Exodus 28 4

Exodus 28:4 kjv

And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exodus 28:4 nkjv

And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.

Exodus 28:4 niv

These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.

Exodus 28:4 esv

These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests.

Exodus 28:4 nlt

These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests.

Exodus 28 verses

Exodus 28 4 Meaning

Exodus 28:4 specifies the six foundational sacred garments mandated by God for Aaron and his sons, detailing the breastpiece, ephod, robe, checkered tunic, turban, and sash. These articles were to be meticulously crafted for the specific purpose of consecrating them for the priesthood, enabling them to minister before the Lord. The verse underscores the divine origin of the priestly office and the necessity of set-apart attire for service to God.

Exodus 28 4 Context

Exodus chapter 28 initiates a detailed blueprint for the sacred vestments of the Levitical priesthood, immediately following the divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle. This chapter's primary focus is the specific apparel for Aaron and his sons, differentiating their priestly role and consecrated status from the general population. Verse 4 serves as an introductory listing of these key garments before their elaborate descriptions in subsequent verses. The historical context involves God establishing His presence among the newly liberated Israelites and creating a system for His holy presence to dwell amongst an unholy people, mediated through a consecrated priesthood. The garments were integral to this divine economy, symbolizing both the office's dignity and the necessary separation from common life for sacred service, setting them apart from the practices and often profane attire of surrounding pagan priesthoods.

Exodus 28 4 Word analysis

• These: Refers directly to the specific list of garments immediately following, emphasizing a divine blueprint. It denotes an intentional, detailed enumeration.
• are the garments: Not ordinary clothing. These are specific articles of apparel set apart for a singular, sacred function.
• which they shall make: Points to the human agents tasked with their creation, as commanded by God. Exodus 28:3 specifies these as "all who are skillful," endued with divine wisdom. This is not arbitrary human design but divine instruction implemented by gifted craftsmen.
• a breastpiece (חֹשֶׁן - choshen): A significant garment worn over the ephod, specifically designed to hold the Urim and Thummim (means of divine revelation). It represented the twelve tribes of Israel before God, signifying the High Priest's role as intercessor and carrier of God's people in His presence.
• an ephod (אֵפוֹד - ephod): The primary outer priestly garment for the high priest, more an apron-like vestment. Made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was a visible symbol of the high priest's office and bore the onyx stones engraved with the names of the tribes, highlighting the priest's mediatorial function of bearing the people before God.
• a robe (מְעִיל - me'il): A woven garment of pure blue, worn beneath the ephod. Its hem was adorned with bells and pomegranates (Exo 28:31-35), signifying beauty, the fruitfulness of obedience, and audibility—the bells indicated the priest was alive and ministering properly in God's presence, lest he die.
• a tunic of checker work (כְּתֹנֶת תַּשְׁבֵּץ - ketonet tashbet): A basic long linen undergarment, probably intricately woven in a pattern, forming the foundational layer of the priestly attire. Its material, fine linen, often symbolized purity and righteousness (cf. Rev 19:8).
• a turban (מִצְנֶפֶת - mitznefet): The head covering for the High Priest. It was distinguished by the "holy diadem," a gold plate engraved with "Holiness to the LORD," positioned on the forehead (Exo 28:36-38). This symbolized the consecrated nature of his mind and thoughts, carrying the iniquity of the holy things, ensuring acceptance of the people's offerings before God.
• and a sash (אַבְנֵט - avnet): A belt or girdle used to secure the tunic and possibly the robe, made of fine twined linen and embroidered work. It represents preparedness, strength, and being girded for service (cf. Luke 12:35).
• They shall make holy garments (בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ - bigdei kodesh): The repeated emphasis "they shall make" stresses divine imperative. "Holy garments" signify they are "set apart" (from kadosh) from all common use, designated solely for the sacred service of God. This concept of holiness pervades the priestly institution.
• for Aaron your brother and his sons: Establishes the hereditary nature of the Aaronic priesthood, emphasizing divine appointment rather than human lineage selection or self-promotion.
• that he may minister to Me as priest: (לְכַהֵן לִי - lekahen li) This states the ultimate purpose of both the garments and the priesthood: to perform the functions of a priest (kahan) specifically and exclusively "to Me" (Yahweh). It signifies active, dedicated service, mediation, and facilitating worship in God's presence.

Exodus 28 4 Bonus section

The detailed instructions for the priestly garments, including specific materials and intricate craftsmanship (gold, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen), were not only symbolic but also very costly. This conveyed the immense value and reverence attributed to approaching God and the importance of the office of the priesthood. The garments were designed "for glory and for beauty" (Exo 28:2), indicating that God desires beauty and excellence in worship and in those who serve Him. This divine aesthetic points to the order, perfection, and splendor of the Heavenly realities that the Tabernacle system prefigured. The "Holiness to the LORD" inscription on the turban highlights that the High Priest, as representative, had to bear the responsibility for any defilement, underscoring the vital need for perfect consecration in all worship, a need fully met in Christ.

Exodus 28 4 Commentary

Exodus 28:4 is foundational, itemizing the specific holy garments for the Aaronic priesthood. These were not mere decorative attires but consecrated vestments, divinely prescribed for a very specific purpose: to enable Aaron and his sons to minister before God as priests. Each item, from the ephod to the sash, bore symbolic weight and functional significance, ensuring the priest's approach to a holy God was aligned with divine protocol. They collectively signified "glory and beauty" (v. 2)—reflecting the majesty of God and the dignity of His ordained service, distinguishing the sacred from the profane. This precise enumeration highlights God's demand for specific, reverent, and consecrated service, setting a stark contrast against the casual or idolatrous worship of surrounding nations. The garments prepared the priests to bear the iniquity of the holy things, acting as intermediaries between a holy God and His people, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfectly righteous High Priest, Jesus Christ, who clothed Himself in humanity to accomplish a superior, eternal ministry.