The Meaning of Exodus 28:36 Explained

Exodus 28:36

KJV: And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

YLT: And thou hast made a flower of pure gold, and hast opened on it -- openings of a signet -- 'Holy to Jehovah;'

Darby: And thou shalt make a thin plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, as the engravings of a seal, Holiness to Jehovah!

ASV: And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLY TO JEHOVAH.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt make  a plate  [of] pure  gold,  and grave  upon it, [like] the engravings  of a signet,  HOLINESS  TO THE LORD. 

What does Exodus 28:36 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 28:31-43 - Aaron's Holy Garments
The robe was worn under the ephod. It was of blue, the color of heaven, of deep lakes, of the gentian and the forget-me-not. It was of one piece. See John 19:23. It ended in a fringe, in which bells and pomegranates alternated. We are as the skirts of his garments, and the holy oil will reach us there, so the psalmist says. See Psalms 133:2. We may receive the unction of the holy Christ. The Spirit so richly given to Him may anoint even us, and it will reveal itself in the fruit of the pomegranate and the sweetness of the golden bell. Aaron's head plate bore an inscription, which the prophet tells us should be written also on our commonest duties and most prosaic service. See Zechariah 14:20-21. For ordinary priests the clothing was very simple. Pure white linen! Such is the garb which befits us all! Revelation 19:8. [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 28:36 mean?

And You shall make a plate of gold pure and engrave on it [like] the engraving of a signet HOLY TO YAHWEH
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ צִּ֖יץ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וּפִתַּחְתָּ֤ עָלָיו֙ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חֹתָ֔ם קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָֽה

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ  And  You  shall  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
צִּ֖יץ  a  plate 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צִיץ 
Sense: flower, bloom.
זָהָ֣ב  of  gold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
טָה֑וֹר  pure 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.
וּפִתַּחְתָּ֤  and  engrave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
עָלָיו֙  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
פִּתּוּחֵ֣י  [like]  the  engraving 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: פִּתּוּחַ  
Sense: engraving, carving.
חֹתָ֔ם  of  a  signet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹותָם  
Sense: seal, signet, signet-ring.
קֹ֖דֶשׁ  HOLY 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
לַֽיהוָֽה  TO  YAHWEH 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.