Exodus 28:16 kjv
Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
Exodus 28:16 nkjv
It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width.
Exodus 28:16 niv
It is to be square?a span long and a span wide?and folded double.
Exodus 28:16 esv
It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth.
Exodus 28:16 nlt
Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.
Exodus 28 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 28:15 | "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, a work of a skillful craftsman…" | Introduction to the breastpiece's creation |
| Exod 28:30 | "And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim…" | Primary function for divine guidance |
| Exod 39:8-9 | "He made the breastpiece, a skillfully crafted work... It was square and folded double, a span its length and a span its width." | Confirmation of the specified dimensions and construction |
| Lev 8:8 | "And he put the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim." | Moses equipping Aaron with the breastpiece |
| Num 27:21 | "And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD…" | Use of Urim for guidance, post-Moses |
| Deut 33:8 | "And of Levi he said, ‘Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one…’" | God's specific gifts to the tribe of Levi |
| 1 Sam 28:6 | "And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets." | The cessation or lack of Urim response |
| Ezra 2:63 | "…until there should be a priest with Urim and Tummim." | Anticipation of their return after exile |
| Neh 7:65 | "…until there should be a priest with Urim and Tummim." | Same as Ezra, emphasizing their significance |
| Exod 25:9 | "According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and all its furniture, so you shall make it." | Principle of divine instruction for all holy items |
| Exod 25:40 | "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." | Emphasis on meticulous adherence to the divine pattern |
| Exod 39:42-43 | "According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work... And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it." | Fulfillment of divine commands |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.'" | Heavenly pattern for earthly sanctuary |
| Ezek 40:47 | "And he measured the court, 100 cubits long and 100 cubits broad, a square." | "Square" (ravua) elsewhere for altar, signifying stability and completeness |
| Rev 21:16 | "The city lies foursquare, its length and width and height are equal…" | "Foursquare" in description of New Jerusalem, signifying perfection and stability |
| Exod 28:12 | "You shall put these two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel." | Aaron bearing the tribes before the Lord on shoulders |
| Exod 28:29 | "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." | Aaron bearing the tribes before the Lord on his heart |
| Heb 4:14-16 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest |
| Heb 7:26-27 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained… who has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily for his own sins…" | Christ's perfect high priesthood compared to Levitical |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." | Christ's superior and final High Priestly work |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 16 Meaning
Exodus 28:16 details the precise dimensions and form of the high priest's breastpiece (Hebrew: choshen mishpat, "breastpiece of judgment"). It specifies that this sacred garment, which was part of Aaron's priestly attire, must be perfectly square and made from material that is double-folded. The final dimensions, after being double-folded, were to be one span in length and one span in width. This design ensured its specific function as a pouch or receptacle for the Urim and Thummim, tools used for discerning God's will.
Exodus 28 16 Context
Exodus chapter 28 initiates the detailed divine instructions for the priestly garments, specifically those for Aaron, the high priest. These garments were not merely functional apparel but were consecrated, symbolizing purity, authority, and the weighty responsibility of mediating between God and His people Israel. The chapter meticulously describes the ephod, the breastpiece, the robe, the tunic, the turban, and the sash. Verse 16 focuses on the breastpiece of judgment (choshen mishpat), an exceptionally significant item because it would house the Urim and Thummim, objects used to seek divine counsel. Historically, these garments set the Levitical priesthood apart from other nations' religious leaders, emphasizing God's meticulous demands for worship and the distinctiveness of His covenant people. They underscored a crucial point of distinction: human religious practices in other cultures often improvised, whereas Israel's worship was anchored in specific, divinely revealed commandments, a subtle polemic against pagan syncretism.
Exodus 28 16 Word analysis
- A square (רָבוּעַ - ravua):
- Meaning: Foursquare, rectangular, balanced.
