Exodus 28:36-43
Aaron and His sons must be clothed for holy service, with Aaron bearing the guilt of Israel’s holy gifts before the Lord.
36 “You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’
37 You shall put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be on the sash. It shall be on the front of the sash.
38 It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh.
39 You shall weave the tunic with fine linen. You shall make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of the embroiderer.
40 “You shall make tunics for Aaron’s sons. You shall make sashes for them. You shall make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty.
41 You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office.
42 You shall make them linen pants to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the waist even to the thighs.
43 They shall be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy place, that they don’t bear iniquity, and die. This shall be a statute forever to him and to his offspring after him.
Aaron and his sons must be clothed for holy service, with Aaron bearing the guilt of Israel’s holy gifts before the LORD.
To complete the priestly garment instructions by commanding the gold plate inscribed 'Holy to the LORD,' the turban, tunic, sash, caps, linen undergarments, and the ordinances by which Aaron and his sons minister without incurring guilt and death.
Exodus 28 moves from the priestly call and garment overview to specific holy garments. After the ephod, breastpiece, and robe, this unit completes the garment section by focusing on the gold plate for Aaron, the linen garments for Aaron and his sons, and the warning that priestly service must be conducted according to the LORD’s command. The passage stands immediately before the ordination instructions of Exodus 29, where these garments will be placed on the priests as part of their consecration.
This unit concludes the priestly garment instructions that began in Exodus 28:1. The garments prepare Aaron and his sons for the consecration ceremony in Exodus 29 and for ongoing ministry in the tent of meeting.
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.