Exodus 28:19 kjv
And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
Exodus 28:19 nkjv
the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Exodus 28:19 niv
the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst;
Exodus 28:19 esv
and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Exodus 28:19 nlt
The third row will contain an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst.
Exodus 28 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 28:15-21 | “You shall make a breastpiece… fourth a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper.” | Full description of breastpiece and all 12 stones. |
| Exod 39:8-14 | “And they made the breastpiece, embroidered… onyx, and a jasper.” | Construction details confirm the command was fulfilled. |
| Lev 8:8 | “And he put the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.” | Placement on Aaron and mention of Urim and Thummim. |
| Exod 28:12 | “And you shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel.” | Stones are a memorial for Israel. |
| Exod 28:29 | “So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, a memorial before the Lord continually.” | Purpose of the stones: bearing Israel before God. |
| Num 2:2 | “The people of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard, with the emblems of their fathers’ houses.” | Tribal order and representation in general. |
| Deut 33:1-29 | “This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death.” | Moses' blessings to each tribe. |
| 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 our compassionate High Priest, interceding. |
| Heb 7:24-25 | “but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” | Christ's perpetual intercession for His people. |
| Rom 8:34 | “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” | Christ's present intercession for believers. |
| Ezek 1:26 | “And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire.” | Precious stones associated with God's throne/glory. |
| Rev 4:3 | “And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.” | God's glorious appearance, using precious stone imagery. |
| Rev 21:12-20 | “It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates… And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel.” | Foundations of New Jerusalem, adorned with stones, names of tribes/apostles. |
| Isa 54:11-12 | “O afflicted one… I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.” | God beautifying His redeemed people/Zion with precious stones. |
| Mal 3:17 | “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession.” | God's people as His treasured jewels. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” | Believers as living stones, forming a spiritual house. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” | Believers as God's special possession, His priesthood. |
| Zech 9:16 | “On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for they are the jewels of a crown, sparkling in his land.” | God's people as precious jewels in His crown. |
| Exod 25:8-9 | “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.” | The principle of detailed divine instruction for worship. |
| 1 Cor 3:12 | “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest.” | Symbolic use of precious stones for enduring spiritual work. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 19 Meaning
Exodus 28:19 specifies the precious stones for the third row on the high priest's breastpiece: the ligure, the agate, and the amethyst. These stones, twelve in total over four rows, each represented one of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were integral to the breastpiece of judgment, worn over the ephod by the High Priest as he served before the Lord, bearing the names of the tribes perpetually before God.
Exodus 28 19 Context
Exodus 28 initiates God's detailed instructions for the High Priestly garments, vital for Aaron and his sons to serve in the Tabernacle. This chapter shifts from the Tabernacle's structure and furnishings (chapters 25-27) to the holy attire of those who minister within it, emphasizing order, beauty, and sanctity in divine worship. The breastpiece (חֹשֶׁן מִשְׁפָּט – chosen mishpat), mentioned from verse 15, is central, carrying twelve inscribed stones representing the tribes of Israel, symbolizing the priest's responsibility to bring the people before God. Verse 19 specifically details the third row of these stones, showcasing the meticulousness of God's commands for His holy service and the significance of each part of the High Priest's attire in representing the collective body of Israel before their Lord. The use of specific precious stones also stood in contrast to surrounding cultures which often used such materials for idol worship or personal magical practices; here, they are consecrated solely for Yahweh's sacred purposes and represent His chosen people.
Exodus 28 19 Word analysis
- and the third row: This phrase denotes the precise order and placement of the stones. God's commands are specific, not arbitrary, emphasizing divine order in all aspects of worship. Each row likely corresponded to a specific tribal arrangement or divine symbolic grouping, reinforcing structure and completeness (Exod 28:17-20 specifies four rows of three stones each).
- a ligure: The Hebrew word is לֶשֶׁם (leshem). Its exact identity is debated among scholars, with common suggestions including jacinth (zircon), amber, or a specific type of agate, often described as reddish or yellowish. The lack of absolute certainty highlights the passage's primary focus on divine instruction and the stone's representational purpose, rather than its precise mineralogical definition. It's one of twelve unique stones representing God's chosen tribes.
- an agate: The Hebrew word is שְׁבוֹ (shevo). Generally accepted as a variety of chalcedony, characterized by its banded patterns. Agate was a commonly available stone in the ancient Near East and prized for its beauty and durability. Like the ligure, its specific identification contributes to the diversity and richness of the breastplate's materials, embodying the collective beauty of God's diverse people.
- and an amethyst: The Hebrew word is אַחְלָמָה (achlamah). Widely identified as amethyst, a purple or violet variety of quartz. Its deep purple hue historically symbolized royalty and divinity. Some suggest the root of achlamah might relate to the Hebrew word for "dream" (חָלַם - chalam), possibly alluding to its purported ancient use for prophetic visions or clarity of mind, though the text itself does not attribute such meaning to its presence on the breastpiece. Here, it functions primarily as another distinct precious stone for divine purposes, representing a segment of Israel.
- "and the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.": This grouping is one of four distinct trios of stones. The detailed list of specific stones, though their exact identities are sometimes debated, signifies God's precise and aesthetic requirements for sacred objects. These materials were the most precious available, indicating the immense value God places on His covenant people and the solemnity of the priestly role in representing them before Him. This selection also showcases divine artistry and richness dedicated entirely to worship, differentiating it from common usage or idolatrous practices of the time. The ordering emphasizes completeness and inclusivity, as all twelve tribes were present and accounted for through these twelve stones on the High Priest's heart.
Exodus 28 19 Bonus section
- The placement of the stones on the breastpiece "over the heart" (Exod 28:29) signifies the priest's deep care and burden for the people he represented. It was not a superficial ornament but a sacred symbol of carrying Israel in remembrance before the Lord.
- While the specific tribal assignments to each stone are not explicitly given in the text for Exodus 28, rabbinic tradition and later interpretations often connect specific tribes to specific stones, based on birth order or tribal standards. However, the primary biblical point remains that all tribes were represented.
- The meticulous detail of the breastpiece and other priestly garments (e.g., Exod 28:36 "Holiness to the Lord" on the turban) was to reflect the holiness required to approach God, and the absolute distinction between the sacred and the common, which was critical in the ancient Israelite worship system.
- The exact geological identification of many of the stones listed in Exodus 28 is still debated among mineralogists and biblical scholars. The important takeaway for faith is the divine command, the purpose of the stones, and their overall effect in depicting the glory of God and His covenant with Israel.
Exodus 28 19 Commentary
Exodus 28:19 offers a precise glimpse into the divine blueprint for the High Priest's breastpiece, a crucial element of the sacred attire for Aaron. The specification of the ligure, agate, and amethyst for the third row underlines the meticulous detail in God's instructions for the Tabernacle and its associated ministry. Each of these precious stones, regardless of their precise modern identification, contributes to the overall beauty and symbolic weight of the breastpiece. More significantly than their individual properties, these stones collectively represent the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying that the High Priest, in his sacred duty, literally carried the names and thus the very identity of the entire nation before God's presence. This act of "bearing the names" was a continuous memorial (Exod 28:29), illustrating God's constant remembrance and care for His people, mediated through the consecrated priest. It highlights the divine emphasis on order, beauty, and representation in worship, anticipating the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who perpetually bears His people before the Father (Heb 4:14-16, Heb 7:24-25, Rom 8:34), not with inanimate stones, but by His living and perfect intercession.