The Meaning of Exodus 28:3 Explained

Exodus 28:3

KJV: And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

YLT: and thou -- thou dost speak unto all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they have made the garments of Aaron to sanctify him for his being priest to Me.

Darby: And thou shalt speak with all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to hallow him, that he may serve me as priest.

ASV: And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt speak  unto all [that are] wise  hearted,  whom I have filled  with the spirit  of wisdom,  that they may make  Aaron's  garments  to consecrate  him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 

What does Exodus 28:3 Mean?

Study Notes

consecrate
Heb. qodesh= "set apart" for God. Trans. "holy," Exodus 28:2 ; "consecrate," Exodus 28:3 . Often trans. "sanctify." See summary, . This is always the fundamental idea of a holy, consecrated, separated, or sanctified person or thing--something set apart for God. Infinite confusion would have been spared the reader if qodesh had been uniformly trans. "set apart."
holy mountain
Holiness, Sanctification, Summary: In the O.T. the words consecration, dedication, sanctification, and holiness are various renderings of one Hebrew word, are used of persons and of things, and have an identical meaning, i.e. set apart for God. Only when used of God himself (e.g. Leviticus 11:45 ), or of the holy angels (e.g. Daniel 4:13 ) is any inward; Leviticus 11:45 ; Daniel 4:13 moral quality necessarily implied. Doubtless a priest or other person set apart to the service of God, whose whole will and desire went with his setting apart, experienced progressively an inner detachment from evil; but that aspect is distinctively of the N.T., not of the O.T. Matthew 4:5 .

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 28:3 mean?

So you shall speak to all - [who are] gifted artisans whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that they may make - garments Aaron's to consecrate him that he may minister as priest to Me
וְאַתָּ֗ה תְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶל־ כָּל־ חַכְמֵי־ לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּאתִ֖יו ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֞וּ אֶת־ בִּגְדֵ֧י אַהֲרֹ֛ן לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ לְכַהֲנוֹ־ לִֽי

וְאַתָּ֗ה  So  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תְּדַבֵּר֙  shall  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
חַכְמֵי־  - 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
לֵ֔ב  [who  are]  gifted  artisans 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מִלֵּאתִ֖יו  I  have  filled  with 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
ר֣וּחַ  the  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
חָכְמָ֑ה  of  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וְעָשׂ֞וּ  that  they  may  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, 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.
בִּגְדֵ֧י  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
אַהֲרֹ֛ן  Aaron's 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ  to  consecrate  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
לְכַהֲנוֹ־  that  he  may  minister  as  priest 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּהַן  
Sense: to act as a priest, minister in a priest’s office.
לִֽי  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular