Exodus Chapter 28
Showing all 43 verses for Exodus Chapter 28.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. "
"Bring your brother Aaron and his sons — Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar — out from among the Israelites, so Aaron can serve as priest for me."
God chose specific people, calling them by name, to serve Him in a special role - a reminder that He calls individuals, not just an anonymous crowd. Jesus calls you by name too, inviting you personally into relationship and service, not as a face lost in the crowd.
"And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. "
"Design special clothing for your brother Aaron — clothing meant to be dignified and beautiful."
God wanted Aaron dressed not just for function but for 'glory and beauty' - the way you carry yourself in service matters, not merely what you accomplish. Jesus calls you to bring dignity and beauty to how you serve Him, treating your calling as an honour rather than a burden.
"And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. "
"Speak to all the skilled craftspeople — those I have given real ability and insight — and have them make Aaron's garments, so he can be set apart for his priestly role."
God equipped ordinary craftsmen with wisdom for this sacred task - skill itself became a spiritual gift when it was offered to Him. Jesus calls you to see your own talents and skills, however ordinary they seem, as gifts to be used in His service.
"And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. "
"These are the garments to be made: a breastplate, an ephod (a kind of decorated apron), a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash — special clothing for Aaron and his sons, so they can serve as priests."
Every garment had a distinct name and purpose, together forming a complete outfit fit for service - nothing haphazard about how God prepared His priest. Jesus calls you to let every part of your life work together with purpose, rather than living piecemeal.
"And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. "
"Use gold thread, and blue, purple and scarlet wool, along with finely woven linen."
Rich materials - royal purple, precious gold - were used for garments of everyday priestly service, not reserved only for the most dramatic ceremony. Jesus calls you to see your ordinary daily service to Him as something of real value and honour, not something to undervalue.
"And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. "
"Make the ephod — a kind of decorated apron — out of gold thread, blue, purple and scarlet wool, and finely woven linen, done with real craftsmanship."
The ephod required the finest skill and materials available - God is honoured when excellence is offered to Him in worship. Jesus calls you to bring your best effort, not leftovers, when you serve Him.
"It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. "
"It should have two shoulder straps attached at its two edges, joining it together."
The shoulder pieces joined the ephod together and would later bear the names of Israel's tribes - the priest literally carried the people on his shoulders. Jesus, your great High Priest, carries you the same way, bearing your burdens as His own.
"And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. "
"The decorative waistband attached to the ephod should be made the same way, from the same gold, blue, purple and scarlet thread and fine linen."
The girdle bound the ephod securely to the priest's body - a picture of how your identity in service to God should be tightly bound to who you are, not loosely worn. Jesus calls you to let your faith be woven into your whole life, not something you put on only for special occasions.
"And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: "
"Take two onyx stones and engrave the names of Israel's sons — the twelve tribes — onto them."
The names of Israel's tribes were engraved into stone so that not one tribe would be forgotten before God. Jesus calls you to trust that you, too, are known and remembered by name before God, never lost in the crowd.
"Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. "
"Put six names on one stone and the other six names on the second stone, listed in order of birth."
Six names on one stone and six on the other, each tribe given equal space and standing - no tribe was made greater or lesser in how it was remembered. Jesus calls you to hold other people in that same equal regard, refusing to rank someone's worth above another's.
"With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. "
"Have a skilled gem engraver carve the two stones the way a signet ring is engraved, then set them in gold mountings."
A skilled hand carefully engraved each name - nothing rushed or careless about how God ensured His people were remembered. Jesus calls you to trust that God has taken that same careful, deliberate care in knowing and remembering you.
"And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. "
"Fasten the two stones onto the shoulder straps of the ephod, as a reminder. Aaron will carry the names of Israel's tribes on his shoulders, before the LORD, as a lasting memorial."
Aaron carried the whole nation's names on his shoulders whenever he came before God - representing others was central to his calling, not incidental to it. Jesus calls you to carry others in your heart before God too, praying and interceding for people who need to be remembered.
"And thou shalt make ouches of gold; "
"Make gold mountings for the stones."
Even the small gold settings that held the stones in place were prepared with deliberate care - nothing left to chance in how the precious things were secured. Jesus calls you to give the same careful attention to how you hold and protect what's precious in your own relationships.
"And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches. "
"Make two braided chains of pure gold, and attach these braided chains to the gold mountings."
Delicate gold chainwork connected the stones and settings - a small but genuinely beautiful detail, not merely functional. Jesus calls you to attend to the connecting details of your relationships and commitments, even the ones others might never notice.
