Garments for the Priests 1 CPDV “Also, join to yourself your brother Aaron, with his sons from the midst of the sons of Israel, so that they may exercise the priesthood for me: Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. BSB BSB: “Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
2 CPDV And you shall make a holy vestment for Aaron, your brother, with glory and elegance. BSB BSB: Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor.
3 CPDV And you shall speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of prudence, so that they may make the vestments of Aaron, in which, having been sanctified, he may minister to me. BSB BSB: You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.
4 CPDV Now these shall be the vestments that they shall make: A breastplate and an ephod, a tunic and a close-fit linen garment, a headdress and a wide belt. They shall make the holy vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may exercise the priesthood for me. BSB BSB: These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.
5 CPDV And they shall receive gold, and hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine linen. BSB BSB: They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
The Ephod (Exodus 39:1–7)
6 CPDV Then they shall make the ephod of gold, and hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen, wrought with diverse colors. BSB BSB: They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.
7 CPDV It shall have two edges joined at the top on both sides, so that they may respond as one. BSB BSB: It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened.
8 CPDV Likewise, the weaving and all the detail work shall be of gold, and hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen. BSB BSB: And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
9 CPDV And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: BSB BSB: Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
10 CPDV six names on one stone, and the remaining six on the other, according to the order of their birth. BSB BSB: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth.
11 CPDV By the work of a sculptor and the skill of a jeweler, you shall engrave them with the names of the sons of Israel, enclosed and encompassed with gold. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV And you shall place them on both sides of the ephod, as a memorial to the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall carry their names before the Lord, upon both shoulders, as a remembrance. BSB BSB: Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.
13 CPDV You shall also make hooks of gold, BSB BSB: Fashion gold filigree settings
14 CPDV and two little chains of the purest gold, linked to one another, which you shall insert into the hooks. BSB BSB: and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings.
The Breastpiece (Exodus 39:8–21)
15 CPDV Likewise, you shall make the breastplate of judgment, wrought with diverse colors according to the weaving of the ephod: of gold, hyacinth and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen. BSB BSB: You are also to make a breastpiece of judgment with the same workmanship as the ephod. Construct it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
16 CPDV It shall have four corners and be doubled. It shall have the measure of the palm of a hand, both in length and in width. BSB BSB: It must be square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.
17 CPDV And you shall set within it four rows of stones. In the first row, there shall be a sardius stone, and a topaz, and an emerald. BSB BSB: And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
18 CPDV In the second, there shall be a garnet, a sapphire, and a jasper. BSB BSB: in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
19 CPDV In the third, there shall be a zircon, an agate, and an amethyst. BSB BSB: in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20 CPDV In the fourth, there shall be a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl. They shall be set in gold by their rows. BSB BSB: and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount these stones in gold filigree settings.
21 CPDV And these shall have the names of the sons of Israel. With twelve names shall they be engraved: each stone with one name from the twelve tribes. BSB BSB: The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
22 CPDV You shall make chains of the purest gold, linked one to another, on the breastplate, BSB BSB: For the breastpiece, make braided chains like cords of pure gold.
23 CPDV and two rings of gold, which you shall place at both ends of the breastplate. BSB BSB: You are also to make two gold rings and fasten them to the two corners of the breastpiece.
24 CPDV And the golden chains, you shall join to the rings, which are at its edges. BSB BSB: Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
25 CPDV And the ends of the chains themselves, you shall couple with two hooks, on both sides of the ephod, which looks toward the breastplate. BSB BSB: and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
26 CPDV You shall also make two rings of gold, which you shall place at the ends of the breastplate, at the borders which are away from the region of the ephod and which look toward its back. BSB BSB: Make two more gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.
27 CPDV And then you shall also make two other rings of gold, which are to be suspended on both sides at the bottom of the ephod, which looks out opposite the face of the lower juncture, so that the breastplate can be fitted to the ephod. BSB BSB: Make two additional gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near its seam just above its woven waistband.
28 CPDV And it shall be drawn tight to the rings of the breastplate, by the rings of the ephod, with a hyacinth band, so that the well-constructed juncture will remain in place, and the breastplate and the ephod will not be able to be separated from one another. BSB BSB: The rings of the breastpiece shall be tied to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the waistband of the ephod and does not swing out from the ephod.
29 CPDV And Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment upon his chest, when he enters into the Sanctuary, as a memorial in the presence of the Lord in eternity. BSB BSB: Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.
30 CPDV Then you shall place in the breastplate of judgment, Doctrine and Truth, which shall then be upon Aaron’s chest, when he enters before the Lord. And he shall wear the judgment of the sons of Israel on his chest, in the sight of the Lord always. BSB BSB: And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
Additional Priestly Garments (Exodus 39:22–31)
31 CPDV And you shall make the tunic for the ephod entirely of hyacinth, BSB BSB: You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
32 CPDV and the head will be above its middle, with a hem woven around it, just as is usually made at the end parts of a garment, so that it may not be easily broken. BSB BSB: with an opening at its top in the center. Around the opening shall be a woven collar with an opening like that of a garment, so that it will not tear.
33 CPDV Yet truly, beneath it, at the base of the same tunic, all around, you shall make something like pomegranates, from hyacinth, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, with little bells set in their midst. BSB BSB: Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them,
34 CPDV So then, there shall be a little golden bell and a pomegranate, and again another golden bell and a pomegranate. BSB BSB: alternating the gold bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe.
35 CPDV And Aaron will be vested with it during the office of his ministry, so that the sound may be heard when he enters and exits the Sanctuary, in the sight of the Lord, and so that he may not die. BSB BSB: Aaron must wear the robe whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters or exits the sanctuary before the LORD, so that he will not die.
36 CPDV And you shall make a plate of the purest gold, in which you shall engrave, with the skill of a sculptor, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ BSB BSB: You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
37 CPDV And you shall fasten it with a band of hyacinth, and it shall be upon the headdress, BSB BSB: Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.
38 CPDV hanging in front of the high priest. And Aaron shall carry the iniquities of that which the sons of Israel have offered and sanctified, in all their gifts and donations. But the plate will always be at his forehead, so that the Lord may be well pleased with them. BSB BSB: And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.
39 CPDV And you shall draw the tunic tight with fine linen, and you shall make a headdress of fine linen, and a wide belt, wrought with embroidery. BSB BSB: You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.
40 CPDV Furthermore, for the sons of Aaron, you shall prepare linen tunics, and wide belts as well as headdresses, with glory and elegance. BSB BSB: Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.
41 CPDV And with all these you shall vest your brother Aaron, and his sons with him. And you shall consecrate all their hands, and you shall sanctify them, so that they may exercise the priesthood for me. BSB BSB: After you put these garments on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them so that they may serve Me as priests.
42 CPDV You shall also make linen undergarments, in order to cover the flesh of their nakedness, from the kidneys all the way to the thighs. BSB BSB: Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh.
43 CPDV And Aaron and his sons will use them when they enter the tabernacle of the testimony, and when they approach toward the altar, in order to minister in the sanctuary, lest, being guilty of iniquity, they may die. It shall be a law forever for Aaron, and for his offspring after him.” BSB BSB: Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.