Exodus 28:15-30
The breastpiece places Israel’s names over Aaron’s heart so the high priest bears the covenant people and their judgment before the Lord continually.
15 “You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it.
16 It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length, and a span its width.
17 You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
18 and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
20 and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.
21 The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes.
22 You shall make on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
23 You shall make on the breastplate two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24 You shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart.
26 You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.
27 You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
28 They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod.
29 Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually.
30 You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before Yahweh. Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart before Yahweh continually.
The breastpiece places Israel’s names over Aaron’s heart so the high priest bears the covenant people and their judgment before the LORD continually.
To command the making of the breastpiece of judgment, with twelve precious stones bearing Israel’s tribal names, fastened to the ephod, and containing the Urim and Thummim so Aaron bears Israel’s judgment over his heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:15-30 follows the instructions for the ephod and its shoulder stones in Exodus 28:6-14. The shoulder stones showed Aaron bearing Israel before the LORD on his shoulders; the breastpiece now intensifies that representative imagery by placing the tribes over his heart. The passage belongs to the larger priestly garment section of Exodus 28, preparing Aaron to minister in the tabernacle after the sanctuary pattern has been revealed.
After the ephod and shoulder stones are described, the LORD commands the breastpiece attached to the ephod. The high priest’s garment now bears Israel’s tribal names not only on the shoulders but over the heart, intensifying the theme of priestly representation.
Priestly Garments for Glory, Beauty, Mediation, and Holiness
The LORD appoints priests and clothes them with holy garments so they may bear Israel before Him, mediate sacred service, and minister in His presence with holiness, glory, beauty, and reverent protection.