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Exodus 39:1-43 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And of the blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 they made H6213 cloths H899 of service, H8278 to do service H8334 in the holy H6944 place, and made H6213 the holy H6944 garments H899 for Aaron; H175 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

2 And he made H6213 the ephod H646 of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8438 H8144 and fine twined H7806 linen. H8336

3 And they did beat H7554 the gold H2091 into H854 thin plates, H6341 and cut H7112 it into wires, H6616 to work H6213 H8432 it in the blue, H8504 and in the purple, H713 and in the scarlet, H8144 H8438 and in the fine linen, H8336 with cunning H2803 work. H4639

4 They made H6213 shoulderpieces H3802 for it, to couple it together: H2266 by the two H8147 edges H7098 H7099 was it coupled together. H2266

5 And the curious girdle H2805 of his ephod, H642 that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work H4639 thereof; of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen; H8336 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

6 And they wrought H6213 onyx H7718 stones H68 inclosed H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold, H2091 graven, H6605 as signets H2368 are graven, H6603 with the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478

7 And he put H7760 them on the shoulders H3802 of the ephod, H646 that they should be stones H68 for a memorial H2146 to the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

8 And he made H6213 the breastplate H2833 of cunning H2803 work, H4639 like the work H4639 of the ephod; H646 of gold, H2091 blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen. H8336

9 It was foursquare; H7251 they made H6213 the breastplate H2833 double: H3717 a span H2239 was the length H753 thereof, and a span H2239 the breadth H7341 thereof, being doubled. H3717

10 And they set H4390 in it four H702 rows H2905 of stones: H68 the first row H2905 was a sardius, H124 a topaz, H6357 and a carbuncle: H1304 this was the first H259 row. H2905

11 And the second H8145 row, H2905 an emerald, H5306 a sapphire, H5601 and a diamond. H3095

12 And the third H7992 row, H2905 a ligure, H3958 an agate, H7618 and an amethyst. H306

13 And the fourth H7243 row, H2905 a beryl, H8658 an onyx, H7718 and a jasper: H3471 they were inclosed H4142 in ouches H4865 of gold H2091 in their inclosings. H4396

14 And the stones H68 were according to the names H8034 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 twelve, H8147 H6240 according to their names, H8034 like the engravings H6603 of a signet, H2368 every one H376 with his name, H8034 according to the twelve H8147 H6240 tribes. H7626

15 And they made H6213 upon the breastplate H2833 chains H8333 at the ends, H1383 of wreathen H5688 work H4639 of pure H2889 gold. H2091

16 And they made H6213 two H8147 ouches H4865 of gold, H2091 and two H8147 gold H2091 rings; H2885 and put H5414 the two H8147 rings H2885 in the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833

17 And they put H5414 the two H8147 wreathen chains H5688 of gold H2091 in the two H8147 rings H2885 on the ends H7098 of the breastplate. H2833

18 And the two H8147 ends H7098 of the two H8147 wreathen H5688 chains H5688 they fastened H5414 in the two H8147 ouches, H4865 and put H5414 them on the shoulderpieces H3802 of the ephod, H646 before H6440 it. H4136

19 And they made H6213 two H8147 rings H2885 of gold, H2091 and put H7760 them on the two H8147 ends H7098 of the breastplate, H2833 upon the border H8193 of it, which was on the side H5676 of the ephod H646 inward. H1004

20 And they made H6213 two H8147 other golden H2091 rings, H2885 and put H5414 them on the two H8147 sides H3802 of the ephod H646 underneath, H4295 toward H4136 the forepart H6440 of it, over against H5980 the other coupling H4225 thereof, above H4605 the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod. H646

21 And they did bind H7405 the breastplate H2833 by his rings H2885 unto the rings H2885 of the ephod H646 with a lace H6616 of blue, H8504 that it might be above the curious girdle H2805 of the ephod, H646 and that the breastplate H2833 might not be loosed H2118 from the ephod; H646 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

22 And he made H6213 the robe H4598 of the ephod H646 of woven H707 work, H4639 all H3632 of blue. H8504

23 And there was an hole H6310 in the midst H8432 of the robe, H4598 as the hole H6310 of an habergeon, H8473 with a band H8193 round about H5439 the hole, H6310 that it should not rend. H7167

24 And they made H6213 upon the hems H7757 of the robe H4598 pomegranates H7416 of blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and twined H7806 linen.

