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Selected Verse: Exodus 28:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 28:6	Strong Concordance	And they shall make [06213] the ephod [0646] of gold [02091], of blue [08504], and of purple [0713], of scarlet [08144] [08438], and fine twined [07806] linen [08336], with cunning [02803] work [04639].
	King James	And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
ephod--It was a very gorgeous robe made of byssus, curiously embroidered, and dyed with variegated colors, and further enriched with golden tissue, the threads of gold being either originally interwoven or afterwards inserted by the embroiderer. It was short--reaching from the breast to a little below the loins--and though destitute of sleeves, retained its position by the support of straps thrown over each shoulder. These straps or braces, connecting the one with the back, the other with the front piece of which the tunic was composed, were united on the shoulder by two onyx stones, serving as buttons, and on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved, and set in golden encasements. The symbolical design of this was, that the high priest, who bore the names along with him in all his ministrations before the Lord, might be kept in remembrance of his duty to plead their cause, and supplicate the accomplishment of the divine promises in their favor. The ephod was fastened by a girdle of the same costly materials, that is, dyed, embroidered, and wrought with threads of gold. It was about a handbreadth wide and wound twice round the upper part of the waist; it fastened in front, the ends hanging down at great length (Rev 1:13).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

ephod--It was a very gorgeous robe made of byssus, curiously embroidered, and dyed with variegated colors, and further enriched with golden tissue, the threads of gold being either originally interwoven or afterwards inserted by the embroiderer. It was short--reaching from the breast to a little below the loins--and though destitute of sleeves, retained its position by the support of straps thrown over each shoulder. These straps or braces, connecting the one with the back, the other with the front piece of which the tunic was composed, were united on the shoulder by two onyx stones, serving as buttons, and on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved, and set in golden encasements. The symbolical design of this was, that the high priest, who bore the names along with him in all his ministrations before the Lord, might be kept in remembrance of his duty to plead their cause, and supplicate the accomplishment of the divine promises in their favor. The ephod was fastened by a girdle of the same costly materials, that is, dyed, embroidered, and wrought with threads of gold. It was about a handbreadth wide and wound twice round the upper part of the waist; it fastened in front, the ends hanging down at great length (Rev 1:13).

