You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
Parallel translations
- KJV And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
- BSB And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
- NKJV And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row;
- NASB And you shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;
- NLT Mount four rows of gemstones on it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald.
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
The breastplate held four rows of precious stones, the first row being ruby, topaz, and beryl. Each stone represented one of the twelve tribes.
Overview
Twelve gemstones, three per row, displayed the value God places on each tribe of his people. The high priest bore them over his heart as he ministered. This array of precious stones reappears in the New Jerusalem's foundations (Rev. 21:19-20), linking Israel's worship to the consummated people of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Exod 39:10–21They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
- Ezek 28:13You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. In the day that you were created they were prepared.
- Prov 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
- Rev 21:19–21The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
- Job 28:18–19No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
- Exod 28:9You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel:
- Prov 20:15There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
- Exod 28:11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: you shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold.
- Mal 3:17They shall be mine,” says Yahweh of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.
- Prov 31:10Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
- Isa 54:11–12“You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
- Prov 3:15She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
- Lam 4:7Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 28:17 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
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