Exodus 28:30 kjv
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:30 nkjv
And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:30 niv
Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.
Exodus 28:30 esv
And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly.
Exodus 28:30 nlt
Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron's heart when he goes into the LORD's presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the LORD's will for his people whenever he goes in before the LORD.
Exodus 28 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 8:8 | He put the breastpiece on him and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. | Moses installing Urim and Thummim into Aaron's garment. |
| Num 27:21 | He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim... | Joshua seeking God's will through the Urim via Eleazar. |
| Deut 33:8 | And of Levi he said, "Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one..." | Divine counsel entrusted to the tribe of Levi/priesthood. |
| 1 Sam 23:9-12 | David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. So he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." And David said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, has Saul come down...?" | David inquiring of God using the ephod (containing Urim and Thummim). |
| 1 Sam 30:7-8 | David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." ... "Shall I pursue...?" | David again seeking divine guidance through the high priest and ephod. |
| Ezr 2:63 | and the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until there should be a priest with Urim and Thummim. | Acknowledging their function post-exile; their absence. |
| Neh 7:65 | The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise. | Emphasizing need for divine guidance through priests for sacred matters. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. | General principle of divine sovereignty in matters of chance/discernment. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's revelation as guiding light, similar to "Urim." |
| Hag 2:10-13 | On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month... inquire of the priests about the law: "If someone carries holy meat...?" | Priests as source of legal/religious guidance. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... | Priest's role in conveying God's knowledge and instruction. |
| Ex 28:12 | You shall put these two stones... on the shoulder pieces of the ephod... Aaron shall bear their names... | Aaron bearing the names of Israel, paralleling bearing their "judgment." |
| Ex 28:29 | So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart... | Direct parallel: bearing names is connected to bearing judgment. |
| Isa 42:6 | I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand... a light for the nations... | God (and His servant) as ultimate light, bringing "judgment" in the sense of justice. |
| Jn 1:9 | The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. | Jesus Christ as the ultimate "light" (cf. Urim). |
| 1 Jn 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. | God's very nature is light, from whom all true illumination flows. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood... | Believers now have access to God, fulfilling a priestly function. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God... | Jesus as our perfect High Priest, our ultimate access to God. |
| Heb 7:25 | 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 as the perpetual intercessor, fulfilling priestly duties "regularly." |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ has entered, not into a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. | Christ's heavenly ministry, appearing "before the LORD." |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication... make your requests known to God. | The New Covenant access to divine counsel through prayer. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness... | Scripture as God's current primary mode of complete guidance ("Thummim"). |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 30 Meaning
Exodus 28:30 describes the placement of the Urim and the Thummim within the high priest's breastpiece of judgment. These mysterious objects served as a divine means for Aaron, and subsequent high priests, to ascertain God's will or "judgment" concerning the people of Israel. Their presence upon Aaron's heart, placed within the symbolic breastpiece representing the tribes, signifies the priest's role as a mediator, carrying the spiritual "case" or need for guidance of the entire nation before the LORD regularly to receive divine counsel and clear discernment.
Exodus 28 30 Context
Exodus chapter 28 meticulously details the holy garments to be made for Aaron and his sons, establishing the visual and symbolic representation of the priestly office. This chapter emphasizes the concepts of holiness, glory, and specific functions within the Tabernacle service. The breastpiece of judgment (Ex 28:15-29), described immediately prior to this verse, is a crucial component designed to hold twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This physical bearing of the tribes' names on the priest's heart underscored his representational and intercessory role. Verse 30 culminates this description by specifying that the enigmatic Urim and Thummim are to be placed inside this very breastpiece, signifying the divine means by which the high priest would discern God's will and judgment, acting as the spiritual conduit for the nation. Historically, in the ancient Near East, kings and leaders often sought divine counsel through various divinatory practices; God's provision of the Urim and Thummim presented a unique, sanctified, and reliable means of revelation through His designated priest, sharply contrasting with and superseding pagan practices by ensuring that true guidance came from Yahweh alone.
Exodus 28 30 Word analysis
- And you shall put: (וְנָתַתָּ, v'natata) - A direct command from God to Moses regarding the construction and placement. Implies intentionality and precision in following divine instruction.
- in the breastpiece of judgment: (אֶל־חֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט, el choshen ha-mishpat) - Literally, "to the breastpiece of decision/judgment." This is the special priestly garment (described in Ex 28:15-29) whose very name indicates its function related to discernment and verdict. The Urim and Thummim were internal to this, not merely affixed to its surface.
- the Urim: (הָאוּרִים, ha'urim) - Plural. Etymology is debated but widely associated with "lights" or "illumination" (from אוֹר, or, light) or possibly "curses." It symbolized divine revelation or clear communication.
- and the Thummim: (וְהַתֻּמִּים, vehatumimm) - Plural. Widely associated with "perfection," "completeness," "integrity," or "truth" (from תֹּם, tom, completeness/perfection). Together with "Urim," they signified a comprehensive and definitive divine oracle.
