The Meaning of Exodus 28:29 Explained

Exodus 28:29

KJV: And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

YLT: 'And Aaron hath borne the names of the sons of Israel in the breastplate of judgment, on his heart, in his going in unto the sanctuary, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.

Darby: And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the sanctuary, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.

ASV: And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Aaron  shall bear  the names  of the children  of Israel  in the breastplate  of judgment  upon his heart,  when he goeth  in unto the holy  [place], for a memorial  before  the LORD  continually. 

What does Exodus 28:29 Mean?

Study Notes

heart
The place of affection. Cf. Exodus 28:12 .

Context Summary

Exodus 28:15-30 - The Breastplate And Its Stones
The breastplate bore twelve precious stones, on each of which the name of a tribe was engraved-the smallest as well as the greatest, Benjamin as well as Judah, Simeon which faded in the desert, as well as Ephraim which occupied the center of the Promised Land. Whatever might be their sins and failures, their chastenings and penalties, nothing could remove them from that sacred place. They might even be at enmity among themselves, but still they would abide there in perfect unity. So it is with ourselves. Our names are engraven on the heart of Jesus, and ever presented before God. Neither life nor death can separate us from His love. Do not look at your shortcomings and failures, but at your standing in Christ Jesus. You cannot be forgotten by God. The dark waters may flow over your soul, the voice of the accuser may be hoarse in your ear, your heart and your flesh may fail, but you are precious in God's sight, and sparkle in His light like a jasper or sapphire. [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 28:29 mean?

So shall bear Aaron - the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart when he goes into the holy [place] as a memorial before Yahweh continually
וְנָשָׂ֣א אַ֠הֲרֹן אֶת־ שְׁמ֨וֹת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בְּחֹ֧שֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט עַל־ לִבּ֖וֹ בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־ הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְזִכָּרֹ֥ן לִפְנֵֽי־ יְהוָ֖ה תָּמִֽיד

וְנָשָׂ֣א  So  shall  bear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אַ֠הֲרֹן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
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.
שְׁמ֨וֹת  the  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְּנֵֽי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל  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.
בְּחֹ֧שֶׁן  on  the  breastplate 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹשֶׁן  
Sense: breastplate, breastpiece.
הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט  of  judgment 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לִבּ֖וֹ  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
בְּבֹא֣וֹ  when  he  goes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ  the  holy  [place] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
לְזִכָּרֹ֥ן  as  a  memorial 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זִכָּרֹון  
Sense: memorial, reminder, remembrance.
לִפְנֵֽי־  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תָּמִֽיד  continually 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.