And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the waist even to the thighs they shall reach:
- BSB Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh.
- NKJV And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.
- NASB You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh; they shall reach from the waist even to the thighs.
- NLT Also make linen undergarments for them, to be worn next to their bodies, reaching from their hips to their thighs.
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 priests were to wear linen undergarments covering them from waist to thigh. Modesty was required even beneath the holy garments.
Overview
These undergarments guarded against any exposure as the priests ministered, honoring God's holiness in every detail. Reverence extended even to what was unseen. The concern for covering recalls humanity's nakedness after the fall and God's gracious covering, ultimately the righteousness Christ provides.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Lev 6:10And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
- Lev 16:4He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
- Ezek 44:18They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
- Exod 39:28And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
- Rev 3:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
- Exod 20:26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
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 28:42 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.