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
ephod "Gold", signifies "Deity" in manifestation; "blue", signifies "heavenly"; "purple", signifies "royalty"; "scarlet", signifies "sacrifice"; "fine linen", signifies "personal righteousness", see margin reference, (Exo 26:1). (See Scofield) - (Exo 26:1).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The first part mentioned of Aaron's holy dress, i.e., of the official dress of the high priest, is the ephod. The etymology of this word is uncertain; the Sept. rendering is ἐπωμίς (Vulg. superhumerale, shoulder-dress; Luther, "body-coat"). It was to be made of gold, hyacinth, etc., artistically woven, - of the same material, therefore, as the inner drapery and curtain of the tabernacle; but instead of having the figures of cherubim woven into it, it was to be worked throughout with gold, i.e., with gold thread. According to Exo 39:3, the gold plates used for the purpose were beaten out, and then threads were cut (from them), to be worked into the hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and byssus. It follows from this, that gold threads were taken for every one of these four yearns, and woven with them. (Note: The art of weaving fabrics with gold thread (cf. Plin. h. n. 33, c. 3, s. 19, "aurum netur ac texitur lanae modo et sine lana"), was known in ancient Egypt. "Among the coloured Egyptian costumes which are represented upon the monuments, there are some that are probably woven with gold thread." - Wilkinson 3, 131. Hengstenberg, Egypt, etc., p. 140.) Exo 28:7 "Two connecting shoulder-pieces shall it have for its two ends, that it may be bound together." If we compare the statement in Exo 39:4, - "shoulder-pieces they made for it, connecting; at its two ends was it connected," - there can hardly be any doubt that the ephod consisted of two pieces, which were connected together at the top upon (over) the shoulders; and that Knobel is wrong in supposing that it consisted of a single piece, with a hole cut on each side for the arms to be put through. If it had been a compact garment, which had to be drawn over the head like the robe (Exo 28:31, Exo 28:32), the opening for the head would certainly have been mentioned, as it is in the case of the latter (Exo 28:32). The words of the text point most decidedly to the rabbinical idea, that it consisted of two pieces reaching to about the hip, one hanging over the breast, the other down the back, and that it was constructed with two shoulder-pieces which joined the two together. These shoulder-pieces were not made separate, however, and then sewed upon one of the pieces; but they were woven along with the front piece, and that no merely at the top, so as to cover the shoulders when the ephod was worn, but according to Exo 28:25 (? 27), reaching down on both sides from the shoulders to the girdle (Exo 28:8). Exo 28:8 "And the girdle of its putting on which (is) upon it, shall be of it, like its work, gold, etc." There was to be a girdle upon the ephod, of the same material and the same artistic work as the ephod, and joined to it, not separated from it. The חשׁב mentioned along with the ephod cannot mean ὕφασμα, textura (lxx, Cler., etc.), but is to be traced to חשׁב = חבשׁ to bind, to fasten, and to be understood in the sense of cingulum, a girdle (compare Exo 29:5 with Lev 8:7, "he girded him with the girdle of the ephod"). אפדּה is no doubt to be derived from אפד, and signifies the putting on of the ephod. In Isa 30:22 it is applied to the covering of a statue; at the same time, this does not warrant us in attributing to the verb, as used in Exo 9:5 and Lev 8:7, the meaning, to put on or clothe. This girdle, by which the two parts of the ephod were fastened tightly to the body, so as not to hang loose, was attached to the lower part or extremity of the ephod, so that it was fastened round the body below the breastplate (cf. Exo 28:27, Exo 28:28; Exo 39:20-21). Exo 28:9-10 Upon the shoulder-piece of the ephod two beryls (previous stones) were to be placed, one upon each shoulder; and upon these the names of the sons of Israel were to be engraved, six names upon each "according to their generations," i.e., according to their respective ages, or, as Josephus has correctly explained it, so that the names of the six elder sons were engraved upon the previous stone on the right shoulder, and those of the six younger sons upon that on the left. Exo 28:11 "Work of the engraver in stone, of seal-cutting shalt thou engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel." The engraver in stone: lit., one who works stones; here, one who cuts and polishes precious stones. The meaning is, that just as precious stones are cut, and seals engraved upon them, so these two stones were to be engraved according to the name of the sons of Israel, i.e., so that the engraving should answer to their names, or their names be cut into the stones. "Surrounded by gold-twist shalt thou make it." זהב משׁבּצות, from שׁבץ to twist, is used in Exo 28:39 (cf. Psa 45:14) for a texture woven in checks; and here it denotes not merely a simple gold-setting, but, according to Exo 28:13, gold-twists or ornaments representing plaits, which surrounded the golden setting in which the stones were fixed, and not only served to fasten the stones upon the woven fabric, but formed at the same time clasps or brooches, by which the two parts of the ephod were fastened together. Thus Josephus says (Ant. iii. 7, 5) there were two sardonyxes upon the shoulders, to be used for clasps. Exo 28:12 The precious stones were to be upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, stones of memorial for the sons of Israel; and Aaron was to bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial, i.e., that Jehovah might remember the sons of Israel when Aaron appeared before Him clothed with the ephod (cf. Exo 28:29). As a shoulder-dress, the ephod was par excellence the official dress of the high priest. The burden of the office rested upon the shoulder, and the insignia of the office were also worn upon it (Isa 22:22). The duty of the high priest was to enter into the presence of God and made atonement for the people as their mediator. To show that as mediator he brought the nation to God, the names of the twelve tribes were engraved upon precious stones on the shoulders of the ephod. The precious stones, with their richness and brilliancy, formed the most suitable earthly substratum to represent the glory into which Israel was to be transformed as the possession of Jehovah (Exo 19:5); whilst the colours and material of the ephod, answering to the colours and texture of the hangings of the sanctuary, indicated the service performed in the sanctuary by the person clothed with the ephod, and the gold with which the coloured fabric was worked, the glory of that service. Exo 28:13-14 There were also to be made for the ephod two (see Exo 28:25) golden plaits, golden borders (probably small plaits in the form of rosettes), and two small chains of pure gold: "close shalt thou make them, corded" (lit., work of cords or strings), i.e., not formed of links, but of gold thread twisted into cords, which were to be placed upon the golden plaits or fastened to them. As these chains served to fasten the choshen to the ephod, a description of them forms a fitting introduction to the account of this most important ornament upon the state-dress of the high priest.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The first part mentioned of Aaron's holy dress, i.e., of the official dress of the high priest, is the ephod. The etymology of this word is uncertain; the Sept. rendering is ἐπωμίς (Vulg. superhumerale, shoulder-dress; Luther, "body-coat"). It was to be made of gold, hyacinth, etc., artistically woven, - of the same material, therefore, as the inner drapery and curtain of the tabernacle; but instead of having the figures of cherubim woven into it, it was to be worked throughout with gold, i.e., with gold thread. According to Exo 39:3, the gold plates used for the purpose were beaten out, and then threads were cut (from them), to be worked into the hyacinth, purple, scarlet, and byssus. It follows from this, that gold threads were taken for every one of these four yearns, and woven with them.

