Exodus 39:26 kjv
A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:26 nkjv
a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:26 niv
The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:26 esv
a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate around the hem of the robe for ministering, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:26 nlt
with bells and pomegranates alternating all around the hem. This robe was to be worn whenever the priest ministered before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 39 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex. 28:33 | “On its hem you shall make pomegranates... and bells of gold between them...” | Original command for the robe's hem. |
| Ex. 28:34 | “A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem...” | Details the alternating pattern. |
| Ex. 28:35 | “It shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place... lest he die.” | Crucial purpose of the bells for priestly protection. |
| Ex. 35:19 | “the woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.” | Refers to the category of garments made for holy service. |
| Ex. 39:1 | “From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarns they made woven garments for ministering... just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” | Broad context of holy garment production as commanded. |
| Ex. 39:5 | “...woven by skillful designers; all of it was just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” | Repetition of obedience to divine command. |
| Ex. 39:25 | “They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the hem...” | Preceding verse, confirming the manufacture. |
| Ex. 39:32 | “Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.” | Summarizing Israel's obedience in the entire construction. |
| Ex. 39:42 | “According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.” | Further emphasis on completed work as commanded. |
| Ex. 39:43 | “And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it.” | Moses' inspection confirms adherence to divine plan. |
| Lev. 8:7-9 | “And he put the tunic on him... the ephod... and fastened it by the skillfully woven band.” | Describes Moses adorning Aaron, showing fulfillment. |
| Num. 15:38-40 | “Speak to the people of Israel... they are to make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments... and you shall remember all the commandments of the Lord...” | Parallels the use of garment adornments for remembrance and obedience. |
| Deut. 27:1 | “And Moses... commanded the people... Keep all the commandment that I command you today.” | General principle of obedience to God's commands. |
| 1 Kgs. 7:18-20 | “He made the columns... also two rows of pomegranates... on the capitals that were on the top...” | Pomegranates as recurring ornamental motif in sacred structures (Solomon's Temple). |
| Joel 1:12 | “...the pomegranate also, and the date palm and the apple tree... for joy has vanished from the children of man.” | Connects pomegranates with joy and abundance (though here lamenting its loss). |
| Zech. 14:20 | “And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD...”” | Prophetic vision where everyday items (bells) become holy, a transformation of sacredness. |
| Heb. 4:14-16 | “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” | Christ as the fulfillment of the High Priestly role, enabling access. |
| Heb. 9:11-12 | “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands)...” | Contrasts Christ's superior priesthood and sanctuary to the Old Testament. |
| 1 Pet. 2:5 | “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices...” | Believers as part of a new, spiritual priesthood. |
| 1 Pet. 2:9 | “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession...” | Emphasizes the priestly identity of all believers. |
| Rev. 1:6 | “and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father...” | New Testament believers identified as priests. |
| 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. | Metaphorical garments representing spiritual purity and righteousness. |
Exodus 39 verses
Exodus 39 26 Meaning
Exodus 39:26 details the meticulous arrangement of alternating gold bells and woven pomegranates along the lower hem of the High Priest's blue robe. This specific design and placement were a direct fulfillment of God's prior commands to Moses for the construction of the priestly garments. The verse underscores the precision and obedience in preparing these sacred vestments for the High Priest's holy service in the Tabernacle.
Exodus 39 26 Context
Exodus 39 falls within the section of the book (chapters 35-40) dedicated to the actual construction of the Tabernacle and its associated items, including the sacred priestly garments. These chapters serve as a direct response to God's detailed commands for these items, initially given in chapters 25-31 and then reiterated in parts of 35. Verse 26, specifically detailing the hem of the High Priest's blue robe, exemplifies the meticulous and faithful execution of God's instructions by the craftsmen, Bezaleel and Aholiab, and all those who contributed their skill and offerings. This post-Sinai period required Israel to establish a proper and holy means of worship and fellowship with their covenant God, which was achieved through adherence to divinely prescribed forms and rituals. The making of the priestly garments was not merely about aesthetic beauty, but about distinguishing and consecrating those who would draw near to God on behalf of the people, with every detail holding theological significance for acceptable ministry.
