The Meaning of Exodus 28:8 Explained

Exodus 28:8

KJV: 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.

YLT: And the girdle of his ephod which is on him, according to its work, is of the same, of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.

Darby: And the girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to its work of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet and twined byssus.

ASV: And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 28:8 Mean?

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 28:8 mean?

And the intricately woven band of the ephod which [is] on it of the same workmanship shall be [made of] gold blue and purple and scarlet [thread] and linen fine woven
וְחֵ֤שֶׁב אֲפֻדָּתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ מִמֶּ֣נּוּ : יִהְיֶ֑ה זָהָ֗ב תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָֽר

וְחֵ֤שֶׁב  And  the  intricately  woven  band 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֵשֶׁב  
Sense: girdle, band, ingenious work.
אֲפֻדָּתוֹ֙  of  the  ephod 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲפֻדָּה  
Sense: ephod.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָלָ֔יו  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ  of  the  same 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
מִמֶּ֣נּוּ  workmanship 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
: יִהְיֶ֑ה  shall  be  [made  of] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
זָהָ֗ב  gold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
תְּכֵ֧לֶת  blue 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּכֵלֶת  
Sense: violet, violet stuff.
וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן  and  purple 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְגָּמָן  
Sense: purple, red-purple.
שָׁנִ֖י  scarlet  [thread] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁנִי  
Sense: scarlet, crimson.
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ  and  linen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁשׁ 
Sense: something bleached white, byssus, linen, fine linen.
מָשְׁזָֽר  fine  woven 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁזַר  
Sense: to twist, be twisted.