Exodus 28

Clothing for the Priests

1. “Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests.

2. Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful.

3. Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service.

4. These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests.

5. So give them fine linen cloth, gold thread, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread.

Design of the Ephod

6. “The craftsmen must make the ephod of finely woven linen and skillfully embroider it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.

7. It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces.

8. The decorative sash will be made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.

9. “Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel.

10. Six names will be on each stone, arranged in the order of the births of the original sons of Israel.

11. Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree.

12. Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the Lord.

13. Make the settings of gold filigree,

14. then braid two cords of pure gold and attach them to the filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod.

Design of the Chestpiece

15. “Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God.[a] Make it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread.

16. Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches[b] square.

17. Mount four rows of gemstones[c] on it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald.

18. The second row will contain a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone.

19. The third row will contain an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst.

20. The fourth row will contain a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones will be set in gold filigree.

21. Each stone will represent one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it like a seal.

22. “To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold thread.

23. Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece.

24. Tie the two gold cords to the two rings on the chestpiece.

25. Tie the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod.

26. Then make two more gold rings and attach them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod.

27. And make two more gold rings and attach them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash is fastened to the ephod.

28. Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the decorative sash.

29. “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece[d] over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord.

30. Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord.

Additional Clothing for the Priests

31. “Make the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue cloth,

32. with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. Reinforce the opening with a woven collar[e] so it will not tear.

33. Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.

34. The gold bells and pomegranates are to alternate all around the hem.

35. Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the Lord, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the Lord’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.

36. “Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: Holy to the lord.

37. Attach the medallion with a blue cord to the front of Aaron’s turban, where it must remain.

38. Aaron must wear it on his forehead so he may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrate their sacred offerings. He must always wear it on his forehead so the Lord will accept the people.

39. “Weave Aaron’s patterned tunic from fine linen cloth. Fashion the turban from this linen as well. Also make a sash, and decorate it with colorful embroidery.

40. “For Aaron’s sons, make tunics, sashes, and special head coverings that are glorious and beautiful.

41. Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as my priests.

42. Also make linen undergarments for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from their hips to their thighs.

43. These must be worn whenever Aaron and his sons enter the Tabernacle[f] or approach the altar in the Holy Place to perform their priestly duties. Then they will not incur guilt and die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and all his descendants after him.

Footnotes:
a. 28:15: Hebrew a chestpiece for decision.
b. 28:16: Hebrew 1 span [23 centimeters].
c. 28:17: The identification of some of these gemstones is uncertain.
d. 28:29: Hebrew the chestpiece for decision; also in 28:30. See 28:15.
e. 28:32: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
f. 28:43: Hebrew Tent of Meeting.