Exodus 39 26 Word analysis
- a bell: Hebrew: pa'amon (פַּעֲמוֹן). This refers to a small, often spherical, bell containing a clapper to produce a distinct ringing sound. As explicitly stated in Ex. 28:35, the primary function of these bells was protective. Their sound announced the High Priest's presence as he moved within the Holy Place, particularly beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies, ensuring that he would not die. This signaled a ritually active and acceptable mediator standing before God.
- and a pomegranate: Hebrew: rimmon (רִמּוֹן). This was an ornamental design, typically woven from blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, resembling the fruit of the pomegranate tree. In ancient cultures, pomegranates were widely associated with fruitfulness, abundance, prosperity, and life. In the Israelite context, it could symbolize the blessings of God, the fruitfulness of His people, or the sweetness of His Word and commandments. It served as a visual counterpoint to the audible bells.
- a bell and a pomegranate: This phrase emphasizes the precise, alternating pattern. This repetition is found in both the command (Ex. 28:34) and its execution (Ex. 39:26), stressing the exact fulfillment of the divine blueprint. The alternating pattern created a sequence of sound and sight, signifying a complete and orderly representation of the priest's approach and God's blessings.
- around the hem: Hebrew: shuliym (שֻׁלֵי). This denotes the lowest border or edge of the garment. Placing the bells and pomegranates here ensured that they were visible and audible as the High Priest moved, making his presence known to those outside the Tabernacle's innermost sanctuary.
- of the robe for ministering: Hebrew: me'iyl (מְעִיל) sharath. The me'iyl was the High Priest's blue robe, worn under the ephod. "Ministering" (sharath) signifies dedicated, sacred service or worship specifically directed towards God in the Tabernacle. This underscores that the garment was not for common use but was exclusively consecrated for priestly functions, emphasizing the High Priest's unique mediatorial role.
- as the Lord had commanded Moses: Hebrew: ka'asher tzivah Yehovah et-Moshe. This precise phrase is a highly significant and frequently repeated refrain throughout Exodus 35-40, appearing over 50 times. It serves as the overriding theme of the entire Tabernacle construction narrative. This constant reiteration affirms that every single detail, from the grand design to the smallest ornamentation, was executed in absolute obedience to God's divine instructions. It authenticates the work, validates the priesthood, and reinforces the importance of meticulous adherence to divine will in matters of worship and holiness. It emphasizes the foundational principle that acceptable worship is commanded worship.
Exodus 39 26 Bonus section
- The contrast of sound (bells) and sight (pomegranates) on the robe provides a comprehensive sensory representation of the High Priest's approach, indicating a full and reverent presence before the Lord.
- The High Priest's movements within the Holy Place were often hidden from the eyes of the congregation outside. The sound of the bells would have provided reassurance to the people that their mediator was still alive and actively ministering on their behalf, a continuous audible sign of God's acceptance of their priestly representative.
- The blue color of the ephod robe itself, from which the hem descended, often symbolized the heavens, divinity, and God's glory, connecting the earthly sanctuary to heavenly realities.
- The meticulous detail in Exodus 39 stands in contrast to common pagan religious practices where priests often wore attire of their own devising or that mimicked local deities. This divine blueprint underscored that Israel's worship was uniquely revealed and commanded by the One True God.
Exodus 39 26 Commentary
Exodus 39:26 is more than a mere design detail; it is a profound testament to the divine orchestration of Israelite worship and the human commitment to obedience. The specific ornamentation of gold bells and woven pomegranates on the High Priest's robe, made "as the Lord had commanded Moses," highlights several crucial theological principles. Firstly, the bells served as a life-preserving mechanism for the High Priest; their audible sound when he moved into the holy presence of God was essential, lest he die, signaling his reverent, consecrated movement and authorized mediation. Secondly, the pomegranates, rich in symbolic meaning, likely represented the spiritual fruitfulness of God's people, the abundance of His blessings, or the life that flows from Him. Their inclusion speaks to God's desire for a fruitful and thriving relationship with His covenant people. Finally, the relentless repetition of "as the Lord had commanded Moses" throughout Exodus 39 (and indeed, the Tabernacle account) serves as the foundational theological anchor. It asserts that true worship is not subject to human invention or preference, but must align precisely with divine revelation. This passage therefore impresses upon the reader the gravity of sacred space, the purity required for approaching God, and the supreme importance of obedience in all matters of faith and practice, setting a precedent for our understanding of approaching a holy God and foreshadowing the perfect, obedient Priesthood of Christ.