(Note: The art of weaving fabrics with gold thread (cf. Plin. h. n. 33, c. 3, s. 19, "aurum netur ac texitur lanae modo et sine lana"), was known in ancient Egypt. "Among the coloured Egyptian costumes which are represented upon the monuments, there are some that are probably woven with gold thread." - Wilkinson 3, 131. Hengstenberg, Egypt, etc., p. 140.)

Exo 28:7

"Two connecting shoulder-pieces shall it have for its two ends, that it may be bound together." If we compare the statement in Exo 39:4, - "shoulder-pieces they made for it, connecting; at its two ends was it connected," - there can hardly be any doubt that the ephod consisted of two pieces, which were connected together at the top upon (over) the shoulders; and that Knobel is wrong in supposing that it consisted of a single piece, with a hole cut on each side for the arms to be put through. If it had been a compact garment, which had to be drawn over the head like the robe (Exo 28:31, Exo 28:32), the opening for the head would certainly have been mentioned, as it is in the case of the latter (Exo 28:32). The words of the text point most decidedly to the rabbinical idea, that it consisted of two pieces reaching to about the hip, one hanging over the breast, the other down the back, and that it was constructed with two shoulder-pieces which joined the two together. These shoulder-pieces were not made separate, however, and then sewed upon one of the pieces; but they were woven along with the front piece, and that no merely at the top, so as to cover the shoulders when the ephod was worn, but according to Exo 28:25 (? 27), reaching down on both sides from the shoulders to the girdle (Exo 28:8).

Exo 28:8

"And the girdle of its putting on which (is) upon it, shall be of it, like its work, gold, etc." There was to be a girdle upon the ephod, of the same material and the same artistic work as the ephod, and joined to it, not separated from it. The חשׁב mentioned along with the ephod cannot mean ὕφασμα, textura (lxx, Cler., etc.), but is to be traced to חשׁב = חבשׁ to bind, to fasten, and to be understood in the sense of cingulum, a girdle (compare Exo 29:5 with Lev 8:7, "he girded him with the girdle of the ephod"). אפדּה is no doubt to be derived from אפד, and signifies the putting on of the ephod. In Isa 30:22 it is applied to the covering of a statue; at the same time, this does not warrant us in attributing to the verb, as used in Exo 9:5 and Lev 8:7, the meaning, to put on or clothe. This girdle, by which the two parts of the ephod were fastened tightly to the body, so as not to hang loose, was attached to the lower part or extremity of the ephod, so that it was fastened round the body below the breastplate (cf. Exo 28:27, Exo 28:28; Exo 39:20-21).

Exo 28:9-10

Upon the shoulder-piece of the ephod two beryls (previous stones) were to be placed, one upon each shoulder; and upon these the names of the sons of Israel were to be engraved, six names upon each "according to their generations," i.e., according to their respective ages, or, as Josephus has correctly explained it, so that the names of the six elder sons were engraved upon the previous stone on the right shoulder, and those of the six younger sons upon that on the left.

Exo 28:11

"Work of the engraver in stone, of seal-cutting shalt thou engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel." The engraver in stone: lit., one who works stones; here, one who cuts and polishes precious stones. The meaning is, that just as precious stones are cut, and seals engraved upon them, so these two stones were to be engraved according to the name of the sons of Israel, i.e., so that the engraving should answer to their names, or their names be cut into the stones. "Surrounded by gold-twist shalt thou make it." זהב משׁבּצות, from שׁבץ to twist, is used in Exo 28:39 (cf. Psa 45:14) for a texture woven in checks; and here it denotes not merely a simple gold-setting, but, according to Exo 28:13, gold-twists or ornaments representing plaits, which surrounded the golden setting in which the stones were fixed, and not only served to fasten the stones upon the woven fabric, but formed at the same time clasps or brooches, by which the two parts of the ephod were fastened together. Thus Josephus says (Ant. iii. 7, 5) there were two sardonyxes upon the shoulders, to be used for clasps.

