Exodus 28:9 kjv
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Exodus 28:9 nkjv
"Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
Exodus 28:9 niv
"Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel
Exodus 28:9 esv
You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
Exodus 28:9 nlt
"Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel.
Exodus 28 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:12 | "And you shall put these two stones...on Aaron’s shoulders..." | Names carried on shoulders as a memorial for Israel. |
| Ex 28:21 | "...And the stones shall be with the names...of the twelve tribes..." | Parallel instruction for the breastpiece. |
| Ex 39:6-7 | "And they engraved the onyx stones...as the Lord had commanded Moses." | Fulfillment of the instruction. |
| Lev 8:7-8 | "And he put the ephod on him, and he put the skilfully woven band of the ephod on him..." | Aaron clothed with these items as High Priest. |
| Num 1:47 | "...but the Levites were not numbered among them by their ancestral tribe." | Levi tribe distinction in numbering Israel. |
| Num 2:2 | "The people of Israel shall camp...each by his own standard, with the emblems of their fathers’ houses..." | Tribal arrangement, reflecting ordered identity. |
| Num 27:21 | "...He shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord." | Urim associated with High Priest's garments for divine guidance. |
| Dt 33:10 | "They shall teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your law to Israel..." | Priestly role as teachers for the nation. |
| Josh 4:7 | "...the twelve stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever." | Stones used as memorials, like for the Jordan crossing. |
| Isa 49:16 | "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." | God's permanent remembrance of His people. |
| Mal 3:17 | "...and they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession." | God's people as precious jewels, remembered. |
| Zech 3:9 | "For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription..." | Divine engraving and purpose on a significant stone. |
| Mt 19:28 | "...when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." | Christ and apostles represent the new Israel. |
| Jn 17:9-11 | "I am praying for them...Holy Father, keep them in your name..." | Jesus' priestly intercession for His people. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | "Since then we have a great high priest...let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest for believers. |
| Heb 7:23-28 | "...He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever." | Christ's eternal priesthood, superior to Aaron's. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...He entered once for all into the holy places..." | Christ's one-time, effective sacrifice and intercession. |
| Heb 9:24 | "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands...but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." | Christ's presence before God representing believers. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | Believers as living stones, a spiritual house and priesthood. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | The Church as God's spiritual Israel. |
| Rev 21:19-20 | "The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel...the twelfth, amethyst." | Precious stones in the New Jerusalem foundations. |
Exodus 28 verses
Exodus 28 9 Meaning
Exodus 28:9 describes God's instruction for two onyx stones to be prepared for the high priest's ephod. These stones were to be engraved with the names of the twelve sons of Israel, symbolizing the twelve tribes. This act served to perpetually present the whole nation before the Lord through their priestly representative, indicating God's remembrance and care for His people.
Exodus 28 9 Context
Exodus chapter 28 initiates God's detailed instructions for the design and construction of the high priest's holy garments. Following the construction of the Tabernacle itself, these priestly vestments are essential for Aaron and his sons to perform their sacred duties of mediating between God and the Israelites. The purpose of these garments is described as being "for glory and for beauty" (Ex 28:2), emphasizing their sanctity and reflective of God's majesty. Verse 9 specifically focuses on the initial steps for the ephod, the most elaborate priestly garment, setting the stage for the ephod's function as a symbol of priestly representation and a means by which the high priest would carry the burdens and identity of Israel before God. Historically, these instructions were given to Moses at Mount Sinai after the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, establishing the liturgical and spiritual framework for the nascent nation in its covenant relationship with Yahweh. This detailed divine blueprint stood in contrast to the often arbitrary and polytheistic worship practices of surrounding cultures, highlighting Yahweh's precise and exclusive demands for holiness.
Exodus 28 9 Word analysis
- You shall take (וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ - vəlaqaḥta): From the Hebrew verb laqach, "to take, receive." Here, it signifies a direct divine command for procurement, emphasizing the sacred and intentional acquisition of these specific items for a divine purpose. It is not an arbitrary choice but a directed action within a larger holy construction plan.
