Exodus 28:6-14

Exodus 28:6-14

[6] And they shall make  the ephod  of gold,  of blue,  and of purple,  of scarlet,  and fine twined  linen,  with cunning  work.  [7] It shall have the two  shoulderpieces  thereof joined  at the two  edges  thereof; and so it shall be joined together.  [8] And the curious girdle  of the ephod,  which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work  thereof; even of gold,  of blue,  and purple,  and scarlet,  and fine twined  linen.  [9] And thou shalt take  two  onyx  stones,  and grave  on them the names  of the children  of Israel:  [10] Six  of their names  on one  stone,  and the other six  names  of the rest  on the other  stone,  according to their birth.  [11] With the work  of an engraver  in stone,  like the engravings  of a signet,  shalt thou engrave  the two  stones  with the names  of the children  of Israel:  thou shalt make  them to be set  in ouches  of gold.  [12] 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.  [13] And thou shalt make  ouches  of gold;  [14] And two  chains  of pure  gold  at the ends;  of wreathen  work  shalt thou make  them, and fasten  the wreathen  chains  to the ouches. 

What does Exodus 28:6-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The ephod (a transliteration of the Hebrew word) was the most important and outermost garment of the high priest. It was an apron-like piece of clothing that fit over his robe ( Exodus 28:31-35).
"The duty of the high priest was to enter into the presence of God and make atonement for the people as their mediator. To show that as mediator he brought the nation to God, the names of the twelve tribes were engraved upon precious stones on the shoulders of the ephod. The precious stones, with their richness and brilliancy, formed the most suitable earthly substratum to represent the glory into which Israel was to be transformed as the possession of Jehovah (xix5); whilst the colours and material of the ephod, answering to the colours and texture of the hangings of the sanctuary, indicated the service performed in the sanctuary by the person clothed with the ephod, and the gold with which the coloured fabric was worked, the glory of that service." [1]
Josephus wrote that the names of Jacob"s six oldest sons were on the stone on the right shoulder, and the names of his six youngest sons were on the stone on the left. [2]