Exodus 39

The craftsmen finish the priestly garments: the ephod, the breastpiece with its twelve stones, the blue robe with bells, the linen clothing, and the gold plate marked HOLY TO THE LORD. Then all the finished work is brought to Moses. The chapter keeps repeating one line, “just as the LORD had commanded Moses,” and ends with Moses inspecting the work and blessing the people.

Exodus 39:1

The chapter opens with the clothing made for serving in the holy place, and for Aaron in particular. The colors match the tabernacle itself. The priest is dressed in the same beauty as the house he serves, and everything is made as God commanded.

BSA: ministry (“serving, worship”): The garments are for serving God in worship, not for personal display. blue (“violet, obtained from a specific type of mussel”): This costly dye came from sea creatures, so the blue was rare and precious.

Hebrew: תְּכֵלֶת (tekhelet, H8504) — “blue-violet.” This was the dye of heaven’s color, used throughout the tabernacle. Later Israel was told to wear blue cords on their garments to remember God’s commands.

See also: Exodus 28:1-5; Numbers 15:38-39.

Exodus 39:2-3

Bezalel is named as the maker of the ephod, a priestly vest. Gold was beaten into sheets and cut into thin threads, then woven in among the colored yarns and linen. The result was costly, glowing, and carefully made.

BSA: hammered out (“beating into thin plates”): Gold was patiently beaten thin enough to be cut into thread, which shows how much labor went into it.

Hebrew: אֵפֹד (ephod, H646) — “a priestly vest or apron-like garment.” The word names a garment worn over the priest’s other clothes. It was richer than any ordinary clothing, and the breastpiece was fastened to it.

See also: Exodus 31:1-6.

Exodus 39:4-5

Shoulder pieces joined the front and back of the ephod, and a woven band held it at the waist. The band was part of the garment itself, made of the same materials. The ephod was one piece, and the Lord’s command stood behind every stitch.

BSA: waistband (“girdle, sash”): The belt gathered the garment close and was ready for work, as a servant’s belt would be.

Exodus 39:6-7

Two onyx stones were set in gold and engraved with the names of Israel’s sons, six on each. They sat on the priest’s shoulders as stones of remembrance. When Aaron served, he carried the people on him before God.

BSA: memorial stones (“stones of remembrance, to commemorate”): The stones kept Israel’s names before God whenever the priest entered his presence. seal (“official signet, authentication”): Engraving the names like a signet shows they were firmly marked and carefully kept.

Hebrew: זִכָּרוֹן (zikkaron, H2146) — “remembrance, memorial.” In Scripture, God remembering is never mere recalling. It means he turns his attention and acts for his people.

See also: Exodus 28:9-12; Isaiah 49:16.

Exodus 39:8-9

The breastpiece was made of the same rich fabric as the ephod. It was folded double into a square pouch about a span on each side, roughly the width of a hand. It rested over the priest’s heart.

BSA: breastpiece (“a sacred pouch, the priest’s bag”): The folded cloth formed a pouch, and Exodus 28 says the Urim and Thummim were kept in it.

Hebrew: חֹשֶׁן (ḥošen, H2833) — “breastpiece, pouch.” This is the name of the priest’s chest piece. It is the one Exodus 28 calls the breastpiece of judgment, since it was used to seek God’s decisions.

See also: Exodus 28:15-30.

Exodus 39:10-14

Twelve gemstones were set in four rows of three, each engraved with one tribe’s name. The exact modern names of these stones are uncertain, so translations differ. The meaning is plain. Every tribe was carried over the priest’s heart, each one known by name and each valued as a jewel.

BSA: name (“a person’s identity, honor, and character”): To bear a name before God is to bring the whole person, with all their standing and worth.

See also: Revelation 21:19-20.

Exodus 39:15-18

Braided cords of pure gold held the breastpiece from the shoulder settings. Gold rings on the breastpiece corners joined to these chains, which were fastened to the shoulder settings. The priest carried the tribes on his shoulders and on his heart together, both strength and love.

BSA: pure (“clean, ceremonially spotless”): The gold had to be flawless, because it was holding the names of God’s people in his presence.

Exodus 39:19-21

Two more pairs of rings and a blue cord bound the breastpiece firmly to the ephod, above the waistband. It could not swing loose or slip away. What lay on the priest’s heart stayed close to him and stayed secure.

BSA: breastpiece (“sacred pouch, containing the Urim and Thummim”): This pouch held the means by which Israel asked for God’s guidance, so it had to stay securely in place.

