Exodus 28:20 kjv
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
Exodus 28:20 nkjv
and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings.
Exodus 28:20 niv
the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.
Exodus 28:20 esv
and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.
Exodus 28:20 nlt
The fourth row will contain a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones will be set in gold filigree.
Exodus 28 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:15 | "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment..." | Introduces the breastpiece for the priestly garment. |
| Exo 28:17 | "You shall mount in it four rows of stones..." | Establishes the structure for the twelve stones. |
| Exo 28:21 | "There are to be twelve stones... one for each of the twelve tribes..." | Clarifies the purpose of the stones representing Israel. |
| Exo 28:29 | "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel... upon his heart..." | Highlights the high priest's intercessory role. |
| Exo 39:10-13 | "They mounted four rows of stones on it..." | Describes the actual construction of the breastpiece. |
| Isa 62:3 | "You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD..." | Israel as precious jewels to the Lord. |
| Zec 9:16 | "For they will be like the jewels of a crown, sparkling in his land." | God's people cherished as jewels. |
| Mal 3:17 | "They will be mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'in the day when I make up my treasured possession'." | God's people as His special, prized possession. |
| Hos 3:4 | "For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king..." | Future restoration implies return to the priestly ideal. |
| Num 2:2-31 | "Every man of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard..." | Organization of tribes often in fours, relating to camp order. |
| Deut 33:1-29 | "This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people..." | Blessing of each tribe, unique character. |
| 1 Ki 10:2 | "She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones..." | Precious stones were items of great value and wealth. |
| Ez 28:13 | "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering..." | Precious stones signify glory and perfection, linking to divine. |
| Zec 4:7 | "...He shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" | Messianic stones often found on garments, foundation or capstone. |
| Matt 3:9 | "And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'..." | New Covenant redefines who are true Israel (spiritual not merely physical). |
| Rom 9:6 | "For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." | Redefinition of Israel for the New Testament believer. |
| Heb 4:14 | "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God..." | Jesus as the ultimate High Priest, fulfilling the role of Aaron. |
| Heb 9:24 | "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." | Jesus representing His people directly before God in heaven. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | Believers in Christ form a spiritual priesthood. |
| Rev 21:19-20 | "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone... the tenth onyx, the eleventh beryl, the twelfth amethyst." | Twelve foundation stones of New Jerusalem, some matching or related to high priest's breastpiece. While the exact order differs, the significance of twelve precious stones is echoed. |
| Rev 22:2 | "On either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit..." | Twelve is a number of completeness and divine government, related to Israel and the Church. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 20 Meaning
Exodus 28:20 specifies the precious stones comprising the fourth, and final, row on the high priest's breastpiece: beryl, onyx, and jasper. These three stones completed the set of twelve, each intended to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This arrangement on the high priest’s heart before the Lord signifies God's remembrance of His people, their unique identity, and their constant representation in the sanctuary.
Exodus 28 20 Context
Exodus chapter 28 details God's specific instructions for the construction of the sacred garments for Aaron and his sons, to set them apart for the priestly office. This chapter emphasizes the unique role of the High Priest as an intermediary between God and His people. Verses 15-30 focus particularly on the choshen mishpat (breastpiece of judgment), a highly significant item worn over the ephod. It was to hold twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The breastpiece's design, including the exact arrangement of its stones in four rows, ensured that when the High Priest ministered before the Lord, he carried the "names of the sons of Israel upon his heart" (Exo 28:29). This physical representation visually underscored God's constant remembrance of His covenant people. The context is entirely focused on the sanctuary service, the mediation of atonement, and the High Priest's perpetual intercession for Israel before God's presence.
Exodus 28 20 Word analysis
- "And the fourth row": In Hebrew,
veha-tuwr ha-revi'iy` (וְהַטּוּר הָרְבִיעִי).tuwr(טוּר): Implies an ordered arrangement, a row or a course. The definite articlehasignifies "the." This explicitly identifies the final set of stones, completing the square arrangement as commanded. The arrangement in four rows signifies a complete and structured representation, likely mirroring ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern ideas of cosmic order and sacred spaces.
- "beryl": In Hebrew,
tarshiysh(תַּרְשִׁישׁ).- This stone is often identified as beryl, chrysolite, or aquamarine, typically yellowish-green, greenish-blue, or gold. Its name may be linked to the ancient port of Tarshish, a distant source of exotic goods (e.g., Jon 1:3). Symbolically, its vibrant color suggests life and renewal. It could have been seen as reflecting divine glory.
- "and onyx": In Hebrew,
ve-shoham(וְשֹׁהַם).- This is a highly significant stone, as it also appeared prominently on the ephod's shoulder pieces (Exo 28:9-12). Onyx is typically black, white, or layered black-and-white. Its strong contrast and layered nature may signify distinctiveness or the separate yet unified tribes of Israel. It represents stability and strength, possibly linked to the tribes it was to represent in this specific order.
- "and jasper": In Hebrew,
ve-yashpheh(וְיָשְׁפֵה).- Jasper can be found in various opaque colors, but ancient forms were often green, dark red, or brown. Its identification can be debated, sometimes translated as "opal." In the ancient world, specific stones were linked to protective qualities or divine attributes. Its placement as the twelfth and final stone signifies the culmination and completeness of the tribal representation.
- "set in gold filigree": In Hebrew,
meshubbetzot zahav(מֻשְׁבָּצֹת זָהָב).meshubbetzot: Not strictly "filigree," but rather "enclosed," "set," or "mounted" in settings, implying a frame or bezel. It emphasizes the secure, precise, and highly skilled craftsmanship required. This term denotes a precise mounting technique, suggesting a frame or bezel that holds the stone firmly.zahav: "Gold." Gold throughout scripture is consistently associated with purity, divinity, royalty, and imperishable value. The use of gold settings ensures the stones are firmly held and elevated in dignity, emphasizing the sacred and enduring nature of the representation. It prevents the precious stones from being lost or damaged, ensuring their perpetual display.
- "the fourth row, beryl, onyx, and jasper, they shall be set in gold filigree": This phrase group signifies the conclusion of the meticulous, divine command for the breastpiece. It implies that no less care was to be taken with these final three stones than with the previous nine. Each stone was vital, reflecting the unique value and distinct identity of each tribe of Israel. The golden settings not only secured them but elevated their status, indicating their consecrated purpose and the divine esteem for each tribe.
Exodus 28 20 Bonus section
The exact identification of the ancient precious stones listed in the Bible (including tarshiysh, shoham, yashpheh) remains a subject of scholarly debate, as ancient names for gems do not always directly correspond to modern mineralogical classifications. Nevertheless, the consistent meaning transcends the precise stone, focusing on the significance of twelve distinct, precious, and brightly colored gems representing the twelve tribes. Furthermore, the number twelve holds profound theological significance, representing completeness, divine order, and God's governmental perfection, evident throughout scripture (e.g., twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve foundations of New Jerusalem). The breastpiece stones, though temporal, served as a divine prototype, with their ultimate eschatological echo found in the glorious foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, affirming God's plan for His redeemed people in the eternal kingdom.
Exodus 28 20 Commentary
Exodus 28:20 concludes the description of the twelve stones for the high priest's breastpiece, providing the specific types for the fourth and final row. This intricate detail underscores the meticulousness of God's instructions for the tabernacle and its priesthood. The full set of twelve stones, each bearing the name of an Israelite tribe, constantly reminded the High Priest, and by extension the nation, of their covenant relationship with God. When Aaron entered the Most Holy Place, he bore the "judgment" of Israel upon his heart, symbolizing God's deep remembrance and continuous care for His people. This practice foreshadowed Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who constantly intercedes for His people (Heb 7:25), not with engraved stones, but by His own blood and Spirit, bearing our names on His heart before God in the heavenly sanctuary (Heb 9:24). This historical example emphasizes the spiritual reality that God treasures His people as His special possession, individually known and perpetually represented before Him.