"And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. "
"Make the breastplate used for decisions, crafted skilfully like the ephod, from gold thread, blue, purple and scarlet wool, and finely woven linen."
The breastplate was called the breastplate of 'judgement' yet it was worn over the heart - justice and compassion held together in one sacred garment. Jesus calls you to hold justice and mercy together in how you treat others, refusing to let one crowd out the other.
"Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. "
"It should be square, folded double, about 22.5 centimetres long and 22.5 centimetres wide."
The breastplate was doubled over, made strong enough to securely hold its precious stones in place. Jesus calls you to build enough strength and depth into your own character that you can safely carry what matters most to you.
"And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. "
"Set four rows of gemstones into it. The first row should be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald-like stone."
The first row of stones - sardius, topaz, carbuncle - began a display of beauty representing God's people before Him. Jesus calls you to see the people around you the way God sees these stones: precious, valuable, worth setting carefully in place.
"And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. "
"The second row should be a turquoise or green stone, a sapphire, and a hard, clear stone."
Emerald, sapphire and diamond continued the display - no two stones alike, yet each equally set and equally valued. Jesus calls you to appreciate the different 'colours' in the people you know, rather than wishing everyone looked the same.
"And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. "
"The third row should be a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst."
A ligure, an agate, an amethyst - more unique stones, each given its own place in the design. Jesus calls you to trust that your own particular character, however different from others, has been given a deliberate place too.
"And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. "
"The fourth row should be a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. All twelve stones are to be set in gold mountings."
The fourth row completed the set, each of the twelve stones now securely enclosed in its own gold setting. Jesus calls you to trust that you, too, are held securely in your place, not at risk of being dropped or forgotten.
"And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. "
"Each of the twelve stones is to be engraved with the name of one of Israel's tribes, done like a signet seal — one name per stone, for all twelve tribes."
Every tribe, without exception, had its own stone and its own name - no one was left off the list before God. Jesus calls you to know that you are personally included, never an afterthought, in what God is doing.
"And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold. "
"Make braided chains of pure gold for the ends of the breastplate."
More gold chainwork was patiently crafted to keep the breastplate exactly in place over the heart. Jesus calls you to keep the things that matter most anchored close to your heart, not left to drift loose or forgotten.
"And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. "
"Make two gold rings for the breastplate and attach them to its two top corners."
Two rings of gold were added at the ends of the breastplate, small fittings preparing the way for it to be securely joined to the rest of the garment. Jesus calls you to see how even your small preparations matter to something bigger that God is building.
"And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate. "
"Attach the two gold chains to the two rings on the breastplate's upper corners."
The wreathen chains were fastened into these rings, one careful connection after another building towards a secure whole. Jesus calls you to be patient with the slow, connecting work of building something lasting in your own life.
"And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it. "
"Fasten the other ends of the two chains to the gold mountings, and attach these to the front of the ephod's shoulder straps."
The chains were fastened at the shoulders of the ephod, tying the breastplate over the heart to the strength that carried it on the shoulders. Jesus carries you both ways too - with strength on His shoulders and with tenderness close to His heart.
"And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward. "
"Make two more gold rings and attach them to the two bottom corners of the breastplate, on the inner edge next to the ephod."
More careful engineering, two more rings, ensured the breastplate would sit correctly and stay put, not sagging or shifting out of place. Jesus calls you to build stability into your own commitments, so your devotion doesn't shift with circumstance.
"And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. "
"Make two further gold rings and attach them to the front of the ephod, low down near the waistband, on both sides."
Yet more rings were added on the ephod itself, this design leaving nothing to chance in how firmly the breastplate would be held. Jesus calls you to give the same thoroughness to protecting your most important relationships from coming loose.
"And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. "
"Tie the breastplate's lower rings to the ephod's rings with a blue cord, so it sits above the waistband and never comes loose from the ephod."
A blue lace bound the breastplate to the ephod so firmly that it could never come loose - the people's names, once bound to the priest, stayed bound. Jesus calls you to trust that once you are bound to Him, nothing can pull you loose again.
"And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. "
"So Aaron will carry the names of Israel's tribes on the judgement breastplate, over his heart, whenever he enters the holy place — a constant reminder before the LORD."
Aaron didn't just carry the people's names for a single ceremony - he bore them 'continually', every time he entered God's presence. Jesus carries you the same way: not occasionally remembered, but continually held before the Father.
