The Meaning of Exodus 28:4 Explained

Exodus 28:4

KJV: And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

YLT: And these are the garments which they make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and an upper robe, and an embroidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle; yea, they have made holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and for his sons, for his being priest to Me.

Darby: And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a cloak, and a checkered vest, a turban, and a girdle; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may serve me as priest.

ASV: And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And these [are] the garments  which they shall make;  a breastplate,  and an ephod,  and a robe,  and a broidered  coat,  a mitre,  and a girdle:  and they shall make  holy  garments  for Aaron  thy brother,  and his sons,  that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 

What does Exodus 28:4 Mean?

Study Notes

garments
.
The priest's garments were put on in reverse order of the instructions for making them:
(1) The "coat" Exodus 28:39 the oriental long garment worn next to the person, made of fine linen. Exodus 27:9 .
(2) The "robe of the ephod" Exodus 28:31-35 a long seamless garment of blue linen with an opening for the head, worn over the "coat." Pomegranates, symbol of fruitfulness, were embroidered on the skirt of the robe in blue, purple, and scarlet, alternated with golden bells, symbol of testimony, which gave a sound as the high priest went in and out of the sanctuary. The robe was secured by a golden girdle.
(3) The ephod Exodus 28:5-12 was next put on. A short garment made of linen, embroidered with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, it consisted of two pieces, front and back, united by two shoulder-pieces and by a band about the bottom. Two onyx stones, set in gold and fastened upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes: "and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders (the place of strength) for a memorial." Cf.; Isaiah 9:6 ; Luke 15:4 ; Luke 15:5 .
(4) The breastplate was a square pouch Exodus 28:16 of linen to contain the Urim and Thummim. (See Scofield " Exodus 28:30 ") .
To the linen pouch was attached the oblong gold setting containing four rows of precious stones, on each stone a tribal name. The breastplate with the jewel work was attached at the upper corners to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod by golden chains. Golden rings were sewn on ephod and breastplate, and the latter was further secured to the ephod by laces of blue through the rings. Altogether, it was called "the breastplate of judgment" because worn by the high priest when judging the causes of the people. (See Scofield " Exodus 28:30 ") .
(5) A mitre (or "turban") of fine line was made Exodus 28:37 to cover the head, bearing upon the front a gold plate engraved, "Holiness to the Lord" Exodus 29:36 .
(6) To these were added linen breeches, "from the loins even to the thighs" Exodus 28:42 . The "coat" and linen breeches were made for the priests, also, and were the ordinary garments of high priest and priests as distinguished from the other garments, which were "for glory and beauty."

Context Summary

Exodus 28:1-14 - The Beaten Oil The Ephod
Always in Scripture oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. It is His grace communicated to the wick of our character and life, which makes them capable of giving a bright light for God. This oil was pure, because none shine brightly for God who are not pure in heart and poor in spirit. It was beaten, because our best work is often the result of our sorrows. McCheyne used to say, "Beaten oil for the sanctuary," referring to the care with which ministers and teachers should prepare for their work. Get your oil direct! See Zechariah 4:2-3.
It is befitting that we should consider the priestly garments. We minister within the curtained court; order the lamp of testimony till daybreak, and stand before the altar of incense-it is meet that we should be arrayed in the beauty of holiness. Our Lord bears our names, graven indelibly and eternally, and we are accepted in the Beloved. [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 28:4 mean?

And these [are] the garments which they shall make a breastplate and an ephod and a robe and a tunic skillfully woven a turban and a sash so they shall make garments holy for Aaron your brother and his sons that he may minister as priest to Me
וְאֵ֨לֶּה הַבְּגָדִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר : יַעֲשׂ֗וּ חֹ֤שֶׁן וְאֵפוֹד֙ וּמְעִ֔יל וּכְתֹ֥נֶת תַּשְׁבֵּ֖ץ מִצְנֶ֣פֶת וְאַבְנֵ֑ט וְעָשׂ֨וּ בִגְדֵי־ קֹ֜דֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִ֛יךָ וּלְבָנָ֖יו לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לִֽי

וְאֵ֨לֶּה  And  these  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
הַבְּגָדִ֜ים  the  garments 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
: יַעֲשׂ֗וּ  they  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
חֹ֤שֶׁן  a  breastplate 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁן  
Sense: breastplate, breastpiece.
וְאֵפוֹד֙  and  an  ephod 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵפֹד  
Sense: ephod.
וּמְעִ֔יל  and  a  robe 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְעִיל  
Sense: robe.
וּכְתֹ֥נֶת  and  a  tunic 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כֻּתֹּנֶת  
Sense: tunic, under-garment.
תַּשְׁבֵּ֖ץ  skillfully  woven 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תַּשְׁבֵּץ  
Sense: woven work, checkered material, chequered or plaited work.
מִצְנֶ֣פֶת  a  turban 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְנֶפֶת  
Sense: turban (of the high priest).
וְאַבְנֵ֑ט  and  a  sash 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְנֵט  
Sense: girdle, sash.
וְעָשׂ֨וּ  so  they  shall  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בִגְדֵי־  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
קֹ֜דֶשׁ  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
לְאַהֲרֹ֥ן  for  Aaron 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
אָחִ֛יךָ  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וּלְבָנָ֖יו  and  his  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לְכַהֲנוֹ־  that  he  may  minister  as  priest 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּהַן  
Sense: to act as a priest, minister in a priest’s office.
לִֽי  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular