Exodus 28:33 kjv
And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exodus 28:33 nkjv
And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
Exodus 28:33 niv
Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
Exodus 28:33 esv
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them,
Exodus 28:33 nlt
Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
Exodus 28 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:4 | and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, | Lists the sacred colors for Tabernacle construction. |
| Exo 28:2 | And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother... | General command for holy priestly garments. |
| Exo 28:30 | And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart... | Mentions specific items for judgment, divine guidance. |
| Exo 28:31 | And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. | Specifies the color of the robe to which bells/pomegranates are attached. |
| Exo 28:35 | And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministereth: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord... that he die not. | The purpose of the bells for audible presence and protection. |
| Exo 39:24-26 | And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue... and bells of pure gold... | Describes the actual construction according to the command. |
| Lev 8:7-9 | And he put upon him the coat... the ephod... and he put the breastplate... | Describes the anointing and clothing of Aaron for his priesthood. |
| Lev 16:2 | ...that he come not at all times into the holy place... | Rules for approaching the Lord's presence in the Holy of Holies. |
| Num 15:38-39 | Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: That ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord... | The significance of blue color for remembering God's commands. |
| Deut 22:12 | Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture... | Fringes as a reminder of God's laws for all Israelites. |
| 1 Ki 7:18 | And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters... and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter. | Pomegranates used in temple architectural decorations. |
| 1 Ki 7:20 | And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also... | Further confirms use of pomegranates in Temple decoration. |
| Sol 4:3 | Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. | Pomegranates as a symbol of beauty and richness. |
| Sol 6:11 | I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. | Pomegranates associated with fertility and new life. |
| Zec 14:20 | In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD... | Future holiness extending even to mundane objects, including bells. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... | Christ as the ultimate High Priest, accessible through Him. |
| 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 superior priesthood and sacrifice. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... | Our access to God's presence through Christ's perfect sacrifice. |
| Rev 8:3-5 | And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer... | Gold and priestly elements in heavenly worship/ministry. |
| Rev 1:13 | And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot... | Christ in a long priestly garment, associating Him with priesthood. |
| Rev 15:6 | And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. | Priestly imagery (linen, gold) used for angels in judgment. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 33 Meaning
Exodus 28:33 describes the decorative and symbolic adornments on the hem of the High Priest's ephod robe. It mandates the creation of alternating pomegranates, made from specific dyed yarns (blue, purple, and scarlet), and golden bells around the entire lower edge of the garment. This design ensured a visual representation of beauty, fruitfulness, and the audible presence of the High Priest during his sacred service, particularly as he ministered before the Lord in the Holy Place.
Exodus 28 33 Context
Exodus chapter 28 details the divinely ordained attire for Aaron and his sons, establishing them as priests set apart for the Lord's service. These garments were not merely functional but were holy, signifying their role in mediating between God and the Israelites. They distinguished the priests and symbolized the glory and beauty of God's presence. Specifically, verse 33 describes the meticulous design of the hem of the High Priest's "robe of the ephod," which was worn under the elaborate ephod and breastplate. This instruction ensures that even the fringes of the garments, the part closest to the ground, are imbued with symbolic meaning and divine command, emphasizing the pervasive holiness required in priestly ministry. This design was unique, distinguishing God's chosen priesthood and their sacred order from the practices of surrounding pagan religions, which might have had less stringent requirements for purity and divine specificity in their worship attire.
Exodus 28 33 Word analysis
- And upon the hem of it: Refers to the lowest edge of the ephod's blue robe (Exo 28:31). This position makes the adornments visible and allows the bells to be heard as the High Priest moves. The Hebrew 'al shulow (עַל־שׁוּלוֹ) signifies this fringe or skirt.
- thou shalt make: A direct command from God to Moses, emphasizing divine authority and precise instruction over the design of these holy garments, rather than human preference.
- pomegranates: Hebrew rimmonim (רִמֹּנִים). Pomegranates in the ancient Near East symbolized fertility, abundance, prosperity, and divine blessing due to their many seeds. Their use on priestly garments points to a ministry that brings forth spiritual fruitfulness and blessing from God to His people. They also featured decoratively in the Temple (1 Ki 7:18, 20).
- of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet: These three precious and costly colors (Hebrew: techeleth - blue, argaman - purple, tola'at shani - scarlet) were fundamental to the Tabernacle's construction and furnishings (Exo 25:4).
- Blue: Often associated with the heavens, divinity, holiness, and the Lord's commandments (Num 15:38-39). It signifies God's divine presence and authority.
- Purple: Historically representing royalty, kingship, and dignity. It points to God's supreme sovereignty and the High Priest's dignified role in representing the divine King.
- Scarlet: Linked to life, blood, and sacrifice (Lev 14:4, 6; Heb 9:19-22). It can also symbolize the reality of human sin yet ultimately points to redemption and atonement through shedding of blood.
- round about the hem thereof: Indicates that the pomegranates and bells were to encircle the entire lower edge of the robe, creating a continuous and complete pattern, signifying the all-encompassing nature of the priest's sacred duties.
- and bells of gold: Hebrew pa'amonim zahav (פַּעֲמֹנֵי זָהָב).
- Bells: Their primary function, as stated in Exodus 28:35, was to make an audible sound. This sound marked the High Priest's movement within the Holy Place, signifying his living presence and ongoing ministry before the Lord. It ensured his safety; a lack of sound could indicate his death in God's presence, highlighting the immense holiness required.
- Gold: Represents purity, divinity, imperishability, and immense value, often signifying the glory and holiness of God Himself in Tabernacle and Temple contexts.
- between them round about: Describes the alternating pattern of pomegranates and bells, an aesthetically pleasing and divinely ordered arrangement. This alternation might symbolize the balance between spiritual fruitfulness (pomegranates) and audible witness or proclamation (bells) in priestly service, or the quiet grace of God's provision intermingled with His manifest glory.
Exodus 28 33 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of silent pomegranates (representing spiritual fruit) and noisy bells (representing witness or intercession) suggests a holistic approach to divine service: it encompasses both inner grace and outer declaration. In Christian theology, these garments and the priestly ministry prefigure Christ's perfect high priesthood. Just as the High Priest entered God's presence on behalf of Israel, Jesus, our ultimate High Priest, entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all through His own blood, providing us direct access to God (Heb 9:11-12, Heb 10:19-20). The sounds of the bells could represent the effectual intercession and continuous advocacy of our High Priest, Jesus. The symbolic fruitfulness of the pomegranates points to the abundant life and spiritual blessings that flow from His sacrifice and priestly ministry.
Exodus 28 33 Commentary
Exodus 28:33 reveals the Lord's meticulous design for the High Priest's attire, underscoring the sacredness and significance of his ministry. The alternating pomegranates and bells on the hem of the blue robe served multiple purposes. The pomegranates, with their rich colors and symbolism of fruitfulness, abundance, and the many-seeded nature of life, signified a vibrant and effective priestly service that brings blessing and prosperity to God's people. The choice of blue, purple, and scarlet for the pomegranates underscored the heavenly, royal, and sacrificial aspects of the priest's mediation.
Conversely, the golden bells, interwoven with the pomegranates, had a more practical and symbolic function of audible presence. As stated in verse 35, their sound was vital as the High Priest moved within the Holy Place, indicating his living status and continuous activity before God. This served as a constant reminder to the High Priest of his holy calling and to the people that a living mediator was active on their behalf. Together, the silent fruitfulness and the audible proclamation on the High Priest's robe visually and audibly proclaimed the nature of God's redemptive work—bearing fruit and declaring His presence through His appointed representative. This beautiful balance illustrates that ministry to God should be both effective in its inner spiritual reality and discernible in its outward manifestation. The entire garment was designed not for human glory but for the "glory and for beauty" (Exo 28:2) that reflect the character of God whom the priest served.