Exodus 28:36 kjv
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exodus 28:36 nkjv
"You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exodus 28:36 niv
"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 28:36 esv
"You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, 'Holy to the LORD.'
Exodus 28:36 nlt
"Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 28 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:38 | "And it shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may carry the iniquity of the holy things..." | Immediate purpose: High Priest's holiness carries the people's defilements. |
| Exo 39:30 | "They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold and inscribed on it..." | Fulfilment of the instruction in the making of priestly garments. |
| Lev 8:9 | "He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he put the gold plate..." | Moses consecrating Aaron as High Priest, putting the tzitz on him. |
| Zec 14:20 | "On that day ‘HOLINESS TO THE LORD’ will be inscribed on the bells of the horses..." | Eschatological vision where even ordinary things will be consecrated to God. |
| Heb 7:26 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained..." | Jesus as the perfectly holy, blameless High Priest, superior to Levitical priests. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct..." | God's call for believers to mirror His holiness in their lives. |
| Rom 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy..." | New Covenant call for believers to offer themselves as living, holy sacrifices. |
| Eph 1:4 | "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless..." | God's sovereign purpose in choosing believers to be holy. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility..." | Call to live out one's identity as holy in practical conduct. |
| Ps 93:5 | "Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore." | God's house (and therefore His people) is characterized by holiness. |
| Isa 6:3 | "And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts..." | Affirmation of God's absolute and transcendent holiness. |
| Rev 4:8 | "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty..." | Continuous worship emphasizing God's intrinsic holiness in Revelation. |
| Exo 3:5 | "Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”" | Emphasizes God's presence making a place holy, demanding reverence. |
| Lev 10:3 | "Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified." | God's expectation for those serving Him to treat Him as holy. |
| Num 16:5 | "and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, 'In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy...'" | God identifies and sets apart those who truly belong to Him as holy. |
| 1 Thess 4:7 | "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." | God's calling of believers is for a life of holiness, not defilement. |
| 1 Tim 2:8 | "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling..." | Practical expression of personal holiness in worship and prayer. |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | Jesus' prayer for the sanctification (setting apart for holy use) of His disciples. |
| Heb 10:10 | "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Believers are sanctified through Christ's one-time, perfect sacrifice. |
| Php 3:9 | "and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith..." | While we strive for holiness, our acceptance before God is based on Christ's righteousness. |
| Tit 2:14 | "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession..." | Christ's purpose was to purify a people for Himself, devoted to good works. |
| 2 Chr 31:18 | "For the priests were consecrated and purified..." | Temple purity regulations reinforcing the need for holiness among those serving God. |
| Eze 48:35 | "And the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord Is There." | Foreshadows God's holy presence residing perpetually among His redeemed people (YHWH Shammah), akin to 'Holiness to the Lord'. |
| Lev 22:32 | "You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be sanctified among the people of Israel: I am the LORD who sanctifies you." | God's expectation for His people to regard Him as holy; His active role in making His people holy. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 36 Meaning
Exodus 28:36 describes the creation of the tzitz, a shining plate of pure gold worn on the High Priest's turban. This plate was to be engraved with the sacred words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" (Hebrew: Kodesh L'YHWH). This inscription signified the complete consecration of the High Priest and his functions to God, ensuring that the offerings brought by the Israelites, though imperfect, would be accepted by the Holy God. It underscored God's demand for purity and dedication in worship and in the priestly mediation on behalf of the people.
Exodus 28 36 Context
Exodus Chapter 28 provides detailed instructions for the design and construction of the sacred garments for Aaron and his sons, who were designated as priests for the Tabernacle service. These garments were not merely attire but held deep symbolic and theological significance, setting apart the High Priest as uniquely consecrated to God for specific duties related to worship and mediation. Verses 29-30, immediately preceding 36, describe the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim, signifying the priest's role in bearing the names of Israel and discerning God's will. Verse 36 focuses on the tzitz—a gold plate on the turban—which crowns the High Priest's appearance and explicitly declares the fundamental principle of "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." This specific garment highlights the High Priest's unique function in representing a holy people before a holy God, allowing their imperfect sacrifices to be accepted by God. Historically, these instructions were given by God to Moses while Israel was at Mount Sinai, preparing them for sacred worship and establishing the foundations of the Levitical priesthood for the wilderness journey and the Promised Land. The instructions emphasize precision, purity, and spiritual significance in all aspects of serving the Holy God.
Exodus 28 36 Word analysis
- And you shall make (Ve-asita): A direct divine command, emphasizing the necessity and precision required for this sacred object. It signifies the authoritative origin of these instructions.
- a plate (tzitz): The Hebrew word tzitz (צִּיץ) means "blossom" or "flower," often associated with something shining or gleaming. In this context, it refers to a thin, polished, gleaming plate or diadem worn on the forehead. Its shining quality perhaps visually represents the purity and glory associated with God's holiness.
- of pure gold (zahav tahor): Gold signifies preciousness, durability, and often, in biblical typology, deity, divine glory, and incorruptibility. "Pure" (tahor) indicates a refining process, symbolizing freedom from blemish or impurity, fitting for an object dedicated to a holy God.