Exo 28:12

The precious stones were to be upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, stones of memorial for the sons of Israel; and Aaron was to bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial, i.e., that Jehovah might remember the sons of Israel when Aaron appeared before Him clothed with the ephod (cf. Exo 28:29). As a shoulder-dress, the ephod was par excellence the official dress of the high priest. The burden of the office rested upon the shoulder, and the insignia of the office were also worn upon it (Isa 22:22). The duty of the high priest was to enter into the presence of God and made atonement for the people as their mediator. To show that as mediator he brought the nation to God, the names of the twelve tribes were engraved upon precious stones on the shoulders of the ephod. The precious stones, with their richness and brilliancy, formed the most suitable earthly substratum to represent the glory into which Israel was to be transformed as the possession of Jehovah (Exo 19:5); whilst the colours and material of the ephod, answering to the colours and texture of the hangings of the sanctuary, indicated the service performed in the sanctuary by the person clothed with the ephod, and the gold with which the coloured fabric was worked, the glory of that service.

Exo 28:13-14

There were also to be made for the ephod two (see Exo 28:25) golden plaits, golden borders (probably small plaits in the form of rosettes), and two small chains of pure gold: "close shalt thou make them, corded" (lit., work of cords or strings), i.e., not formed of links, but of gold thread twisted into cords, which were to be placed upon the golden plaits or fastened to them. As these chains served to fasten the choshen to the ephod, a description of them forms a fitting introduction to the account of this most important ornament upon the state-dress of the high priest.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The ephod, was the outmost garment of the high - priest; linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests, but this, which the high - priest wore, was called a golden ephod, because there was a great deal of gold woven into it. It was a short coat without sleeves, buttoned close to him with a curious girdle of the same stuff. The shoulder pieces were buttoned together with two precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder. In allusion to this, Christ our high priest appeared to John, girt about the paps with a golden girdle, such as was the curious girdle of the ephod, Rev 1:13. Righteousness is the girdle of his loins. He is girt with strength for the work of our salvation. And as Aaron had the names of all Israel upon his shoulders in precious stones, so He presents to himself and to his Father a glorious church, Eph 5:27. He bears them before the Lord for a memorial, in token of his appearing before God as the representative of all Israel, and an advocate for them.

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¹³ And [2532] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the seven [2033] candlesticks [3087] one like [3664] unto the Son [5207] of man [444], clothed with a garment [1746] down to the foot [4158], and [2532] girt [4024] about [4314] the paps [3149] with a golden [5552] girdle [2223].

¹ Moreover thou shalt make [06213] the tabernacle [04908] with ten [06235] curtains [03407] of fine twined [07806] linen [08336], and blue [08504], and purple [0713], and scarlet [08144] [08438]: with cherubims [03742] of cunning [02803] work [04639] shalt thou make [06213] them.

²⁵ And the other two [08147] ends [07098] of the two [08147] wreathen [05688] chains thou shalt fasten [05414] in the two [08147] ouches [04865], and put [05414] them on the shoulderpieces [03802] of the ephod [0646] before [06440] it [04136].

¹³ And thou shalt make [06213] ouches [04865] of gold [02091];
¹⁴ And two [08147] chains [08333] of pure [02889] gold [02091] at the ends [04020]; of wreathen [05688] work [04639] shalt thou make [06213] them, and fasten [05414] the wreathen [05688] chains [08333] to the ouches [04865].

⁵ Now therefore, if ye will obey [08085] my voice [06963] indeed [08085], and keep [08104] my covenant [01285], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [05459] unto me above all people [05971]: for all the earth [0776] is mine:

²² And the key [04668] of the house [01004] of David [01732] will I lay [05414] upon his shoulder [07926]; so he shall open [06605], and none shall shut [05462]; and he shall shut [05462], and none shall open [06605].

²⁹ And Aaron [0175] shall bear [05375] the names [08034] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in the breastplate [02833] of judgment [04941] upon his heart [03820], when he goeth [0935] in unto the holy [06944] place, for a memorial [02146] before [06440] the LORD [03068] continually [08548].

¹² And thou shalt put [07760] the two [08147] stones [068] upon the shoulders [03802] of the ephod [0646] for stones [068] of memorial [02146] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: and Aaron [0175] shall bear [05375] their names [08034] before [06440] the LORD [03068] upon his two [08147] shoulders [03802] for a memorial [02146].

¹³ And thou shalt make [06213] ouches [04865] of gold [02091];

¹⁴ She shall be brought [02986] unto the king [04428] in raiment of needlework [07553]: the virgins [01330] her companions [07464] that follow [0310] her shall be brought [0935] unto thee.

