And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Parallel translations
- WEB On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them:
- BSB Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all the way around the lower hem, with gold bells between them,
- NKJV And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
- NASB You shall make on its hem pomegranates of violet, purple, and scarlet material all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:
- NLT Make pomegranates out of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attach them to the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
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 hem of the robe was decorated with woven pomegranates in blue, purple, and scarlet, alternating with gold bells. These adorned the priest as he ministered.
Overview
Pomegranates, symbols of fruitfulness, and golden bells alternated around the robe's hem in beautiful array. Together they marked the priest's movement and ministry as fruitful and audible before God. The careful adornment underscores that those who serve God do so in beauty, order, and life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Exod 39:24–26And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.
- Zech 14:20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
- 1 Kgs 7:18And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
- 2 Kgs 25:17The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.
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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 28:33 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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