- and engrave on it (pittuach alav): The word pittuach (פִּתּוּחַ) refers to engraving, carving, or cutting, implying permanence and deliberate design.
- like the engraving of a signet (k'phot'chei chotam): A chotam (חֹתָם) is a signet ring or seal, used for authenticating documents or signifying ownership and authority. Engraving "like a signet" means the inscription would be deep, clear, and enduring, not easily erased. This signifies divine authentication and a permanent declaration of the High Priest's sacred status and purpose.
- ‘HOLINESS TO THE LORD.’ (Kodesh L'YHWH - קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה):
- Holiness (Kodesh): This is a foundational concept in the Bible, meaning "set apart," "consecrated," or "sanctified." It signifies absolute separation from the common, profane, or impure, and exclusive dedication to God and His service. God Himself is the ultimate standard of holiness, and anything "holy" partakes in His divine character, being reserved solely for Him.
- To the LORD (L'YHWH): The "LORD" (Yahweh or Jehovah) is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal, unchanging, and redeeming character. The preposition "to" (L') denotes dedication, ownership, or purpose, meaning "belonging to," "dedicated for," or "for the service of" Yahweh.
- Combined Phrase: Kodesh L'YHWH encapsulates the essence of the Tabernacle and the priestly system: everything and everyone involved in divine worship must be consecrated and belong exclusively to God. It underscores God's absolute demand for His worship to be pure, undefiled, and wholly devoted to Him.
Words-group analysis:
- "plate of pure gold": This phrase combines the imagery of brilliance (tzitz as "shining") with the material value and symbolic purity of gold. It speaks of divine glory and unblemished sacredness, worthy of bearing God's own attribute.
- "engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet": This suggests the indelible, authoritative, and perpetual nature of the inscription. Just as a king's signet stamp cannot be gainsaid, this inscription declares a divine, unalterable truth about the priest's function and God's demand for holiness. It is a divine stamp of ownership and purpose.
- "HOLINESS TO THE LORD.": This phrase serves as the theological centerpiece. It's a succinct declaration of consecration and ownership by Yahweh. It emphasizes God's absolute otherness and separation from sin, demanding that those who approach Him, particularly His representative, also be set apart. This motto, perpetually displayed, serves as a constant reminder of God's uncompromised sanctity and the purity required to serve Him. It embodies the essence of sacred worship.
Exodus 28 36 Bonus section
The phrase "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" has profound theological weight beyond merely declaring Aaron's holiness. It represents the transferred holiness necessary for Israel's worship to be acceptable. As described in Exo 28:38, the tzitz on Aaron's forehead carried the iniquity (impurities/shortcomings) of the holy things that the children of Israel would hallow in their gifts. This indicates that despite the offerings not always being perfectly pure due to human sinfulness, the holiness represented by the High Priest’s consecrated state would symbolically bridge the gap and enable God’s acceptance. It acted as a channel for divine favor, sanctifying Israel’s offerings. The permanence of the inscription, "like the engraving of a signet," signified that this attribute was a fixed and unchangeable aspect of the priesthood and God's nature. This visible display also served as a polemic against surrounding pagan cults, which did not emphasize the inherent holiness or ethical purity of the worshiper or priest, but often focused on magical rituals or appeasement. For Israel, genuine access to God was rooted in His absolute holiness and His active role in setting apart His people. The future vision in Zec 14:20-21, where common objects will bear the inscription "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," suggests a final, eschatological state of universal sanctification and purity, fulfilling the spiritual longing for pervasive holiness that this inscription on the High Priest’s forehead anticipated.
Exodus 28 36 Commentary
Exodus 28:36 introduces a pivotal piece of the High Priest's regalia, the gold plate with its profound inscription. This tzitz on Aaron’s forehead was far more than an ornament; it was a visible declaration of Israel's spiritual standing before God. The inscription "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" affirmed God's unchangeable character of absolute holiness and His demand for separation and dedication from those who serve Him. The placement on the forehead meant it was perpetually visible, a constant reminder to the priest of his unique consecrated status and role, and to the people of the sanctity required for approaching God.
This divine mandate ensured that even with human frailties and the inevitable imperfections in Israel's offerings and worship, God’s perfect standard of holiness would be met through His appointed mediator, the High Priest, whose garment bore this truth. This mechanism of divine acceptance, despite human inadequacy, profoundly prefigures Jesus Christ, the ultimate High Priest (Heb 7:26), who perfectly fulfilled the standard of "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" not just on a plate, but in His very being and sacrificial life (Heb 10:10). Through Christ, believers are now invited to partake in God's holiness (Heb 12:10) and are called to live as a "holy priesthood" (1 Pet 2:5), embodying the spiritual truth that "Holiness to the Lord" is not merely an inscription on an object, but a call for inner consecration and purity for all who are called by His name. It demonstrates that access to God always depends on His standard of holiness being met, ultimately perfectly accomplished in Christ.