- Significance: In biblical symbolism, the number four often represents completeness, universality, or the cardinal directions of the earth. A square shape denotes stability, solidity, and perfection. This choice of shape implies the divine order and integrity inherent in the high priest's role and the judgments delivered through the breastpiece. The Tabernacle altar was also square (Exod 27:1), as is the Holy of Holies in Ezekiel's vision (Ezek 40:47), and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:16), reinforcing this idea of divine design and ultimate completeness.
- it shall be (יִהְיֶה - yihyeh):
- Meaning: Future tense, indicating a divine command that must be fulfilled precisely.
- Significance: Underscores the authoritative nature of God's instructions for the sacred garments. This was not a suggestion but a requirement.
- and doublefolded (כָּפוּל - kaful):
- Meaning: Doubled, folded, reinforced.
- Significance: This indicates the construction method, making the breastpiece a pouch or pocket, intended to hold the Urim and Thummim. It implies strength, durability, and a secure enclosure for sacred items. The act of folding also creates an inner hidden compartment, perhaps symbolizing the concealed nature of divine judgment until revealed, or the sanctity of the counsel held within. It also adds thickness and resilience.
- a span (אַמָּה - ammah):
- Meaning: The Hebrew word ammah typically translates to "cubit" (approx. 18 inches). However, for the breastpiece, many translations render it "span" (approx. 9 inches, the length from thumb to little finger when outstretched, half a cubit, typically zeret in Hebrew).
- Significance: Given that the breastpiece was to be worn on the high priest's chest, a full cubit (18x18 inches) would be disproportionately large. The interpretation of "span" aligns better with its function as a chest ornament and a vessel for divine implements. This precise, smaller measurement highlights its direct relation to the priest's body and heart, where he bore the names of the tribes. The use of "cubit" in Hebrew, but interpretation as "span" in effect, might suggest it was originally one cubit of material, but when "double-folded" (i.e., folded in half and then perhaps once more), it would effectively become a span by a span. Thus, its functional dimension as worn would be about 9 inches by 9 inches, covering the heart.
- shall be its length, and a span shall be its width:
- Meaning: Defines the precise final dimensions after construction.
- Significance: Emphasizes the symmetry and exactness required. God leaves no detail to human discretion, signifying His meticulous concern for proper worship and the holiness of objects associated with His presence. This strict adherence ensured uniformity and symbolic meaning across generations.
Exodus 28 16 Bonus section
The breastpiece, worn over the heart, profoundly illustrates the High Priest's role as the bearer of Israel before God. Not only were the names of the twelve tribes engraved on precious stones fixed to it, but the very object of divine counsel, the Urim and Thummim, resided within its folds. This signifies that divine revelation and the fate of the nation were deeply connected to the heart of the High Priest and his ability to mediate faithfully. This bearing of names "on his heart" (Exod 28:29) foreshadows Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who bears His people not merely symbolically but by His own suffering and continuous intercession before God the Father, encompassing their needs, their sins, and their eternal well-being within His perfect, unfailing love.
Exodus 28 16 Commentary
Exodus 28:16 meticulously outlines the physical specifications of the high priest's breastpiece, a central component of his holy attire. The instruction for it to be "square and double-folded" speaks volumes. "Square" signifies stability, completeness, and a fixed foundation for judgment and intercession. This aligns with other biblically described divine structures and concepts that embody perfection. The "double-folded" aspect indicates a practical function: forming a secure pocket to house the sacred Urim and Thummim, instruments through which God would reveal His will to Israel. This also lends durability and signifies integrity, hinting at the steadfastness of divine counsel. The specified dimension of "a span by a span" implies a precise, personal size, fitting it intimately over the priest's heart where he would bear the names of the twelve tribes before God, symbolizing his carrying their burdens and concerns. This divine precision in craftsmanship, down to every dimension and fold, underscored God's demand for order, exact obedience, and holiness in worship. It taught Israel that proximity to God and sacred service required meticulous adherence to His revealed will, not human improvisation. The breastpiece's design thus profoundly linked form, function, and theological meaning, making it a tangible symbol of divine judgment and the intercessory work of the high priest.