Exodus 28:35 kjv
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
Exodus 28:35 nkjv
And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die.
Exodus 28:35 niv
Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die.
Exodus 28:35 esv
And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.
Exodus 28:35 nlt
Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the LORD, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the LORD's presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.
Exodus 28 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:2 | "You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty." | Purpose of priestly garments. |
| Ex 28:31 | "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue." | Material/color of the robe. |
| Ex 28:33 | "On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns... and golden bells between them all around." | Detailed instruction for hem decoration. |
| Ex 28:35b | "Its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die." | Explicit purpose of bells: audible presence, protection. |
| Ex 39:25-26 | "They made bells of pure gold... alternated bells and pomegranates... around the hem of the robe, for ministry..." | Fulfillment of command in garment construction. |
| Lev 8:7-9 | "And he put the tunic on him... the ephod on him... the robe..." | Consecration of Aaron with his garments. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer... and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord... and they died before the Lord." | Warning against unholy approach to God. |
| Lev 16:2 | "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat... so that he does not die." | Strict regulations for entry to God's presence. |
| Num 16:35 | "And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who offered the incense." | Consequences of unholy presumption. |
| Num 17:10 | "Keep the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels..." | Aaron's divine chosenness validated. |
| Isa 61:10 | "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness..." | Spiritual clothing, righteousness. |
| Eze 28:13 | "You were in Eden, the garden of God... Every precious stone was your covering..." | Priestly garments' reflection of sacred imagery. |
| Zec 14:20 | "On that day 'Holy to the Lord' shall be inscribed even on the bells of the horses." | Holiness extending to everyday objects in future. |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life...'" | Christ is the access, no bells needed. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit..." | Symbolism of fruitfulness in Christ. |
| Heb 4:14 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God..." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest. |
| Heb 7:27 | "He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily... He did this once for all when he offered up himself." | Christ's singular perfect sacrifice. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest... through the greater and more perfect tent... he entered once for all into the holy places..." | Christ's heavenly entry, superior atonement. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way..." | New Testament access through Christ. |
| Rev 19:8 | "it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure'—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." | The church clothed in righteousness, spiritual garments. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 35 Meaning
Exodus 28:35 describes the decorative and symbolic elements on the lower hem of the high priest's blue robe. It specifies an alternating pattern of golden bells and pomegranates. These components were not merely aesthetic but carried profound theological significance related to the high priest's consecrated service and safe approach into God's holy presence, ensuring his continued life while ministering on behalf of the Israelites.
Exodus 28 35 Context
Exodus 28 details God's precise instructions to Moses for the construction of the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons. These garments, including the ephod, breastpiece, robe, tunic, turban, and sash, were designated "for glory and for beauty" (Ex 28:2). They visually set apart the priests as those consecrated to serve the Most High God. The robe of the ephod, entirely blue, was to be worn beneath the intricately decorated ephod and breastpiece. The specific arrangement of alternating golden bells and pomegranates on its hem, as detailed in verse 35, highlights the meticulous nature of God's commands for His sacred service. This was essential for approaching a holy God and stood in stark contrast to the often haphazard or secretly performed rituals of surrounding pagan nations, emphasizing divine order and a reverent approach to Yahweh's presence.
Exodus 28 35 Word analysis
- A golden (זהב - zahav): Signifies purity, preciousness, and divine glory. Gold, being an incorruptible metal, symbolizes holiness and the sacred nature of the items dedicated to God.
- bell (פעמון - pa'amon): Refers to a small, clapper-type bell. Its primary function was to produce sound, signaling the high priest's movements as he entered and exited the Holy Place. This sound communicated his living presence and proper execution of duty, as the explicit purpose was "so that he does not die" (Ex 28:35b), emphasizing God's strict holiness.
- and a pomegranate (רימון - rimmon): The pomegranate, a fruit with many seeds, was a rich symbol of fertility, abundance, prosperity, life, and the blessings of the Promised Land (Num 13:23). In this context, it could signify the fruitfulness of the high priest's ministry or the spiritual life and blessings brought forth for Israel.
- a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate: This repetition highlights the precise and rhythmic pattern, suggesting balance and continuity. The alternating design beautifully combined symbols of audible warning (bells) and vibrant life/fruitfulness (pomegranates).
- on the hem (שׁוּל - shul) of the robe (מעיל - me'il): The hem refers to the bottom border or edge of the garment. The robe, specifically the me'il ha'ephod (robe of the ephod), was the long, blue, seamless garment worn by the high priest under the ephod. The hem, being a highly visible and moving part, was a suitable place for these important symbolic elements.
- all around / round about (סָבִיב - saviv): This signifies that the pattern of bells and pomegranates completely encircled the hem of the robe, emphasizing the unbroken, continuous, and holistic nature of the high priest's sacred service and his constant protection and blessing.
Exodus 28 35 Bonus section
The continuous ringing of the bells and the cyclical representation of life in the pomegranates on the high priest's robe suggested an ongoing, intercessory ministry. It symbolically confirmed to those outside the Holy Place that the mediator was indeed present before the Lord and was ministering without falling dead, thus ensuring the atonement was being rendered and received. The pa'amon (bell) on the high priest's robe served as a constant sonic beacon of his life and ministry, while the rimmon (pomegranate) promised the spiritual and physical fruit that would come from obedient and holy mediation. This living audible witness of the high priest's presence also indirectly served to instruct the people on the fearful yet glorious nature of approaching God.
Exodus 28 35 Commentary
Exodus 28:35 encapsulates the dual essence of the high priest's ministry: approaching a holy God and mediating blessings to the people. The golden bells ensured an audible, consecrated presence before the divine, signaling that the priest was alive and rightly entering and exiting the most sacred spaces, thereby avoiding divine wrath. This was a vital safeguard given God's absolute holiness. In tandem, the pomegranates, rich symbols of life, fruitfulness, and abundance, represented the blessings and spiritual vitality that flowed from the priest's consecrated service on behalf of Israel. This intricate, alternating pattern on the visible hem of his robe served as a constant reminder of both the solemn awe and the bounteous grace inherent in God's presence, pointing ultimately to Christ, our perfect High Priest, who by His own sacrifice, became the complete fulfillment, providing secure, open, and eternal access to God.