The Meaning of Exodus 28:12 Explained

Exodus 28:12

KJV: And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

YLT: And thou hast set the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod -- stones of memorial to the sons of Israel -- and Aaron hath borne their names before Jehovah, on his two shoulders, for a memorial.

Darby: And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as stones of memorial for the children of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

ASV: And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt put  the two  stones  upon the shoulders  of the ephod  [for] stones  of memorial  unto the children  of Israel:  and Aaron  shall bear  their names  before  the LORD  upon his two  shoulders  for a memorial. 

What does Exodus 28:12 Mean?

Study Notes

shoulders
The place of strenghth. Isaiah 9:6 ; Luke 15:4 ; Luke 15:5 .

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 28:12 mean?

And you shall put - two the stones on the shoulders of the ephod [as] stones memorial for the sons of Israel so shall bear Aaron their names before Yahweh on his shoulders as a memorial -
וְשַׂמְתָּ֞ אֶת־ שְׁתֵּ֣י הָאֲבָנִ֗ים עַ֚ל כִּתְפֹ֣ת הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד אַבְנֵ֥י זִכָּרֹ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְנָשָׂא֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן שְׁמוֹתָ֜ם לִפְנֵ֧י יְהוָ֛ה עַל־ כְתֵפָ֖יו לְזִכָּרֹֽן ס

וְשַׂמְתָּ֞  And  you  shall  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
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.
שְׁתֵּ֣י  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
הָאֲבָנִ֗ים  the  stones 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
כִּתְפֹ֣ת  the  shoulders 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: כָּתֵף  
Sense: shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope.
הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד  of  the  ephod 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵפֹד  
Sense: ephod.
אַבְנֵ֥י  [as]  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
זִכָּרֹ֖ן  memorial 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זִכָּרֹון  
Sense: memorial, reminder, remembrance.
לִבְנֵ֣י  for  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  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.
וְנָשָׂא֩  so  shall  bear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אַהֲרֹ֨ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
שְׁמוֹתָ֜ם  their  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
לִפְנֵ֧י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כְתֵפָ֖יו  his  shoulders 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתֵף  
Sense: shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope.
לְזִכָּרֹֽן  as  a  memorial 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זִכָּרֹון  
Sense: memorial, reminder, remembrance.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation