Exodus 39:30 kjv
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39:30 nkjv
Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39:30 niv
They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39:30 esv
They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, "Holy to the LORD."
Exodus 39:30 nlt
Finally, they made the sacred medallion ? the badge of holiness ? of pure gold. They engraved it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:36-38 | “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it... ‘Holy to the Lord.’ And it shall be on Aaron’s forehead..." | Parallel instruction for the golden plate, primary context. |
| Lev 8:9 | "And he put the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses." | Fulfillment of command in Aaron’s ordination. |
| Lev 10:3 | "And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” | God's expectation of holiness from His priests. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | "For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy." | God's intrinsic holiness and the call to holiness for His people. |
| Num 15:39-41 | "You shall remember all the commandments of the Lord... and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God..." | Reminder to all Israel to remember and practice holiness. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession." | Israel's identity as a holy people belonging to God. |
| Ex 19:6 | "and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’" | Israel's corporate priestly calling and national holiness. |
| Isa 6:3 | "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" | Proclamation of God's ultimate holiness. |
| Zech 3:5 | "And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by." | Foreshadows clean garments for a new priestly service, potentially messianic. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... he shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne..." | Prophecy of Messiah as Priest and King, foreshadowing Christ. |
| 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." | Jesus as the perfect, heavenly High Priest. |
| Heb 7:26-28 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." | Christ's absolute purity and perfect holiness. |
| 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)... he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." | Jesus entering the true sanctuary with His own blood, demonstrating ultimate consecration. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | Call for believers to live out holiness in imitation of God. |
| 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 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | New Testament parallel to Israel's calling, now applied to the church. |
| Eph 1:4 | "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love." | Believers chosen in Christ for holiness and blamelessness. |
| Col 1:22 | "he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him," | Reconciliation through Christ for the purpose of holiness. |
| Tit 2:14 | "He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." | Christ’s work in making His people pure and zealous for God. |
| Rev 1:6 | "and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." | Believers' status as a kingdom of priests in the New Covenant. |
| Rev 21:27 | "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life." | The absolute holiness of God's presence in the New Jerusalem. |
| Ps 110:4 | "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”" | Prophecy of a unique, eternal priesthood for the Messiah. |
Exodus 39 verses
Exodus 39 30 Meaning
Exodus 39:30 describes the precise making of the golden plate worn on the high priest’s turban, which bore the inscription "Holy to the Lord." This inscription declared the high priest’s sacred consecration and the absolute holiness required in his office. It symbolized Israel’s dedication and holiness as a nation before the Most High God, represented through their consecrated mediator. The plate, glistening brightly on his forehead, was a constant visual reminder of God's holiness and His ownership of His people.
Exodus 39 30 Context
Exodus chapter 39 details the skilled craftsmen's final work in constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, including the holy garments for the priests. This verse specifically describes the completion of the high priestly garments, culminating in the golden plate for the turban. The entire endeavor was done precisely "as the Lord commanded Moses," emphasizing the divine origin and perfect adherence to God’s holy design. Historically, the creation of these items signifies the establishment of Yahweh's dwelling place among His people and the institution of the Aaronic priesthood, central to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God.
Exodus 39 30 Word analysis
- And they made: (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ - vayya‘aśu) Implies skilled workmanship by the craftsmen, particularly Bezalel and Oholiab and those gifted by God, operating under divine direction (Ex 31:2-6). This was not human ingenuity but obedient execution.
- the plate: (צִּיץ - tsiyts) From a root meaning "to blossom" or "to shine." It signifies a glistening, flower-like or bright plate of gold. Its visible brightness reflected its symbolic function. It's elsewhere used for a flower, suggesting beauty and distinction.
- of the holy crown: (נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ - nezer haqqōḏeš) Literally "the crown/consecration of holiness." Nezer refers to a symbol of royalty, dedication, or separation, as seen in the consecration of a Nazirite (Num 6:7). Here, it signifies complete dedication and holiness.
- of pure gold: (זָהָב טָהוֹר - zahav ṭāhor) Gold signifies preciousness, durability, and divinity. "Pure" (ṭāhor) denotes unadulterated quality, essential for holy objects, reflecting God’s own absolute purity. This pureness ensures worthiness before God.
- and wrote upon it a writing: (וַיִּכְתְּבוּ עָלָיו מִכְתַּב - vayyikh'tavu ‘alaw mikhtav) Indicates an intentional and permanent inscription. The act of writing implies a declarative statement, visibly accessible and unchangeable.
- like the engravings of a signet: (פִּתּוּחֵי חוֹתָם - pittûḥê ḥôtām) "Engravings" suggests carving or cutting deeply, making the words indelible. A "signet" (seal) signifies authenticity, authority, ownership, and unalterable decree (Esth 3:12, Dan 6:17). This ensures the inscription was clear, official, and permanently set.
- ‘Holy to the Lord.’: (קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה - qōḏeš LaYahweh) This phrase is the core declaration.
- Holy: (qōḏeš) Refers to being set apart for divine use, distinct from the common or profane. It denotes purity, sacredness, and separation to God. It highlights God's transcendence and His demand for separation from impurity.
- to the Lord: (LaYahweh) Identifies Yahweh (YHWH), the covenant God of Israel, as the object and recipient of this dedication. It signifies exclusive ownership and ultimate allegiance. The high priest, and by extension Israel, was consecrated exclusively for Yahweh.
Exodus 39 30 Bonus section
The high priest’s turban and its golden plate were the uppermost garments, placing the "Holy to the Lord" inscription literally at the forehead, the center of perception and representation. This emphasizes that holiness was not merely an act or an emotion, but the very identity of the one ministering before God. It served as a constant reminder to Aaron himself of his solemn charge and a visible assurance to the people that their sacrifices and offerings, though flawed, would be accepted through their holy mediator, pointing to the future, perfect mediator. The brilliance of the gold (tsiyts) may also hint at the glory of God that shines through those dedicated entirely to Him.
Exodus 39 30 Commentary
Exodus 39:30, through the description of the high priest's golden plate, powerfully underscores the principle of holiness as central to approaching God. The shining 'tsiyts' of pure gold, etched with "Holy to the Lord," was more than an adornment; it was a visible theological statement. It declared that the priest, as the mediator for Israel, and all his ministry, must be entirely consecrated to Yahweh. This served a crucial function: the inscription allowed the priest to "bear the iniquity of the holy things" (Ex 28:38), ensuring Israel’s worship, though imperfect, was accepted by a holy God through their designated representative. This requirement for symbolic holiness on the priest's forehead finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, our perfectly "holy, innocent, unstained" (Heb 7:26) High Priest, who alone genuinely bears our sin and perfectly represents us before God without flaw. His true consecration makes His people truly holy in Him, fulfilling the intent of the old covenant symbols.