Limitless Word
onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.
Exodus 25:7 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
  • KJV Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
  • BSB and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
  • NKJV onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
  • NASB onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Onyx stones and other gems were brought to be set in the high priest's ephod and breastplate. Precious stones adorned the garments of the one who represented Israel before God.

Overview

These costly stones would be engraved with the names of Israel's tribes and worn by the high priest, who carried the people on his shoulders and over his heart before God. The beauty of the stones honored the sacred office. The detail shows God's care that His people be represented before Him in their fullness. This foreshadows Christ, our great High Priest, who bears His people before the Father continually.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Exod 28:4These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
  • Exod 28:6–30“They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Exodus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Exodus 25:7YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ExodusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.

How Exodus 25:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.