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.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl 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 39:10–21And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.
- Ezek 28:13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
- Prov 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
- Rev 21:19–21And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
- Job 28:18–19No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
- Exod 28:9And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
- Prov 20:15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- Exod 28:11With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
- Mal 3:17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
- Prov 31:10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
- Isa 54:11–12O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
- Prov 3:15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
- Lam 4:7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
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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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