"And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. "
"Place the Urim and the Thummim inside the breastplate, so they rest over Aaron's heart whenever he comes before the LORD. In this way Aaron continually carries the responsibility of Israel's decisions over his heart, before the LORD."
God provided a way for His people to seek guidance through the priest, showing His willingness to be consulted and to guide real decisions. Jesus calls you to bring your decisions to Him too, trusting Him to guide you rather than guessing alone.
"And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. "
"Make the robe worn under the ephod entirely out of blue cloth."
The robe worn closest to the body was a single unbroken colour - simple and consistent beneath all the ornate outer layers. Jesus calls you to build a consistent inner life beneath whatever outward role you play, so your private self matches your public one.
"And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. "
"Leave an opening at the top for the head, with a woven binding reinforcing the edge of that opening — like the collar of a coat of mail — so it doesn't tear."
Care was taken so the robe's neck opening wouldn't tear - a small reinforcement, but essential to the garment's lasting use. Jesus calls you to reinforce the vulnerable places in your own life before they tear, rather than waiting for a crisis to force the issue.
"And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: "
"Around the bottom hem, make pomegranate shapes out of blue, purple and scarlet thread, with gold bells placed between each one, all the way round."
Pomegranates and bells alternated around the hem - fruitfulness and sound together, so the priest's very movements carried both symbol and testimony. Jesus calls you to let your life bear fruit others can see and carry a witness others can hear as you move through the world.
"A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. "
"Alternate a gold bell and a pomegranate shape, right around the hem of the robe."
Bell after bell, pomegranate after pomegranate, repeated steadily around the whole hem - consistency, not a single showy moment, defined this garment. Jesus calls you to value steady, repeated faithfulness over occasional bursts of visible devotion.
"And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. "
"Aaron is to wear it while serving. The sound of the bells will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out — so that he does not die."
The bells sounded so the priest's approach to God was never secretive or presumptuous - even sacred service was carried out openly, not hidden. Jesus calls you to approach God with humble openness rather than trying to sneak into His presence on your own terms.
"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. "
"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, the way a signet is engraved, the words 'Holy to the LORD.'"
Right on the priest's forehead sat a plain declaration for anyone to read - his whole identity summed up as belonging to God. Jesus calls you to let your identity be just as plainly and visibly devoted to Him, unafraid to be known as His.
"And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. "
"Attach it with a blue cord onto the turban, positioned at the front of the turban."
A simple blue lace held this weighty declaration of holiness in place on the priest's head - small threads carrying great meaning. Jesus calls you to trust that small, faithful choices can carry the weight of a life truly devoted to Him.
"And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. "
"It is to stay on Aaron's forehead, so that he takes on responsibility for anything imperfect in the sacred gifts the Israelites bring. It must always be on his forehead, so that these gifts are accepted before the LORD."
Even Israel's sincere gifts could carry unintentional flaws, so the priest bore that iniquity so the gifts could still be accepted. Jesus does the same for you: He carries what is imperfect in your offerings to God so that you are still fully accepted.
"And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework. "
"Weave the tunic out of fine linen with embroidery, make the turban out of fine linen, and make the sash with needlework."
More careful needlework was devoted to garments of everyday service - beauty was not reserved only for the most prominent pieces. Jesus calls you to give the same care to the smaller parts of your calling as you would to the most visible ones.
"And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. "
"For Aaron's sons, make tunics, sashes, and headwear — again, for dignity and beauty."
Aaron's sons, not just Aaron himself, were also dressed 'for glory and for beauty' - honour extended beyond the one leader to the whole priestly family. Jesus calls you to remember that honour and dignity in His service aren't reserved only for the most prominent among you.
"And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. "
"Dress Aaron and his sons in these clothes, then anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart, so they can serve as priests."
Being clothed came before being anointed - readiness was prepared before the calling was ever activated. Jesus calls you to trust that He prepares you fully before sending you into whatever He's calling you to do.
"And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: "
"Make linen undergarments to cover their bodies, reaching from the waist to the thighs."
Even beneath all the visible glory, God provided for modesty and covering that no one else would ever see. Jesus calls you to value the private, hidden integrity of your life just as much as the parts everyone can see.
"And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. "
"Aaron and his sons must wear this undergarment whenever they enter the tent or come near the altar to serve in the holy place, so that they do not become guilty and die. This is a permanent rule for Aaron and all his descendants."
This last provision protected the priests from bearing guilt they weren't meant to carry - God's instructions were ultimately for their good, not merely rules given for their own sake. Jesus calls you to trust that God's commands, even the demanding ones, are given out of love and protection for you.