Exodus 39:22-23

The robe worn under the ephod was made entirely of blue, woven as one piece. It had a head opening with a reinforced collar so the cloth would not tear. Even the neckline was made for lasting, careful service.

BSA: collar (“a band, an edge”): A bound edge around the opening kept the neck from splitting under strain. tear (“be rent, ripped apart”): The priest’s clothing was to stay whole and undamaged.

Hebrew: מְעִיל (me’il, H4598) — “robe, outer garment.” This is a long, sleeveless robe worn by important people. Here it is entirely blue, the color of heaven.

Exodus 39:24-26

Around the hem hung woven pomegranates, alternating with golden bells. The sound of the bells went with the priest as he served. Exodus 28 says it was heard when he entered the holy place, a sign that he went in under God’s own command.

BSA: ministry (“to serve or minister to someone, in a worship or temple setting”): The bells and pomegranates were part of the work of serving in God’s house.

Hebrew: פַּעֲמֹן (pa’amon, H6472) — “bell.” The word means a small golden bell. It rang as the priest moved, so the people outside could hear him serve.

See also: Exodus 28:33-35.

Exodus 39:27-29

Aaron and his sons received simple white linen clothes: tunics, a turban, headbands and undergarments. The high priest also wore a sash embroidered in the colors of the tabernacle. White linen was suited to holy service, and everything was made as the LORD commanded.

BSA: undergarments (“linen breeches, trousers”): These covered the priests modestly while they served at the altar.

See also: Exodus 28:40-43.

Exodus 39:30-31

A pure gold plate on the high priest’s turban was engraved HOLY TO THE LORD. It was tied on with a blue cord and sat on his forehead for all to see. The one who came near to God carried this declaration of holiness.

BSA: HOLY (“dedicated, consecrated”): The word means set apart for God, belonging wholly to him.

Hebrew: צִיץ (tsits, H6731) — “plate, flower-like blossom.” The word can also mean a blossom or shining flower. It points to a bright ornament of gold worn at the forehead.

See also: Exodus 28:36-38; 1 Peter 2:9.

Exodus 39:32

All the work on the tabernacle is declared finished. The people did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. What began as a pattern given on the mountain is now a finished dwelling place.

BSA: completed (“finished, brought to an end”): The long labor reaches its end, with nothing left undone.

See also: Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5.

Exodus 39:33-34

The finished pieces are brought to Moses for inspection, beginning with the tent itself: its fasteners, frames, bars, posts and bases. Then come the coverings of red-dyed ram skins and fine leather, and the veil. The list shows the whole structure assembled piece by piece.

BSA: tabernacle (“the sacred tent, dwelling place”): It was God’s dwelling among his people, made as a tent so it could travel with them.

Exodus 39:35-38

The furniture of the holy place follows: the ark with its poles and the mercy seat, the table with the Bread of the Presence, the pure gold lampstand and its oil, the gold altar, the anointing oil, the incense, and the entrance curtain. These are the items nearest to God.

BSA: mercy seat (“atonement cover, lid of reconciliation, place of propitiation”): It was the cover on the ark where atonement was made and God met his people in mercy. lampstand (“candlestick”): It was the golden light stand that kept the holy place lit.

Hebrew: כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporet, H3727) — “atonement cover.” It comes from the word for covering sin. The ark’s lid was the place where blood was brought for atonement.

See also: Leviticus 16:14-15; Hebrews 9:5.

Exodus 39:39-41

The items in the outer court come next: the bronze altar with its grating, poles and utensils, the basin and its stand, the courtyard curtains, posts, ropes and pegs. Last come the priestly garments. Nothing was missing, from the great objects to the tent pegs.

BSA: basin (“round container or platform”): The priests washed at this basin before they served.

Exodus 39:42

The summary says again that the Israelites did all the work as the LORD had commanded Moses. In this chapter that sentence has run like a refrain. Obedience, not only skill, is what is being celebrated.

BSA: work (“service, labor”): Their labor was offered as service to God, not as a mere job.

Exodus 39:43

Moses looked over all the work and saw that it was done as the LORD had commanded. Then he blessed the people. The scene echoes creation, when God looked at what he had made and blessed it. The people who build God’s house are themselves blessed.

BSA: inspected (“examined, looked upon”): Moses looked carefully at the finished work to see that it matched what God had said. blessed (“praised, honored”): Moses spoke God’s favor over the people for their faithful work.

Hebrew: וַיְבָרֶךְ (vayevarekh, H1288) — “and he blessed.” To bless is to speak good over someone in God’s name. Here Moses gives his thanks and God’s favor to the whole people.

See also: Genesis 1:31; Numbers 6:24-26.