Exodus 28:31 kjv
And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exodus 28:31 nkjv
"You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exodus 28:31 niv
"Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
Exodus 28:31 esv
"You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exodus 28:31 nlt
"Make the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue cloth,
Exodus 28 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:4 | ...blue, and purple, and scarlet... | Blue is a primary color for the Tabernacle components, linking it to the divine. |
| Exo 39:22 | And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue: | Describes the fulfillment of this instruction. |
| Num 4:6 | ...put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue... | Blue cloth used to cover the ark of the covenant during transport. |
| Num 15:38-39 | ...make them fringes in the borders of their garments... and that they put upon the fringe of the border a cord of blue: | Blue fringes reminded Israelites of God's commandments, a heavenly calling. |
| Isa 61:10 | ...for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation... | Points to spiritual garments replacing literal ones, foreshadowing Christ. |
| Ezek 23:6 | ...clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men... | Blue worn by officials, indicating authority and high status. |
| Zech 3:1-5 | ...And I will clothe thee with change of raiment. | Symbolic clothing for Joshua the high priest, representing divine cleansing and investiture. |
| Mal 2:5-7 | My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me... | Describes the priestly role as upholding the covenant, connected to divine order. |
| Heb 3:1 | ...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; | Christ is the ultimate High Priest foreshadowed by Aaron. |
| Heb 4:14 | Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... | Christ's heavenly passage fulfills the symbolic connection of the high priest's blue robe. |
| Heb 7:26 | For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; | Christ's high priestly purity and heavenly status. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | ...who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle... | Christ's heavenly ministry in the true Tabernacle. |
| Heb 8:5 | Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God... | The earthly tabernacle and its elements, including the priestly garments, are shadows of heavenly realities. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle... | Christ's ministry is superior and occurs in a spiritual, heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself... | Reinforces the heavenly reality to which the blue color pointed. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... | The new access to God's presence, made possible by Christ, not by symbolic robes. |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory...) | Christ's incarnation represents God dwelling among us, fulfilling the presence the Tabernacle aimed for. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people... | Believers become spiritual priests, fulfilling the general priestly function for all God's people. |
| Rev 1:6 | And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father... | Reinforces the priesthood of all believers. |
| Rev 5:10 | And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. | Confirms the New Covenant priesthood for believers. |
| Phil 3:20 | For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour... | Believers' heavenly citizenship, echoing the blue's symbolism. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 31 Meaning
Exodus 28:31 commands the creation of the robe of the ephod, designating that it be made "all of blue." This particular garment, one of the eight holy garments for the high priest, signifies the heavenly and divine nature of his priestly ministry, as it serves as a foundational layer under the elaborate ephod itself. The unified blue color symbolizes God's abode, the heavens, emphasizing the high priest's role in mediating between God and man from a position connected to the divine realm.
Exodus 28 31 Context
Exodus 28 details God's specific instructions to Moses concerning the holy garments for Aaron and his sons, to set them apart for priestly service. These garments were not merely functional; they were "for glory and for beauty" (Exo 28:2), designed to symbolize holiness, authority, and divine appointment. The instructions begin with the most elaborate pieces—the breastplate and ephod—before moving to the less ornate but equally significant "robe of the ephod," which Exo 28:31 introduces. This robe serves as the foundational garment worn directly under the ephod. Each component and color of the high priest's attire carried profound symbolic meaning, collectively pointing towards the sanctity of God and the mediatorial role of His chosen priests, ultimately foreshadowing the perfect High Priesthood of Christ.
Exodus 28 31 Word analysis
- And thou shalt make: (
וְעָשִׂיתָ- ve'asita) This imperative command signifies God's direct instruction and the divine origin of the priestly garments. It underscores precision and obedience in their construction. - the robe: (
מְעִיל- me'il) This refers to a long, sleeveless or short-sleeved garment worn under the ephod. It was distinct from the other tunics and its single color, specified here as blue, set it apart. - of the ephod: (
הָאֵפֹד- ha'ephod) This specifies that the robe is the one worn with and under the ephod, which was a more ornate apron-like garment featuring the Urim and Thummim and twelve gemstones representing the tribes of Israel. The robe's primary function was to be the undergarment for the ephod. - all of blue: (
כְּלִיל תְּכֵלֶת- k'lil tekhelet) This phrase is crucial.כְּלִיל(k'lil): Means "entirety," "wholly," "perfect," "complete." It emphasizes that the robe was to be exclusively, uniformly, and perfectly blue, without any other color interwoven, signifying a singular, focused symbolic meaning.תְּכֵלֶת(tekhelet): Refers to a specific blue dye, likely derived from the Murex snail (Murex trunculus), a precious commodity in the ancient world. This specific blue was associated with the heavens, divinity, purity, revelation, and God's presence. Its rarity and depth of color also hinted at royalty and nobility. The "blue" color linked the priest's actions and intercession directly to the divine, emphasizing that he ministered on behalf of a heavenly God.
Exodus 28 31 Bonus section
The precise shade of tekhelet blue and its production method were lost for centuries after the destruction of the Second Temple. In modern times, significant efforts have been made to rediscover and reproduce this ancient dye, based on biblical descriptions and historical records. The distinctiveness of tekhelet as "heavenly blue" (unlike simpler indigo) conveyed a depth and quality that perfectly fit its theological symbolism. The absence of blue on the Breastplate or Urim and Thummim themselves further emphasized that the robe was the primary carrier of this direct symbolic connection to the divine atmosphere and the heavens, acting as a foundational representation of the priest's overarching divine mandate.
Exodus 28 31 Commentary
Exodus 28:31 highlights the celestial dimension of the high priest's ministry through the specific command for the robe of the ephod to be "all of blue." This color, tekhelet, consistently symbolized the heavens and divinity throughout the Tabernacle and priestly vestments. The choice of a uniform blue underscores the high priest's total consecration to God's heavenly service, suggesting that his authority and power to mediate between God and humanity derived directly from above. The robe's simple yet profound single color emphasized the underlying divine nature of the priestly office, serving as a subtle but powerful reminder that the priest operated within God's own domain. This physical garment profoundly prefigured the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, whose entire ministry and person were fundamentally heavenly and divine, mediating a new covenant rooted in spiritual realities rather than earthly shadows.