The Meaning of Leviticus 8:8 Explained

Leviticus 8:8

KJV: And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.

YLT: and doth put on him the breastplate, and doth put unto the breastplate the Lights and the Perfections,

Darby: And he put the breastplate on it, and put on the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim;

ASV: And he placed the breastplate upon him: and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he put  the breastplate  upon him: also he put  in the breastplate  the Urim  and the Thummim. 

What does Leviticus 8:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 8:1-17 - Aaron And His Sons Consecrated
Here we have our Lord's eternal Priesthood presented in miniature. The whole congregation had to be present, because each had a claim on Aaron's services, as each believer has a claim on Christ's. Each portion of Aaron's dress told of some trait or feature in Jesus' fitness to stand for us-the girdle of His zeal; the robe and ephod of His beauty and glory; the breastplate that our names are written on His heart; the Urim and Thummim of His wisdom to direct; the miter of His holiness.
The garments of the priests, the sons of Aaron, remind us of the spotless dress in which we should be habited, ever remembering that in the lowliest act we may minister to God. We, too, must be anointed, as Jesus was, with the fresh oil of Pentecost. The identification of our Lord with His people is typically set forth in the joint laying of hands on the victims. Jesus had no sins of His own, but He bore our sins, and stood with us in the sinner's place that He might raise us to His throne. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 8

1  Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons
14  Their sin offering
18  Their burnt offering
22  The ram of consecration
31  The place and time of their consecration

What do the individual words in Leviticus 8:8 mean?

And he put on him - the breastplate and he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם עָלָ֖יו אֶת־ הַחֹ֑שֶׁן וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶל־ הַחֹ֔שֶׁן הָאוּרִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַתֻּמִּֽים

וַיָּ֥שֶׂם  And  he  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
עָלָ֖יו  on  him 
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.
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.
הַחֹ֑שֶׁן  the  breastplate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁן  
Sense: breastplate, breastpiece.
וַיִּתֵּן֙  and  he  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
הַחֹ֔שֶׁן  the  breastplate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁן  
Sense: breastplate, breastpiece.
הָאוּרִ֖ים  the  Urim 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אוּר 
Sense: stones kept in a pouch on the high-priest’s breastplate, used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues.
הַתֻּמִּֽים  the  Thummim 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: תֻּמִּים  
Sense: stones provided for the means of achieving a sacred lot.