The Meaning of Exodus 28:21 Explained

Exodus 28:21

KJV: And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

YLT: and the stones are according to the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, according to their names, openings of a signet, each by his name are they for the twelve tribes.

Darby: And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, engraved as a seal: every one according to his name shall they be for the twelve tribes.

ASV: And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the stones  shall be with the names  of the children  of Israel,  twelve,  according to their names,  [like] the engravings  of a signet;  every one  with his name  shall they be according to the twelve  tribes. 

What does Exodus 28:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 28:15-30 - The Breastplate And Its Stones
The breastplate bore twelve precious stones, on each of which the name of a tribe was engraved-the smallest as well as the greatest, Benjamin as well as Judah, Simeon which faded in the desert, as well as Ephraim which occupied the center of the Promised Land. Whatever might be their sins and failures, their chastenings and penalties, nothing could remove them from that sacred place. They might even be at enmity among themselves, but still they would abide there in perfect unity. So it is with ourselves. Our names are engraven on the heart of Jesus, and ever presented before God. Neither life nor death can separate us from His love. Do not look at your shortcomings and failures, but at your standing in Christ Jesus. You cannot be forgotten by God. The dark waters may flow over your soul, the voice of the accuser may be hoarse in your ear, your heart and your flesh may fail, but you are precious in God's sight, and sparkle in His light like a jasper or sapphire. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 28

1  Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest's office
2  Holy garments are appointed
6  The ephod and girdle
15  The breast-plate with twelve precious stones
30  The Urim and Thummim
31  The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells
36  The plate of the mitre
39  The embroidered coat
40  The garments for Aaron's sons

What do the individual words in Exodus 28:21 mean?

And the stones shall have upon them the names of the sons of Israel two [and] ten according to their names [like] the engravings of a signet each one with its own name they shall be according to two [and] ten the tribes
וְ֠הָאֲבָנִים תִּֽהְיֶ֜יןָ עַל־ שְׁמֹ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה עַל־ שְׁמֹתָ֑ם פִּתּוּחֵ֤י חוֹתָם֙ אִ֣ישׁ עַל־ שְׁמ֔וֹ תִּֽהְיֶ֕יןָ לִשְׁנֵ֥י עָשָׂ֖ר שָֽׁבֶט

וְ֠הָאֲבָנִים  And  the  stones 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
תִּֽהְיֶ֜יןָ  shall  have 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עַל־  upon  them 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שְׁמֹ֧ת  the  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְּנֵֽי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
שְׁתֵּ֥ים  two 
Parse: Number, fd
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה  [and]  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
עַל־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שְׁמֹתָ֑ם  their  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
פִּתּוּחֵ֤י  [like]  the  engravings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: פִּתּוּחַ  
Sense: engraving, carving.
חוֹתָם֙  of  a  signet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹותָם  
Sense: seal, signet, signet-ring.
אִ֣ישׁ  each  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
שְׁמ֔וֹ  its  own  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
תִּֽהְיֶ֕יןָ  they  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לִשְׁנֵ֥י  according  to  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
עָשָׂ֖ר  [and]  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
שָֽׁבֶט  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.

What are the major concepts related to Exodus 28:21?

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