25 And they made H6213 bells H6472 of pure H2889 gold, H2091 and put H5414 the bells H6472 between H8432 the pomegranates H7416 upon the hem H7757 of the robe, H4598 round about H5439 between H8432 the pomegranates; H7416

26 A bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 a bell H6472 and a pomegranate, H7416 round about H5439 the hem H7757 of the robe H4598 to minister H8334 in; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

27 And they made H6213 coats H3801 of fine linen H8336 of woven H707 work H4639 for Aaron, H175 and for his sons, H1121

28 And a mitre H4701 of fine linen, H8336 and goodly H6287 bonnets H4021 of fine linen, H8336 and linen H906 breeches H4370 of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336

29 And a girdle H73 of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 and blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 of needlework; H7551 H4639 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

30 And they made H6213 the plate H6731 of the holy H6944 crown H5145 of pure H2889 gold, H2091 and wrote H3789 upon it a writing, H4385 like to the engravings H6603 of a signet, H2368 HOLINESS H6944 TO THE LORD. H3068

31 And they tied H5414 unto it a lace H6616 of blue, H8504 to fasten H5414 it on high H4605 upon the mitre; H4701 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

32 Thus was all the work H5656 of the tabernacle H4908 of the tent H168 of the congregation H4150 finished: H3615 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so did H6213 they.

33 And they brought H935 the tabernacle H4908 unto Moses, H4872 the tent, H168 and all his furniture, H3627 his taches, H7165 his boards, H7175 his bars, H1280 and his pillars, H5982 and his sockets, H134

34 And the covering H4372 of rams' H352 skins H5785 dyed red, H119 and the covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and the vail H6532 of the covering, H4539

35 The ark H727 of the testimony, H5715 and the staves H905 thereof, and the mercy seat, H3727

36 The table, H7979 and all the vessels H3627 thereof, and the shewbread, H6440 H3899

37 The pure H2889 candlestick, H4501 with the lamps H5216 thereof, even with the lamps H5216 to be set in order, H4634 and all the vessels H3627 thereof, and the oil H8081 for light, H3974

38 And the golden H2091 altar, H4196 and the anointing H4888 oil, H8081 and the sweet H5561 incense, H7004 and the hanging H4539 for the tabernacle H168 door, H6607

39 The brasen H5178 altar, H4196 and his grate H4345 of brass, H5178 his staves, H905 and all his vessels, H3627 the laver H3595 and his foot, H3653

40 The hangings H7050 of the court, H2691 his pillars, H5982 and his sockets, H134 and the hanging H4539 for the court H2691 gate, H8179 his cords, H4340 and his pins, H3489 and all the vessels H3627 of the service H5656 of the tabernacle, H4908 for the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150

41 The cloths H899 of service H8278 to do service H8334 in the holy H6944 place, and the holy H6944 garments H899 for Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 and his sons' H1121 garments, H899 to minister in the priest's office. H3547

42 According to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so the children H1121 of Israel H3478 made H6213 all the work. H5656

43 And Moses H4872 did look H7200 upon all H3651 the work, H4399 and, behold, they had done H6213 it as the LORD H3068 had commanded, H6680 even so had they done H6213 it: and Moses H4872 blessed H1288 them.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Exodus 39

Commentary on Exodus 39 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 39

This chapter gives us an account of the finishing of the work of the tabernacle.

