Exodus 39:8 kjv
And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 39:8 nkjv
And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.
Exodus 39:8 niv
They fashioned the breastpiece?the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
Exodus 39:8 esv
He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 39:8 nlt
Bezalel made the chestpiece with great skill and care. He made it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.
Exodus 39 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 28:15 | "You shall make a breastpiece of judgment...of the same craftsmanship as the ephod you shall make it..." | Command for breastpiece, same as ephod. |
| Exo 28:2-6 | Details of the ephod's construction, materials, and colors, paralleling the breastpiece. | Design and materials of the ephod. |
| Exo 35:35 | "...He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work...of the weaver..." | Divine endowment of weaving skill. |
| Exo 36:8 | "All the gifted artisans among the workers made the tabernacle...of fine twined linen." | Skilled workers using fine linen. |
| Exo 39:1 | "...they made the finely woven garments for ministering in the holy place..." | General crafting of priestly garments. |
| Exo 39:5 | "And the skillfully woven band that was on the ephod was of the same material..." | Connection of ephod parts by material. |
| Lev 8:8 | "He put the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim." | Placement of breastpiece and Urim/Thummim. |
| Exo 28:29-30 | High Priest carrying names of tribes, Urim and Thummim, when he goes before the Lord. | Purpose of carrying Israel's tribes. |
| Exo 25:3 | List of offerings for the Tabernacle including gold, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen. | Core materials for Tabernacle. |
| Num 4:6-14 | Holy objects covered with blue, purple, scarlet cloth when moving the Tabernacle. | Significance of colors in holy context. |
| Num 15:38-39 | Israel commanded to wear blue fringes (tzitzit) as a reminder of God's commandments. | Blue symbolizes God's commandments. |
| Pro 31:22 | Describes a virtuous woman making coverings of tapestry and clothing of fine linen and purple. | Association of fine linen/purple with status/excellence. |
| Jer 4:30 | Judah described with "scarlet and gold" to enhance beauty, though in judgment. | Scarlet and gold as markers of prestige. |
| Eze 16:13 | Describes Jerusalem adorned with fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. | Fine linen for adornment and splendor. |
| Rev 19:8 | The bride of Christ is granted to array herself in fine linen, bright and pure, for righteousness. | Fine linen symbolizes righteousness. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Jesus our great High Priest, sympathizes with weaknesses, allows access to God. | Christ as our High Priest. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | Christ entered the true tabernacle, not with material blood, but His own, achieving eternal redemption. | Christ as the ultimate sacrifice and intercessor. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Boldness to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus, with sincere hearts. | Access to God through Christ's sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | Believers as "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession." | New Testament believer as priest. |
| Isa 61:10 | "He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." | God clothing with righteousness. |
| Dan 5:7 | Offering purple robes and gold chains for interpretation. | Gold and purple symbolizing high honor. |
| Mal 3:3 | God will "purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." | Gold as a symbol of purification. |
Exodus 39 verses
Exodus 39 8 Meaning
Exodus 39:8 describes the meticulous craftsmanship of the breastpiece (also known as the Breastpiece of Judgment), an essential garment for the High Priest. This verse specifies the exquisite materials and weaving technique used, emphasizing its identical construction to the ephod. It highlights the divine precision required for objects dedicated to the worship of Yahweh, symbolizing holiness, purity, divine authority, and royal dignity through its precious elements and colors.
Exodus 39 8 Context
Exodus chapter 39 is a continuation of the meticulous recounting of the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings and priestly garments. Chapters 25-31 record Yahweh's detailed commands to Moses on Mount Sinai, and chapters 35-39 describe the execution of these commands by Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled artisans. Verse 8, specifically, is part of the making of the priestly garments (Exo 39:1-31), serving as a direct fulfillment of the instructions found in Exodus 28. The repetitive phrase "just as the Lord commanded Moses" permeates these chapters, underscoring the divine origin of the design and the unwavering obedience of the builders. This attention to detail emphasizes that every element of worship was divinely appointed, distinct from human invention or pagan practices common in surrounding cultures.
