Exodus 28:42-43
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This wasn't just about covering up for decency; it was a specific command to prevent the priests from bearing guilt and dying while ministering. By covering their "naked flesh," these garments served as a constant, visible reminder of the holiness required in God's presence, guarding against impurity that could lead to spiritual death.
You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the elaborate garments and priestly vestments that Aaron and his sons are to wear. God has just instructed Moses on the construction of the ephod, breastpiece, robe, and other ornate items for the high priest. These instructions for the priests' undergarments are presented as essential for maintaining modesty and purity during their sacred duties in the Tabernacle and at the altar.
Why did God care so much about what the priests wore underneath their robes?
God's instructions for priestly garments weren't just about outward appearance; they pointed to an inner reality of purity and reverence required for approaching Him.
These weren't just clothes; they were a divine blueprint. What ultimate truth do they reveal?
While the priests wore these garments for immediate modesty and purity, the Bible teaches that they were ultimately symbolic, pointing forward to the perfect work of Jesus Christ.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
ervah · Hebrew Noun
A state of shame, exposure, or human frailty that, in the context of the sanctuary, contrasts with the holiness of God and must be covered.
ohel mo'ed · Hebrew Noun phrase
A designated place where God met with His people through Moses, serving as the dwelling place of the divine presence within the camp.
mizbeah · Hebrew Noun
A raised structure for sacrifice; it represents the place of atonement where the blood of the offering satisfies the requirements of justice.
sharat · Hebrew Verb
To perform priestly duties; it involves service, worship, and the regular execution of prescribed ritual tasks in God's presence.
avon · Hebrew Noun
The culpability or state of liability incurred through sin or ritual uncleanness, which carries the penalty of divine judgment.
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
A settled rule or requirement established by divine authority, intended to be binding and permanent.
This passage reiterates the command for priests to wear linen garments, including these undergarments, emphasizing their consecrated state while serving in the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 44:17In Ezekiel's vision of the future temple, the same command for priests to wear linen garments, specifically to cover their nakedness, is given, highlighting the enduring importance of purity and decency in worship.
Genesis 9:20-23This earlier account of Noah's sons covering their father's nakedness shows the ancient cultural understanding of shame associated with exposure and the importance of respectful covering.
Exodus 20:26This verse prohibits priests from ascending to the altar by steps, which would have exposed their nakedness, underscoring the underlying principle of modesty and reverence that the linen breeches served.
clarkeExodus 28:42: "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:"
Linen breeches - This command had in view the necessity of purity and decency in every part of the Divine worship, in opposition to the shocking indecency of the pagan worship in general, in which the priests often ministered naked, as in the sacrifices to Bacchus, etc. On the garments of the high priest some general reflections have already been made; see Exod…
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…
This wasn't just about covering up for decency; it was a specific command to prevent the priests from bearing guilt and dying while ministering. By covering their "naked flesh," these garments served as a constant, visible reminder of the holiness required in God's presence, guarding against impurity that could lead to spiritual death.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the elaborate garments and priestly vestments that Aaron and his sons are to wear. God has just instructed Moses on the construction of the ephod, breastpiece, robe, and other ornate items for the high priest. These instructions for the priests' undergarments are presented as essential for maintaining modesty and purity during their sacred duties in the Tabernacle and at the altar.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing the elaborate garments and priestly vestments that Aaron and his sons are to wear. God has just instructed Moses on the construction of the ephod, breastpiece, robe, and other ornate items for the high priest. These instructions for the priests' undergarments are presented as essential for maintaining modesty and purity during their sacred duties in the Tabernacle and at the altar.
"You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to mini…" — This wasn't just about covering up for decency; it was a specific command to prevent the priests from bearing guilt and dying while ministering. By covering their "naked flesh," these garments serv…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
