The Meaning of Exodus 28:38 Explained

Exodus 28:38

KJV: And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

YLT: and it hath been on the forehead of Aaron, and Aaron hath borne the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel do hallow, even all their holy gifts; and it hath been on his forehead continually for a pleasing thing for them before Jehovah.

Darby: And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all gifts of their holy things; and it shall be continually on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Jehovah.

ASV: And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall be upon Aaron's  forehead,  that Aaron  may bear  the iniquity  of the holy things,  which the children  of Israel  shall hallow  in all their holy  gifts;  and it shall be always  upon his forehead,  that they may be accepted  before  the LORD. 

What does Exodus 28:38 Mean?

Study Notes

bear
i.e. be responsible for every neglect or offence respecting "the holy things," etc.

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 28:38 mean?

So it shall be on forehead of Aaron that may bear Aaron - the iniquity of the holy things which consecrate the sons of Israel in all gifts their holy and it shall be his forehead always that they may be accepted unto them before Yahweh
וְהָיָה֮ עַל־ מֵ֣צַח אַהֲרֹן֒ וְנָשָׂ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־ עֲוֺ֣ן הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְכָֽל־ מַתְּנֹ֖ת קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה מִצְחוֹ֙ תָּמִ֔יד לְרָצ֥וֹן לָהֶ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה

וְהָיָה֮  So  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מֵ֣צַח  forehead 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֵצַח  
Sense: brow, forehead.
אַהֲרֹן֒  of  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
וְנָשָׂ֨א  that  may  bear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אַהֲרֹ֜ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲוֺ֣ן  the  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים  of  the  holy  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
יַקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙  consecrate 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  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.
לְכָֽל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַתְּנֹ֖ת  gifts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַתָּנָה  
Sense: gift.
קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם  their  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
וְהָיָ֤ה  and  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִצְחוֹ֙  his  forehead 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מֵצַח  
Sense: brow, forehead.
תָּמִ֔יד  always 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
לְרָצ֥וֹן  that  they  may  be  accepted 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
לָהֶ֖ם  unto  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.