- two (שְׁתֵּ֣י - shəteyi): Denotes a pair, indicating symmetry and balance. The specific number highlights the distinct placement of these stones, one on each shoulder. This duality could also imply the full scope or balance of representation for the divided nation (e.g., Joseph's two sons leading tribes).
- onyx stones (אַבְנֵי־שֹׁ֣הַם - avnei-shoham): "Stones of shoham." Shoham (שֹׁהַם) is a precious stone, commonly translated as onyx or beryl. In the ancient world, gems held intrinsic value and often symbolic significance. Onyx is noted for its layers and deep, dark color, which may symbolize the weighty and foundational role of the tribes being represented. Its inclusion underscores the preciousness and lasting nature of God's covenant with His people, and the divine value placed upon them. The term also appears in Eden's description (Gen 2:12) and Ezekiel's lament over Tyre (Ez 28:13), often linked with beauty and wealth.
- and engrave (וּפִתַּחְתָּ֙ - ufittaḥta): From pittach (פִּתַּח), meaning "to engrave, cut, carve." This is not a mere surface mark but a permanent indentation. The act of engraving implies an unalterable, enduring inscription, reflecting God's unchanging commitment and memory of His people. It also requires skillful craftsmanship, indicating the dedication and precision required for sacred service.
- on them (עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם - aleihem): Refers directly to the two onyx stones, indicating the precise location of the names.
- the names of the sons of Israel (שְׁמ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - sh'mot bnei Yisrael): "Names of the children of Israel." "Name" (shem) in Hebrew thought often signifies identity, character, and existence. Engraving their names meant that their full identity and representation were continuously presented before God. It refers collectively to the twelve tribes, emphasizing the unity of the nation before the Lord, despite their individual tribal identities. This is a perpetual memorial.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Take two onyx stones and engrave on them": This phrase emphasizes the intentional divine directive for permanent inscription. The stones, being durable and valuable, underscore the lasting and precious nature of the names written on them. This contrasts with temporary or perishable methods of recording, solidifying the idea of an eternal remembrance by God.
- "the names of the sons of Israel": This specific command highlights the core purpose of the stones: to represent the entirety of God's covenant people. The names, not just abstract symbols, signify individual and corporate identity before God. The high priest's role becomes not merely a ritualistic one but profoundly intercessory, carrying the very identity of the nation into God's presence.
Exodus 28 9 Bonus section
- The precise identity of shoham is debated among scholars, with suggestions including chrysoprase, beryl, and lapis lazuli, though onyx remains the most common and symbolic translation for its layers and appearance. Regardless of the exact geological identification, its classification as a valuable, precious stone for sacred use is universally accepted.
- The meticulous instructions for the priestly garments, including this verse, reflect the ordered, holy, and beautiful nature of God. There is no room for human improvisation; divine glory demands specific, intentional worship, highlighting God's majesty and man's reverence.
- The act of engraving (מְלֶאכֶת חָרָשׁ אֶבֶן – melekhet charash even, "the work of a stone engraver") indicates a high level of skilled craftsmanship required for these sacred objects, emphasizing that nothing but the best was acceptable for God's service.
- The symbolism of placing the engraved stones on the shoulders (Ex 28:12) specifically signifies the priest bearing the responsibility and strength (shoulders for carrying) for the people, interceding for them and bringing their needs and identity into the presence of God. This carries the idea of the high priest bearing the burdens of the people before God.
Exodus 28 9 Commentary
Exodus 28:9 initiates a pivotal aspect of the high priest's role: to perpetually carry the remembrance of Israel before the Lord. The instruction to use "onyx stones," which were costly and beautiful, signifies the immense value God places on His covenant people. These stones, placed upon the high priest's shoulders (as revealed in the subsequent verses), represented the burden and the honor of bearing the tribes before God. The act of "engraving" implies a permanent, indelible record, affirming God's unfailing memory and covenant faithfulness to each individual tribe and the nation as a whole. This wasn't merely a decorative detail but a profound theological statement: through the mediation of the priest, the presence and identity of all Israel were continuously presented to Yahweh. This earthly priesthood, with its garments, rites, and representational function, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate high priesthood of Jesus Christ, who bears His church, His New Testament Israel, eternally before God's presence, not on carved stones, but in His own person and atoning work, having engraved us upon the palms of His hands.