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Journey Through the Bible

Exodus 28:6-30

6 The Ephod
“Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of a skilled craftsman.

7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened.

8 Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

9 “Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel

10 in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

11 Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings

12 and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord.

13 Make gold filigree settings

14 and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

15 The Breastpiece
“Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.

16 It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double.

17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;

18 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;

19 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;

20 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.

21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

22 “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.

23 Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece.

24 Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece,

25 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.

26 Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod.

27 Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod.

28 The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.

30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Cross References for Exodus 28:6-30

Exodus 26:1 - The Tabernacle “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple ... Click to read the verse Exodus 26:1 Click to read the verse Exodus 26:1

Exodus 28:15 - The Breastpiece “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman. Ma... Click to read the verse Exodus 28:15 Click to read the verse Exodus 28:15

Exodus 39:2-7 - The Ephod They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twis... Click to read the verse Exodus 39:2-7 Click to read the verse Exodus 39:2-7

1 Chronicles 22:15 - You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kin... Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 22:15 Click to read the verse 1 Chronicles 22:15