Exodus 28:9-36

International Standard Version

⁹ You are to take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them, ¹⁰ six of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the other stone. Engrave them^[a] according to their order of birth. ¹¹ With work like a jeweler engraves on a signet,^[b] you are to inscribe the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel, and you are to mount them in settings of gold filigree. ¹² You are to put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of remembrance representing the sons of Israel, and Aaron is to carry their names into the Lord’s presence on his two shoulders as a memorial. ¹³ You are to make settings of gold filigree, ¹⁴ and you are to make two chains of pure gold twisted like cords, and then fasten the twisted chains to the filigree settings.”

The Breast Piece

¹⁵ “You are to make a breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions.^[c] It is to be skillfully worked, made like the work of the ephod from gold, blue, purple, and scarlet material, and from fine woven linen. ¹⁶ It is to be square when folded double, one hand span^[d] long and one hand span wide.^{[e] 17} You are to mount on it a setting for four rows of stones. The first row is to contain carnelian,^[f] topaz, and emerald; ¹⁸ the second row ruby,^[g] sapphire, and crystal; ¹⁹ the third row jacinth, agate, and amethyst; ²⁰ the fourth row beryl, onyx, and jasper, and they are to be set in gold filigree. ²¹ The stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones^[h] corresponding to their names. They are to be engraved like a signet,^[i] each with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

²² “You are to make chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, for the breast piece. ²³ You are to make two gold rings for the breast piece, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breast piece. ²⁴ You are to put the two gold cords on the two gold rings at the edges of the breast piece, ²⁵ and you are to attach the other two ends of the two cords to the filigree settings and attach them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front.

²⁶ “You are to make two gold rings and attach them to the two edges of the breast piece, on the side of it that is toward the inner side of the ephod. ²⁷ You are to make two gold rings and attach them in front on the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod close to the place where it’s joined, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. ²⁸ They are to fasten the rings on the breast piece to the rings on the ephod with a blue cord so it will rest^[j] on the skillfully woven band of the ephod and so the breast piece won’t come loose from the ephod.

²⁹ “Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons on his heart on the breast piece to be worn by the high priest when he makes legal decisions,^[k] that is, whenever he goes into the Holy Place in order to remember them continuously in the Lord’s presence. ³⁰ You are to put the Urim and Thummim^[l] into the breast piece of judgment, and they are to be on Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. He is to carry the breast piece of decision^[m] that depicts Israel’s sons^[n] on his heart in the Lord’s presence continuously.”

Other Garments for the Priests

³¹ “You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue. ³² There is to be an opening at its top, in the middle, with a woven binding around the opening like the opening of a coat of mail so that it cannot be torn. ³³ On its hem you are to make blue and purple and scarlet pomegranates, all around the skirt, with gold bells between them all the way^[o] around. ³⁴ You are to have a gold bell and a pomegranate, then^[p] a gold bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all the way^[q] around it. ³⁵ Aaron is to wear the robe when he ministers^[r] so its sound may be heard when he enters and leaves the Holy Place in the Lord’s presence, so that he won’t die.

³⁶ “You are to make a medallion^[s] of pure gold, and engrave on it ‘Holy to the Lord,’ like the engravings of a signet.