Exodus 25:7 kjv

Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

Exodus 25:7 nkjv

onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

Exodus 25:7 niv

and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

Exodus 25:7 esv

onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

Exodus 25:7 nlt

onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest's chestpiece.

Exodus 25 verses

Exodus 25 7 Meaning

Exodus 25:7 outlines the specific inclusion of valuable materials—onyx stones and other designated precious stones—as offerings for the Tabernacle. These particular stones were to be fashioned into components for the high priest's sacred garments, namely the ephod and the breastplate of judgment, emphasizing their crucial role in the priestly attire and divine worship.

Exodus 25 7 Context

This verse is part of God's precise instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai concerning the construction of the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary for God to dwell among the Israelites. Following the general call for freewill offerings from willing hearts (Ex 25:1-2), God immediately lists the specific materials required. Verse 7 specifically itemizes valuable stones needed for the priestly garments, detailed later in Exodus 28. Historically, the Israelites were newly delivered from Egypt and wandering in the wilderness, learning how to properly worship the one true God. These detailed commands for a consecrated worship space stood in stark contrast to the pagan idol worship they had witnessed in Egypt, where deity images might be crafted from lesser materials or according to human imagination. God's demand for specific, costly, and divinely-appointed materials for His service emphasized His holiness, majesty, and the unique glory of His presence among His chosen people. The priestly garments, particularly, served to distinguish the high priest and signify his sacred mediatorial role, bearing the names of Israel's tribes before God.

Exodus 25 7 Word analysis

• and onyx stones: (Hebrew: שֹׁהַם, shoham).

  • Shoham refers to a type of precious gemstone, often identified as onyx, carnelian, or lapis lazuli. It was considered very valuable in the ancient world.
  • In Genesis 2:12, it's listed as one of the valuable resources from the land of Havilah, indicating its long-standing recognition as a desirable commodity.
  • Two shoham stones, specifically, were designated for the shoulder pieces of the high priest's ephod (Ex 28:9), bearing the engraved names of the twelve tribes of Israel. This detail emphasizes that God chose particular valuable stones to represent His people's presence before Him.

• and stones: (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים, avaním, plural of אֶבֶן, éven, "stone").

  • This general term for "stones" here distinguishes them from the specific "onyx stones" mentioned immediately before.
  • It refers to the variety of twelve different precious stones listed in Exodus 28:17-20 (sardius, topaz, carbuncle, etc.) that would adorn the high priest's breastplate.
  • The use of this broader term indicates a requirement for a diverse collection of gems beyond just onyx. These stones also needed to be of high quality and suitable for engraving.

• to be set: (Hebrew: הַשִּׁבֻּץ, ha-shibbutz).

  • Literally "the setting" or "the mounting." It implies that these stones were to be properly cut, polished, and securely embedded into gold filigree or settings on the priestly garments.
  • This highlights the precision and craftsmanship required in preparing the Tabernacle elements and priestly attire. The value was not only in the raw material but also in the skill and meticulous care applied in its use for sacred purposes.

• in the ephod: (Hebrew: אֵפוֹד, ephod).

  • The ephod was a highly distinctive outer priestly garment, resembling a vest or apron, worn by the high priest over his tunic.
  • It was crafted with fine materials, including gold threads and colored yarns. Its primary function was symbolic: it visually carried the burden and representation of the twelve tribes before God, specifically through the two onyx stones on its shoulder straps (Ex 28:9-12).
  • It symbolized the priest's role in bearing the people before God in his service.

• and in the breastplate: (Hebrew: וּבַחֹשֶׁן, uvachóshen, "and in the breastplate").

  • More fully known as the "breastplate of judgment" (choshen mishpat, Ex 28:15). It was a square, folded pouch worn over the ephod, near the high priest's heart.
  • It was adorned with twelve different precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel (Ex 28:17-21).
  • The breastplate held the Urim and Thummim (Ex 28:30), mysterious objects used to discern God's will for Israel. Its placement over the heart symbolized the priest's intercessory role, bringing the names and concerns of the people close to God's presence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "onyx stones, and stones": This distinction shows two specific requirements for precious gems. The "onyx stones" (singular use implies a specific type or a prominent pair) were for the shoulder pieces of the ephod, signifying the strength and responsibility with which the priest bore Israel. The general "stones" (plural, varied types) were for the breastplate, symbolizing the various identities and constant remembrance of each tribe before God. This illustrates God's desire for diverse precious offerings to reflect His detailed plans for worship and the representation of His people.
• "to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate": This phrase pinpoints the precise destination of these valuable materials—not for mere ornamentation, but for specific, functional, and highly symbolic parts of the high priestly garments. These garments were critical to the high priest's role in mediation and intercession, signifying the very identity and presence of the entire nation of Israel before God. The exacting divine blueprint for their placement underscores the theological significance of every detail in the Tabernacle's design.

Exodus 25 7 Bonus section

The divine command for these specific precious stones for the priestly garments subtly acts as a polemic against pagan practices. While neighboring nations used precious materials to craft idols that were "dead" and fashioned by human hands, here, the Lord, the living God, demands these rare gems not for an image of Himself, but for elements in His holy dwelling and on the garments of His chosen intercessor. These stones, inscribed with the names of a living people, served to represent human beings before God, not to embody a deity. This signifies a personal, relational aspect to worship. Furthermore, the selection of exactly twelve stones for the breastplate visually prefigures the future dwelling of God in the New Jerusalem, whose foundations are also twelve different precious stones (Revelation 21:19-20), representing the apostles and, by extension, God's full, complete redeemed people throughout history.

Exodus 25 7 Commentary

Exodus 25:7 serves as a concise yet profoundly significant detail within God's meticulously articulated instructions for the Tabernacle and its sacred implements. The requirement for precious stones, particularly onyx and the variety specified later for the breastplate, transcends mere aesthetics or material value; it communicates profound spiritual truths. These gems were consecrated, chosen by divine design to adorn the garments of the high priest. The onyx stones, fixed on the ephod's shoulders, bore the engraved names of the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying that the priest literally carried the people, their burdens, and their identity before God in his mediatorial service. Similarly, the twelve diverse stones on the breastplate, each representing a tribe and placed near the priest's heart, emphasized the constant remembrance and intercession for the whole nation in God's presence. This divine prescription for costly materials, precise placement, and profound symbolism reflects God's glory, His holy presence among His people, and His design for their approach to Him. It also highlights the willing heart of the worshiper, bringing their most valuable possessions as an act of devotion, paralleling the spiritual offerings God seeks from His people.