³⁹ And thou shalt embroider [07660] the coat [03801] of fine linen [08336], and thou shalt make [06213] the mitre [04701] of fine linen [08336], and thou shalt make [06213] the girdle [073] of needlework [07551] [04639].

¹¹ With the work [04639] of an engraver [02796] in stone [068], like the engravings [06603] of a signet [02368], shalt thou engrave [06605] the two [08147] stones [068] with the names [08034] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: thou shalt make [06213] them to be set [04142] in ouches [04865] of gold [02091].

⁹ And thou shalt take [03947] two [08147] onyx [07718] stones [068], and grave [06605] on them the names [08034] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]:
¹⁰ Six [08337] of their names [08034] on one [0259] stone [068], and the other six [08337] names [08034] of the rest [03498] on the other [08145] stone [068], according to their birth [08435].

²⁰ And they made [06213] two [08147] other golden [02091] rings [02885], and put [05414] them on the two [08147] sides [03802] of the ephod [0646] underneath [04295], toward [04136] the forepart [06440] of it, over against [05980] the other coupling [04225] thereof, above [04605] the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646].
²¹ And they did bind [07405] the breastplate [02833] by his rings [02885] unto the rings [02885] of the ephod [0646] with a lace [06616] of blue [08504], that it might be above the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646], and that the breastplate [02833] might not be loosed [02118] from the ephod [0646]; as the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] Moses [04872].

²⁸ And they shall bind [07405] the breastplate [02833] by the rings [02885] thereof unto the rings [02885] of the ephod [0646] with a lace [06616] of blue [08504], that it may be above the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646], and that the breastplate [02833] be not loosed [02118] from the ephod [0646].

²⁷ And two [08147] other rings [02885] of gold [02091] thou shalt make [06213], and shalt put [05414] them on the two [08147] sides [03802] of the ephod [0646] underneath [04295], toward [04136] the forepart [06440] thereof, over against [05980] the other coupling [04225] thereof, above [04605] the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646].

⁷ And he put [05414] upon him the coat [03801], and girded [02296] him with the girdle [073], and clothed [03847] him with the robe [04598], and put [05414] the ephod [0646] upon him, and he girded [02296] him with the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646], and bound [0640] it unto him therewith.

⁵ And the LORD [03068] appointed [07760] a set time [04150], saying [0559], To morrow [04279] the LORD [03068] shall do [06213] this thing [01697] in the land [0776].

²² Ye shall defile [02930] also the covering [06826] of thy graven images [06456] of silver [03701], and the ornament [0642] of thy molten images [04541] of gold [02091]: thou shalt cast them away [02219] as a menstruous cloth [01739]; thou shalt say [0559] unto it, Get thee hence [03318].

⁵ And thou shalt take [03947] the garments [0899], and put [03847] upon Aaron [0175] the coat [03801], and the robe [04598] of the ephod [0646], and the ephod [0646], and the breastplate [02833], and gird [0640] him with the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646]:

⁸ And the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0642], which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work [04639] thereof; even of gold [02091], of blue [08504], and purple [0713], and scarlet [08144] [08438], and fine twined [07806] linen [08336].

³² And there shall be an hole [06310] in the top [07218] of it, in the midst [08432] thereof: it shall have a binding [08193] of woven [0707] work [04639] round about [05439] the hole [06310] of it, as it were the hole [06310] of an habergeon [08473], that it be not rent [07167].

³¹ And thou shalt make [06213] the robe [04598] of the ephod [0646] all [03632] of blue [08504].

⁴ They made [06213] shoulderpieces [03802] for it, to couple it together [02266]: by the two [08147] edges [07098] [07099] was it coupled together [02266].

⁷ It shall have the two [08147] shoulderpieces [03802] thereof joined [02266] at the two [08147] edges [07098] thereof; and so it shall be joined together [02266].

³ And they did beat [07554] the gold [02091] into [0854] thin plates [06341], and cut [07112] it into wires [06616], to work [06213] [08432] it in the blue [08504], and in the purple [0713], and in the scarlet [08144] [08438], and in the fine linen [08336], with cunning [02803] work [04639].

²⁷ That [2443] he might present [3936] it [846] to himself [1438] a glorious [1741] church [1577], not [3361] having [2192] spot [4696], or [2228] wrinkle [4512], or [2228] any [5100] such thing [5108]; but [235] that [2443] it should be [5600] holy [40] and [2532] without blemish [299].