Exodus 28:20
and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The specific order and gems listed—beryl, onyx, and jasper—don't just represent beauty, but were intricately set in gold filigree. This detail emphasizes that even the most exquisite elements of worship were to be carefully and deliberately constructed, showcasing God's design in every detail.
The text details the creation of the high priest's ornate breastplate, specifying the precious stones and their arrangement in four rows, each set in gold. This breastplate, along with the rest of the priestly garments, is meant to signify the glory and beauty of God's service and the holiness required of those who approach Him. The stones, bearing the names of the twelve tribes, underscore the high priest's role as a representative and intercessor for all of Israel before the Lord.
Imagine your name, your family's name, etched onto a precious jewel worn close to the heart of God's chosen representative. What does this intimate display signify?
The twelve precious stones on the high priest's breastplate, including the beryl, onyx, and jasper in the fourth row, were not just for decoration. Each stone bore the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
A Heavy, Loving Burden
This meant that as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God, he carried the names and, by extension, the people of Israel with him. It was a constant reminder to God of His covenant people, and to the people that they were remembered and valued by God. As Calvin notes, the priest bore the names 'upon his heart,' signifying deep affection and concern.
Identity in Christ
This imagery points forward to Christ. He doesn't just carry our names; He embodies our identity before the Father. We, who might feel insignificant or overlooked, are seen as precious stones through our union with Him, as Henry suggests. Our value before God isn't based on our own merit, but on Christ's finished work and His constant intercession for us.
Beyond the stones themselves, look closely at how they were held. What does the 'gold filigree' tell us about God's provision for His people?
The instruction that the stones 'shall be set in gold filigree' (or settings) is more than just a detail about jewelry construction. It speaks to divine artistry and provision.
The Setting of Value
Gold in Scripture often symbolizes purity, divinity, and immense value. The fact that these precious stones, representing the tribes of Israel, were set in gold highlights that their placement and presentation before God were part of His divine design and approval. It wasn't haphazard; it was a deliberate, beautiful arrangement.
God's Ordained Way
As Calvin observes, the entire Tabernacle and its priestly garments were created by 'wise-hearted' individuals filled with God's Spirit. This implies that the craftsmanship itself was a divinely empowered act, ensuring that the representation of Israel before God was done according to His perfect will and standard. This points to the fact that our access to God and our standing before Him are entirely His provision and His design, not our own.
Understand the original words
tarshish · Hebrew Noun
A stone often associated with a pale green or yellowish-green color. It reflects the beauty and splendor of the created order consecrated to God's service.
shoham · Hebrew Noun
A banded stone often used in jewelry. It signifies foundational strength and the endurance of the covenantal promises given to the tribes.
yashepheh · Hebrew Noun
A highly valued stone, often opaque and multicolored. As the final stone in the breastpiece, it represents the complete, multifaceted, and glorious presence of all the tribes before the Lord.
zahav · Hebrew Noun
The most precious metal in the tabernacle, representing divine purity, royalty, and the holiness of God. In this context, it secures the stones, symbolizing that God's grace and glory hold His people together.
This passage describes the foundations of the New Jerusalem, with its walls adorned by twelve precious stones, echoing the twelve stones on the high priest's breastplate which represented the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 28:13This prophetic passage uses imagery of precious stones, including those found on the high priest's breastplate, to describe the king of Tyre's former glory before his fall.
Hebrews 9:11-12The New Testament writer points to Christ's high priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, contrasting it with the earthly tabernacle and its ornate furnishings, including the high priest's garments.
Isaiah 54:11-12This prophecy describes a future restoration where God adorns his people with precious stones, paralleling the way the high priest's breastplate symbolized the preciousness of Israel before God.
calvinExodus 28:1-43: "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Tu vero accerse ad to Aharonem fratre…
pulpitExodus 28:20: "And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings."
Verse 20. - The fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper. If the identifications above suggested are allowed, two at least of these translations must be rejected. We have supposed the third stone in the first row to have been the "beryl," and the third in the second the "onyx." Perhaps we should translate, "a turquoise, a sardonyx, and a jasper." (See the comment on ver. 9…
The specific order and gems listed—beryl, onyx, and jasper—don't just represent beauty, but were intricately set in gold filigree. This detail emphasizes that even the most exquisite elements of worship were to be carefully and deliberately constructed, showcasing God's design in every detail.
The text details the creation of the high priest's ornate breastplate, specifying the precious stones and their arrangement in four rows, each set in gold. This breastplate, along with the rest of the priestly garments, is meant to signify the glory and beauty of God's service and the holiness required of those who approach Him. The stones, bearing the names of the twelve tribes, underscore the high priest's role as a representative and intercessor for all of Israel before the Lord.
The text details the creation of the high priest's ornate breastplate, specifying the precious stones and their arrangement in four rows, each set in gold. This breastplate, along with the rest of the priestly garments, is meant to signify the glory and beauty of God's service and the holiness required of those who approach Him. The stones, bearing the names of the twelve tribes, underscore the high priest's role as a representative and intercessor for all of Israel before the Lord.
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"and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree." — The specific order and gems listed—beryl, onyx, and jasper—don't just represent beauty, but were intricately set in gold filigree. This detail emphasizes that even the most exquisite elements of wors…
