Exodus 28:9-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:6-14

Directions are here given concerning the ephod, which was the outmost garment of the high priest. Linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests, 1 Sam. 22:18. Samuel wore one when he was a child (1 Sam. 2:18), and David when he danced before the ark (2 Sam. 6:14); but this which the high priest only wore was called a golden ephod, because there was a great deal of gold woven into it. It was a short coat without sleeves, buttoned closely to him, with a curious girdle of the same stuff (Exod.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:9

And thou shall take two onyx stones ,.... called from the colour of a man's nail, which they to resemble: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call them stones of beryl, and so the Syriac version; the Septuagint, stones of emerald, and the Arabic version, crystal stones: but, according to Josephus F24 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 5.) , they were sardonyx stones, and in which Brannius F25 De Vestitu Sacerd. Heb. l. 2. c. 18. sect. 4. p. 730. thinks he was right: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:10

Six of their names on one stone ,.... The names of the six eldest on the stone upon the right shoulder: and the other six names of the rest on the other stone : the names of the six youngest on the stone upon the left shoulder; for these stones, as afterwards said, were put on the shoulders of the priests: according to their birth ; the order of it; so that upon the first stone were engraven the names of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, and Naphtali; and on the second stone the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone ,.... Not in common but precious stones: Moses was not to do this himself, as it could not be supposed he should, but he was to employ an engraver, whose business it was, and one that was capable of doing it in a professional manner: like the engravings of a signet shall thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel : as in signets or seals, by which impressions are made on wax, the letters or figures are cut deep, that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:12

And thou shall put the stones upon the shoulders of the ephod ,.... That is, the shoulder pieces of it; these stones were put there, the names of the twelve sons of Israel being engraven on them, and they, set in rims or sockets of gold, and serving for buttons to the shoulder pieces: but chiefly the design of them was for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel : not to put the Israelites in mind of the merits of their ancestors, as the Targum of Jonathan; for none of their works... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:9

Two onyx stones - See Clarke on Exodus 25:7 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:11

Like the engravings of a signet - So signets or seals were in use at this time, and engraving on precious stones was then an art, and this art, which was one of the most elegant and ornamental, was carried in ancient times to a very high pitch of perfection, and particularly among the ancient Greeks; such a pitch of perfection as has never been rivaled, and cannot now be even well imitated. And it is very likely that the Greeks themselves borrowed this art from the ancient Hebrews, as we... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:12

Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord - He was to consider that he was the representative of the children of Israel; and the stones on the ephod and the stones on the breastplate were for a memorial to put Aaron in remembrance that he was the priest and mediator of the twelve tribes; and, speaking after the manner of men, God was to be put in mind of the children of Israel, their wants, etc., as frequently as the high priest appeared before him with the breastplate and the ephod. See ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:9

Verse 9 9.And thou shalt take two onyx-stones. That the connection between the priest and the people might be made more plain, God not only placed on his breast the memorials of the twelve tribes, but also engraved their names on his shoulders. Thus all occasion of envy was removed, since the people would understand that this one man was not separated from the others for the sake of private advantage, but that in his one person they were all a kingdom of priests, which Peter teaches to have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 28:6-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 28:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 28:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 28:1-12

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