Exodus 39 24

Exodus 39:24 kjv

And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.

Exodus 39:24 nkjv

They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine woven linen.

Exodus 39:24 niv

They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe.

Exodus 39:24 esv

On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

Exodus 39:24 nlt

They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attached them to the hem of the robe.

Exodus 39 verses

Exodus 39 24 Meaning

Exodus 39:24 details a specific component of the high priest's sacred attire: the ornamental pomegranates crafted upon the lower hem of his blue robe. These decorative elements were fashioned from threads dyed in vibrant blue, purple, and scarlet, alongside fine twined linen. This verse highlights the precise and meticulous fulfillment of God's earlier command (Exo 28:33), emphasizing the holiness and symbolic significance embedded in every aspect of the priestly vestments.

Exodus 39 24 Context

Exodus chapter 39 is dedicated to detailing the successful completion of the Tabernacle and its associated sacred furnishings and garments, precisely as commanded by the Lord. This chapter stands as the culmination of God's instructions given from Exodus 25 onwards, highlighting the Israelite artisans' meticulous obedience under the guidance of Bezaleel and Aholiab, "as the LORD commanded Moses" (Exo 39:1, 5, 7, etc.). Verse 24 focuses specifically on the robe of the high priest, an essential part of his unique attire that enabled him to minister in the presence of a holy God on behalf of the people. The accurate replication of the prescribed pomegranates in specific colors demonstrates the supreme importance of following divine patterns for worship and sacred service in ancient Israel.

Exodus 39 24 Word analysis

• And they made (wâ-ya‘ăśû - וַיַּעֲשׂוּ): From the Hebrew verb ‘asah, meaning "to make" or "to do." This indicates an act of deliberate and skilled craftsmanship, signifying the precise execution of the divine instructions. It underscores the theme of obedience and the fulfillment of God's specific commands.

• upon the hems (‘al pi-haš·šû·lê - עַל־פִּשׁוּלֵי): pi literally means "mouth" or "edge," and shûl refers to the lower hem or skirt of a garment. This specifies the exact location for these sacred adornments, drawing attention to their placement on a significant, visible border of the priestly robe.

• of the robe (ham·m‘îl - הַמְּעִיל): Hebrew me'il, designating the blue, outer robe worn by the high priest beneath the ephod. It was a distinctive priestly garment (Exo 28:31-34), symbolizing dignity and the specific office of priestly service.

• pomegranates (rimmônîm - רִמֹּנִים): From rimmon, the fruit of the pomegranate tree. In biblical contexts, pomegranates often symbolize fertility, abundance, prosperity, beauty, and blessing. As artificial adornments on the robe, they represented spiritual fruitfulness and the life-giving nature associated with the high priest's intercessory role.

• of blue (tə-ḵê·leṯ - תְּכֵלֶת): Tekelet, a specific deep blue dye derived from a marine mollusk. This color symbolized heaven, divinity, and divine revelation, as it reflected the sky or the vastness of the ocean. Its use consistently points to things sacred and connected to God's dwelling.

• and purple (wə·’ar·gā·mān - וְאַרְגָּמָן): Argaman, a royal purple dye, also obtained from shellfish. This color typically symbolized royalty, sovereignty, wealth, and power. Its inclusion in priestly garments highlighted God's supreme kingship and the priestly mediator's access to His divine authority.

• and scarlet (wə·ṯō·la‘·aṯ šā·nî - וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי): Tola'at shani, literally "worm of scarlet," referring to the crimson dye extracted from the kermes insect. This vibrant red often symbolized life, blood, and particularly, atonement and purification from sin. Its presence prophetically alluded to the sacrificial blood necessary for cleansing.

• and twined linen (wə·šêš - וְשֵׁשׁ): Shesh, referring to fine, bleached linen, typically from Egypt, carefully spun. It symbolized purity, righteousness, holiness, and divine light. Its quality highlighted the sanctity and flawlessness required for God's service.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen": The combination of pomegranates with these specific colors and linen created a potent visual and symbolic statement. The pomegranates (fruitfulness) adorned with heavenly blue (divinity), royal purple (kingship), and atoning scarlet (sacrifice), all made of pure linen (holiness), symbolized a ministry that brought forth fruit, had access to God's royalty, pointed to atonement, and was characterized by purity. This assembly pointed to the comprehensive nature of the priestly office as God ordained it, anticipating the multifaceted ministry of the perfect High Priest.

Exodus 39 24 Bonus section

• Interplay with Bells: Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Exodus 28:33-34 and 39:25 confirm that golden bells were placed alternately with these pomegranates on the same hem. The pomegranates (symbolizing fruitfulness, actions, character) and the bells (symbolizing testimony, sound, voice) together conveyed a holistic picture of priestly service: a life of righteous character and a clear proclamation of truth were essential when ministering before God.
• Pagan Polemic (Indirect): While pomegranates themselves were common motifs in the ancient Near East, sometimes associated with fertility cults, their precise context on the Tabernacle's holy garments, meticulously prescribed by God, served to sanctify the symbol and redeem its meaning within Israel's monotheistic framework. Unlike pagan representations often linked to debased rituals, here they were re-contextualized to represent divine fruitfulness, not human or cultic fertility.
• Costly Materials and Divine Worth: The dyes for blue, purple, and scarlet were exceptionally valuable and laborious to produce, signifying the immense worth and glory God attributed to His dwelling place and priestly service. This teaches that offerings to God should reflect His supreme value.
• Prophetic Foreshadowing: The entire high priestly garment system, including these pomegranates, foreshadowed the person and work of Jesus Christ. As our High Priest, Christ embodies perfect purity (linen), divine authority and kingship (blue and purple), and accomplishes atonement through His shed blood (scarlet), bearing fruit in righteousness for His people.

Exodus 39 24 Commentary

Exodus 39:24 is not merely an architectural detail; it is a profound declaration of precise obedience and divine symbolism. The crafting of pomegranates from threads of blue, purple, and scarlet, interspersed with fine twined linen on the high priest's robe, signifies far more than mere ornamentation. These elements, meticulously specified by God (Exo 28:33), served as a visual theology, communicating fundamental truths about God and the nature of sacred worship. The pomegranates themselves likely symbolized fruitfulness and blessing, vital characteristics of a thriving covenant relationship. The specific colors each carried deep theological weight: blue (heaven, divinity, command), purple (royalty, sovereignty), and scarlet (life, blood, atonement). Together with the pure linen, representing holiness, these adornments depicted a high priestly ministry that was holy, regal, heavenly-ordained, and inherently connected to the provision of life and atonement for sin, producing spiritual fruit. This passage therefore emphasizes that acceptable service to God demands faithful adherence to His revealed will, with every detail holding sacred significance and collectively pointing to the character and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who perfectly fulfilled all that these symbols foreshadowed.