephod: Carrying the People on His Shoulders (Exodus 28:6-14)
6 “And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.
7 It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together.
8 And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
9 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 remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth.
11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree.
12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance.
13 You shall make settings of gold filigree,
14 two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings.
Commentary:
The High Priest's ephod included two shoulder stones with the names of the tribes, symbolizing his responsibility to carry the people before God.
The Breastpiece: Bearing the People on His Heart (Exodus 28:15-30)
15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it - of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it.
16 It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth.
17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.
21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.
22 You shall make on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold.
23 You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece.
24 and you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece.
25 And the other two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings of filigree, and so attach it in front to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.
26 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them to the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its front, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
27 And you shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at its seam above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.
29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.
30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.
Commentary:
The breastpiece held twelve gemstones representing the tribes over the priest's heart, signifying his love and role in seeking God's will for them.
The Robe: The Sound of a Holy Ministry (Exodus 28:31-35)
31 "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue."
32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear.
33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them,
34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
35 It shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.
Commentary:
The blue robe had bells on its hem, and their sound was required for the priest's safety when entering God's presence.
The Turban, Plate, and Other Garments (Exodus 28:36-43)
36 “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’
37 You shall fasten it on a cord of blue 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 bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.
39 “You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework.
40 "For Aaron's sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty.
41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.
42 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs;
43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.
Commentary:
The High Priest's turban was marked 'Holy to the Lord,' and all priests were required to wear specific garments to ensure their holiness before God.
Related Verse Analysis
Symbolism Woven into Every Thread
Representation and Intercession
The High Priest did not enter the Tabernacle as a private individual but as a representative of the entire nation. By literally wearing the names of the tribes on his shoulders (strength) and heart (love), he showed that he was there on their behalf, standing in the gap between them and God.
The Necessity of Holiness
Every element of the priestly attire was designed to set the priests apart as holy, or consecrated for God's service. The inscription 'Holy to the Lord' on the turban was the ultimate summary of their calling. This visual separation reminded all of Israel that approaching God is a serious matter that requires purity.
A Picture of a Greater Priesthood
For Christians, Aaron's role is a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus, our Great High Priest. Jesus perfectly represents us before God, carries us on His heart, bears our guilt, and makes us acceptable to the Father. The elaborate system described here points to the perfect and final work that Jesus would accomplish.
Living as a Holy People Today
While we don't wear physical ephods or robes, these instructions teach us to approach God with intention and reverence. As Exodus 28:2 speaks of 'glory and beauty,' our preparation for worship should reflect the worthiness of the One we worship. This means preparing our hearts, setting aside distractions, and offering our best to Him, not out of legalism, but out of love.
The imagery in Exodus 28:12 and 29 provides a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for you as your Great High Priest. He carries you on His shoulders, meaning His divine strength supports you completely. He also bears you on His heart, meaning His love for you is constant and central to His work of interceding for you before the Father.
To be 'holy' means to be set apart for God's purposes. Like the inscription on the turban in Exodus 28:36, this can be the defining mark of your life. It means dedicating your thoughts, words, and actions to Him, allowing His character to be reflected in how you work, interact with family, and serve your community.
Dressed for God's Holy Presence
Exodus 28 reveals that approaching a holy God requires a mediator who is specially prepared and set apart. The intricate garments were a visual sermon on holiness, representation, and the need for atonement. They were not merely for ceremony. They demonstrated that a bridge was necessary between a sinful people and a perfect God, a role that pointed forward to the one who would fulfill it perfectly: Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.
What This Means for Us Today
The detailed instructions for the priesthood might seem distant, but they reveal a deep truth: God desires to be with His people and has made a way for that to happen. The garments were the means for one person to represent the many, foreshadowing the one High Priest, Jesus, who makes a way for all of us to draw near to God with confidence.
- How can I 'dress' my heart and mind with holiness to honor God this week?
- In what specific area of my life do I need to rest in the truth that Jesus is representing me before the Father?
- Who can I represent in prayer this week, carrying them 'on my heart' before God?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter records the fulfillment of Exodus 28's commands, as Moses actually clothes Aaron and his sons in the holy garments.
The author of Hebrews explains how the Old Testament priesthood and Tabernacle were shadows pointing to the superior, perfect, and eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Peter applies the language of the priesthood to all believers, calling them a 'royal priesthood' and a 'holy nation,' set apart to declare God's praises.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God was so specific about the materials and design of the priestly garments? What does this level of detail reveal about His character?
- The High Priest carried the names of the twelve tribes on his shoulders and heart. How does this imagery help you understand Jesus's role as your intercessor in a more personal way?
- The bells on the robe were for the priest's protection in God's holy presence. What does this teach us about the difference between a healthy fear of God (reverence) and being afraid of God?
Glossary
figures
Aaron
Moses' brother and the first High Priest of Israel, chosen by God to lead the nation's worship.
Nadab and Abihu
Two of Aaron's sons who were consecrated as priests but were later judged for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord.
Eleazar and Ithamar
Two of Aaron's sons who also served as priests and continued the priestly line after their brothers' deaths.
theological concepts
Priesthood
A divinely appointed office where certain individuals act as mediators between God and humanity, primarily through offering sacrifices.
Consecration
The act of setting something or someone apart from common use for a sacred purpose, making them holy to the Lord.
Atonement
The process by which sin is covered and reconciliation between God and humanity is made possible, often through a sacrifice.
terms
Ephod
A sleeveless, apron-like garment worn by the High Priest, which held the shoulder stones and was connected to the breastpiece.
Breastpiece of Judgment
An intricate, jewel-studded pouch worn over the High Priest's heart, holding the Urim and Thummim and representing the twelve tribes.
Urim and Thummim
Mysterious objects kept in the High Priest's breastpiece, used to determine God's will in specific matters.