Exodus Chapter 39

The Priestly Garments
A. Making of the Priestly Garments

1. (Exodus 39:1–7) The ephod for the high priest (according to the command and description in Exodus 28:5–14).

“Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. And they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread and the fine linen, into artistic designs. They made shoulder straps for it to couple it together; it was coupled together at its two edges. And the intricately woven band of his ephod that was on it was of the same workmanship, woven of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen, as the LORD had commanded Moses. And they set onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold; they were engraved, as signets are engraved, with the names of the sons of Israel. He put them on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

The ephod was the most distinctive garment of the high priest, serving as both a robe of glory and an emblem of intercession. The colors of blue, purple, and scarlet reflected heaven, royalty, and sacrifice, while the fine woven linen symbolized purity and righteousness. The inclusion of threads of beaten gold demonstrated that divine glory and human purity were interwoven in the priest’s service. Gold, the most precious of metals, was literally worked into the fabric, showing that the worship of God demanded both excellence and holiness.

The shoulder pieces joined the ephod, representing the priest’s strength in bearing the people before God. Upon these shoulders were the two onyx stones, each engraved with six names of the tribes of Israel. This symbolized that the high priest carried the people on his shoulders as he ministered before the LORD, interceding on their behalf. The engraved names, “as signets are engraved,” showed permanence, meaning the people of God were continually remembered before Him. These stones were “memorial stones for the sons of Israel,” emphasizing that God never forgets His covenant people. Each detail reflected divine precision, “as the LORD had commanded Moses,” underscoring that the priesthood was not a human invention but a divine institution established for worship, intercession, and holiness.

2. (Exodus 39:8–21) The breastplate for the high priest (according to the command and description in Exodus 28:15–29).

“And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. They made the breastplate square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones: a row with a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald was the first row; the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their mountings. There were twelve stones according to the names of the sons of Israel: according to their names, engraved like a signet, each one with its own name according to the twelve tribes. And they made chains for the breastplate at the ends, like braided cords of pure gold. They also made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. And they put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. The two ends of the two braided chains they fastened in the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front. And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which was on the inward side of the ephod. They made two other gold rings and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod. And they bound the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would be above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

The breastplate, also called the “breastplate of judgment,” symbolized the high priest’s responsibility to bear the people of Israel upon his heart before the LORD. Just as the onyx stones on his shoulders represented the people’s burdens, the twelve precious stones on the breastplate represented their individual identity and place within the covenant community. Each stone, engraved with a tribe’s name, reflected divine remembrance, beauty, and distinction. The LORD Himself chose the arrangement and materials, showing that every tribe held unique value in His sight.

The precious stones—ranging from sardius to jasper—revealed the diversity and unity of God’s people, bound together by golden settings, just as believers are united in Christ through divine strength. The pure gold chains and blue cords ensured the breastplate was securely fastened to the ephod, symbolizing that intercession and righteousness could never be separated. The high priest not only carried the tribes on his shoulders in strength but also on his heart in compassion, portraying Christ, our Great High Priest, who both bears our burdens and loves us intimately. The precision of the design once again reflects the repeated phrase, “as the LORD had commanded Moses,” showing that true worship must be done in exact obedience to God’s Word, not according to human innovation.

3. (Exodus 39:22–26) The robe for the high priest (according to the command and description in Exodus 28:31–35).

“He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. And there was an opening in the middle of the robe, like the opening in a coat of mail, with a woven binding all around the opening, so that it would not tear. They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, and of fine woven linen. And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates: a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

The robe of the ephod was woven entirely of blue, symbolizing heaven and divine holiness. This was the garment immediately beneath the ephod, worn only by the high priest, and its singular color pointed to the heavenly nature of his ministry. The carefully reinforced opening “so that it would not tear” reflected divine provision for durability and reverence, showing that the priest’s covering must remain whole. In this we see a foreshadowing of the seamless robe of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, which the soldiers did not tear when He was crucified (John 19:23–24), representing the perfection and unity of His priesthood.

Around the hem were alternating pomegranates and golden bells—“a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate.” The pomegranates symbolized fruitfulness and the life produced by the Spirit of God, while the bells announced the priest’s movement before the LORD. When the high priest entered the holy place, the sound of the bells signified that he was ministering in obedience and that the people’s representative was alive and accepted before God. Together, the bells and pomegranates portrayed the balance of testimony and fruitfulness, of outward witness and inward life. The high priest’s robe was both a symbol of beauty and a reminder of the solemnity of approaching the presence of God, always “as the LORD had commanded Moses,” showing again that every act of worship must align precisely with divine instruction.

4. (Exodus 39:27–29) Tunics, turbans, sashes, and trousers for all the priests (according to the command and description in Exodus 28:39–43).