Exodus 39 8 Word analysis
- And he made: Vaya'as. This phrase continues the narrative flow, highlighting the diligent labor of Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen whom God had specially gifted for this work (Exo 36:1, Exo 36:8). It marks the transition from divine command to human fulfillment.
- the breastpiece: HaChoshen. Specifically, the "breastpiece of judgment" (choshen mishpat), as it is called in Exodus 28:15. This was a critical component worn by the High Priest over the ephod, bearing twelve precious stones inscribed with the names of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing the priest carrying the nation before God. Its design signifies divine justice and discernment.
- woven like the ephod: Ma'aseh Choshev k'Ma'aseh Ephod. This denotes the highest level of craftsmanship ("work of a skillful weaver" or "designer's work") and confirms that the breastpiece shared the identical, elaborate weaving technique and material complexity of the ephod itself. This ensures uniformity and reinforces the breastpiece's integration with the ephod.
- of gold: Zahav. Gold symbolizes purity, divine glory, sovereignty, durability, and great value. It represents the preciousness and eternal nature of God and everything dedicated to Him. Its presence in the sacred garments points to divine presence and the priestly office's sanctity.
- of blue and purple and scarlet yarns: T'cheilet v'Argaman v'Tola'at Shani. These three colors consistently appear in the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred objects.
- Blue (T'cheilet): Often associated with heaven, the divine, holiness, and God's glory. It speaks of divine origin and commandments, connecting the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly realm.
- Purple (Argaman): A very expensive dye, traditionally associated with royalty, majesty, power, and wealth. Its inclusion signifies the High Priest's royal representation and the majesty of the God he serves.
- Scarlet (Tola'at Shani): Signifies life, sacrifice, and perhaps also royalty and abundance. While often linked to sin (Isa 1:18) and atonement, here it likely points to the vibrant, life-giving aspect of divine presence and priestly intercession.
- and of fine twined linen: Shesh MaShzar. This refers to very high-quality, pure white linen, known for its fineness and strength. It symbolizes purity, holiness, righteousness, and dignity. "Twined" implies multiple strands twisted together, making the fabric stronger and more beautiful. Its pure white color reflects the holiness and blamelessness required in God's service.
- woven like the ephod, of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen: This phrase group meticulously details the precious and divinely significant materials and their skilled integration. It highlights that the breastpiece was not merely decorative but highly functional and symbolically rich, its every thread proclaiming the glory and character of the Holy God. The repetition of materials and techniques with the ephod signifies unity in the high priestly vestments.
Exodus 39 8 Bonus section
The precise instructions for the breastpiece in Exodus 39:8 and elsewhere in Exodus highlight a core biblical theme: God is a God of order and detail, especially regarding worship. Nothing was left to human discretion; every element of the Tabernacle and the priestly vestments communicated divine truth. The high value and distinct symbolism of the materials also teach that God desires our best for His service. This prefigures the New Testament concept of giving our "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5) as an offering of praise and obedience, also marked by reverence and purity, albeit without literal garments of gold and linen. The physical materials served as types and shadows pointing to greater spiritual realities found in Christ and the redeemed community.
Exodus 39 8 Commentary
Exodus 39:8, though seemingly a simple construction detail, deeply underscores the theological principles guiding the Tabernacle's creation. The making of the breastpiece "woven like the ephod" emphasizes adherence to divine blueprint and the integration of priestly duties. The selection of gold speaks to the inherent value and holiness of the High Priest's role and the God he serves. The three distinct dyed yarns – blue (heaven), purple (royalty), and scarlet (life/sacrifice) – along with the fine white linen (purity/righteousness), are not arbitrary colors but imbued with profound meaning, representing the nature of God, the King who dwells among His pure people, accessed through priestly intercession. This meticulous craftsmanship for the priestly garments, like the Tabernacle itself, prefigures Christ, our perfect High Priest, whose heavenly priesthood embodies divine glory, ultimate sacrifice, and righteous purity, allowing believers direct access to God (Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22).