Exodus 28:15-21

The Breastpiece

^{Tools
15} “You^(A) are to make an embroidered breastpiece for making decisions.^(a) Make it with the same workmanship as the ephod; make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. ^{Tools
16} It must be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide.^(b) ^{Tools
17} Place a setting of gemstones^(c) on it, four rows of stones:

The first row should be
a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald;^(d)

^{Tools
18}

the second row,
a turquoise,^(e) a sapphire,^(f) and a diamond;^(g)

^{Tools
19}

the third row,
a jacinth,^(h) an agate, and an amethyst;

^{Tools
20}

and the fourth row,
a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

They should be adorned with gold filigree in their settings. ^{Tools
21} The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.

Footnotes:

a. Exodus 28:15: Used for determining God’s will; Nm 27:21

b. Exodus 28:16: Lit a span its length and a span its width

c. Exodus 28:17: Many of these stones cannot be identified with certainty.

d. Exodus 28:17: Or beryl

e. Exodus 28:18: Or malachite, or garnet

f. Exodus 28:18: Or lapis lazuli

g. Exodus 28:18: Hb obscure; LXX, Vg read jasper

h. Exodus 28:19: Hb obscure

Cross references:

A. Exodus 28:15: Exodus 39:8-21