“They made tunics, artistically woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons, a turban of fine linen, exquisite hats of fine linen, short trousers of fine woven linen, and a sash of fine woven linen with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, made by a weaver, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

The garments of the ordinary priests, while simpler than those of the high priest, were still made “for glory and for beauty.” Each item—tunics, turbans, sashes, and trousers—was crafted from fine linen, representing purity, righteousness, and separation from defilement. The use of fine linen was symbolic of the clean garments that God provides for those who serve Him, prefiguring the righteousness of the saints described in Revelation 19:8: “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The sash woven with blue, purple, and scarlet threads represented unity in service. Blue pointed to heaven, purple to royalty, and scarlet to sacrifice. Together, these colors embodied the divine calling of the priesthood to serve in purity, dignity, and devotion. The trousers covered their nakedness, symbolizing modesty and the necessity of moral purity when standing before a holy God. Nothing was left to chance; every detail was divinely ordered, reminding us that the worship of God is sacred and must be approached with reverence, preparation, and holiness. Each garment reflected both the priest’s consecration and God’s requirement for all His servants to be clothed in righteousness.

5. (Exodus 39:30–31) The turban for the high priest (according to the command and description in Exodus 28:36–38).

“Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And they tied to it a blue cord, to fasten it above on the turban, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

The golden plate, also called the “holy crown,” was fastened to the front of the high priest’s turban, and upon it was engraved the phrase, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” This inscription summarized the essence of the priesthood and the nature of God’s worship. The phrase declared that everything associated with the tabernacle—its sacrifices, service, and people—was to be holy, set apart exclusively for God. The high priest bore this emblem on his forehead as a continual reminder that he stood before God representing a sanctified nation.

This plate of pure gold symbolized both purity and value, while the blue cord by which it was fastened pointed again to heaven and divine truth. It was not merely decorative but deeply theological, signifying that holiness begins in the mind and must be evident in every act of service. The inscription also carried an intercessory purpose, for as stated in Exodus 28:38, it “shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things.” This means that even the worship of God’s people—though sincere—needed to be purified through the mediation of the priest. The golden crown thus foreshadowed the ultimate holiness and intercession of Jesus Christ, who not only represents us before the Father but also sanctifies our worship so that it is acceptable to God.

B. Moses Looks Over the Work

1. (Exodus 39:32–41) An overview of the whole construction project.

“Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did. And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings: its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of badger skins, and the veil of the covering; the ark of the Testimony with its poles, and the mercy seat; the table, all its utensils, and the showbread; the pure gold lampstand with its lamps (the lamps set in order), all its utensils, and the oil for light; the gold altar, the anointing oil, and the sweet incense; the screen for the tabernacle door; the bronze altar, its grate of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the laver with its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its sockets, the screen for the court gate, its cords, and its pegs; all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; and the garments of ministry, to minister in the holy place: the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister as priests.”

This passage serves as the divine summary and conclusion of Israel’s great construction effort under Moses’ leadership. Every article of the tabernacle was completed according to the pattern God had shown on Mount Sinai. Nothing was left unfinished, and nothing was added by human invention. The repetition of “as the LORD had commanded Moses” throughout the chapter reinforces the perfect obedience of the people and their unity of purpose. What began as a divine command had now become a visible reality—a sanctuary built by a redeemed people for the dwelling of a holy God among them.

The detailed inventory demonstrates not only the people’s obedience but also their faithfulness in craftsmanship. Every item—boards, pillars, clasps, coverings, utensils, garments—was presented to Moses for inspection. It was a sacred offering of labor and devotion. The coverings of ram and badger skins spoke of protection and consecration, while the mercy seat and the ark of the Testimony represented God’s throne of grace and covenant presence. The table with its showbread pointed to continual fellowship, the lampstand symbolized divine illumination, and the altars and laver represented atonement and cleansing. Together, these items reflected a complete system of worship that anticipated Christ, who fulfills every symbol and function within the tabernacle. The people had now done what their hearts had willingly offered to do (Exodus 35:21–22), demonstrating the beauty of obedience in the service of God.

2. (Exodus 39:42–43) Moses inspects the work.

“According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.”

Moses’ inspection of the completed tabernacle marks the final step before its erection and consecration. As the leader appointed by God, Moses was responsible to ensure that every detail matched the divine pattern given in Exodus 25:9: “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” His review was not casual or symbolic but careful and thorough, demonstrating both his faithfulness as a leader and his reverence for God’s command. When he saw that everything was completed “just so,” exactly as the LORD had prescribed, Moses recognized that the people had acted with full obedience and diligence.

The phrase “as the LORD had commanded, just so they had done it” is one of the most remarkable statements of obedience in all of Scripture. Israel, who had so recently fallen into idolatry with the golden calf, now displayed a renewed heart of submission and faithfulness. Their obedience was not partial but complete. This transformation shows the power of repentance and divine grace to restore a people to faithful service. In response, Moses blessed them, invoking God’s favor upon their labor. This blessing acknowledged that the work was acceptable before God and that His presence would dwell among them. True blessing always follows obedience. Moses’ final act in this section demonstrates spiritual leadership marked by humility, stewardship, and thankfulness.

Just as God examined His creation and declared it “very good” in Genesis 1:31, Moses inspected the tabernacle and confirmed it was done in full accordance with divine will. The parallel is clear: the tabernacle represented a new creation, the place where God would dwell among His people. Through their obedience, Israel’s fellowship with God was restored, and His glory would soon fill the completed sanctuary.