The Priestly Garments Made
The craftsmen make the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons according to the Lord’s command, clothing priestly mediation in beauty and holiness.
Exodus 39:1-31 (BSB)
1 From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
2 Bezalel made the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn.
3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman.
4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened.
5 And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.
7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
8 He made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
9 It was square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide.
10 And they mounted on it four rows of gemstones: The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
11 the second row had a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;
12 the third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
13 and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings.
14 The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
15 For the breastpiece they made braided chains like cords of pure gold.
16 They also made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the two rings to the two corners of the breastpiece.
17 Then they fastened the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece,
18 and they fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
19 They made two more gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod.
20 They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband.
21 Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
22 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, the work of a weaver,
23 with an opening in the center of the robe like that of a garment, with a collar around the opening so that it would not tear.
24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen on the lower hem of the robe.
25 They also made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates,
26 alternating the bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe to be worn for ministry, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
27 For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver,
28 as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen,
29 and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
30 They also made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
31 Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
What is the big idea of Exodus 39:1-31?
The craftsmen make the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons according to the LORD’s command, clothing priestly mediation in beauty and holiness.
How does Exodus 39:1-31 point to Christ?
Exodus 39:1-31 shows Israel’s priests clothed for holy service, carrying the tribes before the LORD and bearing the sign of holiness on Aaron’s forehead. Yet these garments could not perfect the priests or the people. The gospel reveals Christ as the true great high priest, clothed not merely with symbolic holiness but with perfect righteousness, who bears his people before God and brings them near by his own blood.
How does Exodus 39:1-31 relate to the life and ministry of Jesus?
This Old Testament sanctuary passage should first be read within Israel's Sinai priesthood. Its later canonical trajectory points toward the need for a greater priestly mediator who bears his people before God in perfect holiness. The passage does not directly name Christ, but it establishes the categories of priesthood, representation, holy access, and mediation that later Scripture brings to fullness.
Authorial Intent
To narrate the making of the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons according to the LORD’s command, including the ephod, onyx stones, breastpiece, robe, tunics, turban, sashes, and holy diadem, so that priestly service before the LORD is clothed in holiness, beauty, remembrance, and obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Exodus devote such detailed attention to the priestly garments?
- What do the onyx stones and breastpiece stones teach about priestly representation?
- Why is the phrase 'as the LORD commanded Moses' repeated throughout this passage?
- What does 'Holy to the LORD' teach about priestly service?
- How does Aaron’s priesthood both help Israel and reveal the need for a greater priest?
- How does Hebrews show Christ fulfilling and surpassing old covenant priesthood?
- How should believers live as a holy priesthood in union with Christ?
Literary Context
This passage follows the completion of the tabernacle structure, furnishings, altar, basin, courtyard, and material inventory. Exodus 39 now turns to the priestly garments that will enable service within the sanctuary space already constructed. It intentionally echoes the instructions of Exodus 28, showing that the craftsmen have moved from command to obedient execution. The repeated refrain 'as the LORD commanded Moses' marks the garments as covenant obedience rather than human religious creativity.
Historical Context
After the tabernacle structure, furnishings, courtyard, and material inventory are complete, the report turns to the priestly garments. These garments were previously commanded in Exodus 28 and now are made as part of the final preparations for priestly service.
Chapter: Exodus 39
The Priestly Garments Completed and the Tabernacle Work Inspected
The priestly garments and tabernacle work are completed exactly as the LORD commanded, showing that God’s holy presence requires ordained mediation, covenant representation, consecrated service, and obedient craftsmanship.