- and they shall be upon: (וְהָיוּ עַל, v'hayu al) - Indicating the position or location.
- Aaron's heart: (לֵב אַהֲרֹן, lev Aharon) - Not literally on his physical heart, but emphasizing close proximity and symbolism. The heart in biblical thought represents the core of one's being, intellect, will, and conscience. It symbolizes that the priest's responsibility for divine guidance was central to his identity and ministry, impacting his deepest motivations and actions.
- when he goes in: (בְּבֹאוֹ, bevo'o) - Referring to Aaron's ministry in the Tabernacle. This was not for casual use but specific sacred occasions of seeking God's will.
- before the LORD: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnei YHWH) - Signifies entering the Holy Place within the Tabernacle, directly in the divine presence, implying a reverent and weighty occasion.
- Thus Aaron shall bear: (וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן, venasa Aharon) - "Shall bear" (nasa) implies carrying a burden, responsibility, or charge. It speaks to the weight of his priestly office in representing the people before God.
- the judgment of the people of Israel: (אֶת־מִשְׁפַּט בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, et mishpat benei Yisra'el) - "Judgment" (mishpat) here refers to the legal case, decision, or the divine ruling concerning the spiritual or communal status/needs of the Israelites. The high priest carried their "cause" or their need for discerning God's verdict on their behalf.
- on his heart: (עַל־לִבּוֹ, al libo) - Reiterates the profound personal identification and empathy of the priest with the people he represents before God.
- before the LORD: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnei YHWH) - Again, affirming that this intercession and inquiry takes place directly in the divine presence.
- regularly: (תָּמִיד, tamid) - Literally "always" or "continually." While the specific inquiry wasn't ceaseless, the priest's readiness to carry this burden and his perpetual access to this means of divine counsel was constant, emphasizing the ongoing nature of his priestly responsibilities and the consistent availability of God's guidance.
Words-group Analysis
- the Urim and the Thummim: These two items, always mentioned together, represent the binary or definitive nature of God's counsel—often interpreted as a "yes/no" or "light/darkness" revelation. They embody the comprehensive wisdom of God, covering both revelation ("Urim" - light/truth revealed) and application ("Thummim" - integrity/completeness of decision). While their exact method of operation is never detailed in Scripture, their function was undeniably to reveal divine, infallible judgment.
- upon Aaron's heart... when he goes in before the LORD: This phrase group is highly symbolic. The location on the "heart" signifies deep commitment, the central aspect of priestly identity. Entering "before the LORD" emphasizes the high priest's unique access to God's presence, not for his own sake but as the divinely appointed intercessor for the entire nation. It portrays a direct, consecrated communication channel between God and His people, mediated through His priest.
- bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly: This is the core purpose statement of the verse. It encapsulates the high priest's burden and privilege. "Bearing judgment" implies both a representational role (presenting the people's case to God) and a divinely guided discernment (receiving God's judgment for the people). The continuous ("regularly") aspect underscores the permanent nature of the priestly ministry as a conduit for God's will to Israel, always available to seek divine direction.
Exodus 28 30 Bonus section
The exact physical form and operational mechanism of the Urim and Thummim remain an unsolved biblical mystery. They are mentioned as objects but never explicitly described as stones, dice, or other forms. Traditional interpretations range from a "yes/no" type of response through glowing letters on the stones or by literal casting of lots. After the exile, there's no clear record of their continued use, and references like Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65 suggest they were no longer available, leading to speculation that this form of divine guidance ceased or transitioned with changing modes of revelation. The silence of Scripture regarding their mechanics may intentionally reinforce that the source of the wisdom was divine, not the inherent power of the objects themselves. This highlights God's choice to guide His people directly and unmistakably when significant decisions or dilemmas arose, affirming His personal involvement in Israel's affairs and the high priest's critical role as the gatekeeper of divine truth for the nation.
Exodus 28 30 Commentary
Exodus 28:30 is pivotal in understanding the functional purpose of the high priest's office beyond ritual and representation: it was the designated channel for specific, infallible divine counsel for Israel. The Urim and Thummim, enshrined within the breastpiece which bore the names of the tribes, underscored that God's guidance was for all His people, to be received through His consecrated intermediary. The mysterious nature of these objects emphasizes God's sovereignty over revelation—their operation was not mechanistic or open to human manipulation, but entirely dependent on the divine will. The placement "upon Aaron's heart" symbolizes the intimate connection between the priest's mediatorial person and the weight of the people's spiritual needs. This entire system prefigured Jesus Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), who perfectly embodies "Light" (Urim) and "Truth" or "Perfection" (Thummim). He carries the "judgment" of His people not by mere inquiry, but by having definitively borne the judgment for their sin, and by consistently interceding on their behalf (Hebrews 7:25). He now offers His followers access to the full counsel of God through His Holy Spirit and the completed revelation of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). The need for a material object for guidance waned as God's revelatory presence became more direct through His Son and the Spirit, culminating in the new covenant.