  • I. The last things prepared were the holy garments. The ephod and its curious girdle (v. 1-5). The onyx-stones for the shoulders (v. 6, 7). The breastplate with the precious stones in it (v. 8-21). The robe of the ephod (v. 22-26). The coats, bonnets, and breeches, for the inferior priests (v. 27-29). And the plate of the holy crown (v. 30, 31).
  • II. A summary account of the whole work, as it was presented to Moses when it was all finished (v. 32, etc.).

Exd 39:1-31

In this account of the making of the priests' garments, according to the instructions given (ch. 28), we may observe,

  • 1. That the priests' garments are called here clothes of service, v. 1. Note, Those that wear robes of honour must look upon them as clothes of service; for from those upon whom honour is put service is expected. It is said of those that are arrayed in white robes that they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, Rev. 7:13, 15. Holy garments were not made for men to sleep in, or to strut in, but to do service in; and then they are indeed for glory and beauty. The Son of man himself came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.
  • 2. That all the six paragraphs here, which give a distinct account of the making of these holy garments, conclude with those words, as the Lord commanded Moses, v. 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31. The like is not in any of the foregoing accounts, as if in these, more than any other of the appurtenances of the tabernacle, they had a particular regard to the divine appointment, both for warrant and for direction. It is an intimation to all the Lord's ministers to make the word of God their rule in all their ministrations, and to act in observance of and obedience to the command of God.
  • 3. That these garments, in conformity to the rest of the furniture of the tabernacle, were very rich and splendid; the church in its infancy was thus taught, thus pleased, with the rudiments of this world; but now under the gospel, which is the ministration of the Spirit, to affect and impose such pompous habits as the church of Rome does, under pretence of decency and instruction, is to betray the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and to entangle the church again in the bondage of those carnal ordinances which were imposed only till the time of reformation.
  • 4. That they were all shadows of good things to come, but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel; when therefore the substance has come, it is a jest to be fond of the shadow.
    • (1.) Christ is our great high-priest; when he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service-he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which he received not by measure-girded himself with the curious girdle of resolution, to go through with his undertaking-charged himself with the curious girdle of resolution, to go through with his undertaking-charged himself with all God's spiritual Israel, bore them on his shoulders, carried them in his bosom, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them in the breast-plate of judgment unto his Father. And (lastly) he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness: now consider how great this man is.
    • (2.) True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made is the righteousness of saints (Rev. 19:8), and Holiness to the Lord must be so written upon their foreheads that all who converse with them may see, and say, that they bear the image of God's holiness, and are devoted to the praise of it.

Exd 39:32-43

Observe here,

  • I. The builders of the tabernacle made very good despatch. It was not much more than five months from the beginning to the finishing of it. Though there was a great deal of fine work about it, such as is usually the work of time, embroidering and engraving, not only in gold, but in precious stones, yet they went through with it in a little time. Church-work is usually slow work, but they made quick work of this, and yet did it with the greatest exactness imaginable. For,
    • 1. Many hands were employed, all unanimous, and not striving with each other. This expedited the business, and made it easy.
    • 2. The workmen were taught of God, and so were kept from making blunders, which would have retarded them.
    • 3. The people were hearty and zealous in the work, and impatient till it was finished. God had prepared their hearts, and then the thing was done suddenly, 2 Chr. 29:36. Resolution and industry, and a cheerful application of mind, will, by the grace of God, bring a great deal of good work to pass in a little time, in less than one would expect.
  • II. They punctually observed their orders, and did not in the least vary from them. They did it according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, v. 32, 42. Note, God's work must be done, in every thing, according to his own will. His institutions neither need nor admit men's inventions to make them either more beautiful or more likely to answer the intention of them. Add thou not unto his words. God is pleased with willing worship, but not with will-worship.
  • III. They brought all their work to Moses, and submitted it to his inspection and censure, v. 33. He knew what he had ordered them to make; and now the particulars were called over, and all produced, that Moses might see both that they had made all, omitting nothing, and that they had made all according to the instructions given them, and that, if they had made a mistake in any thing, it might be forthwith rectified. Thus they showed respect to Moses, who was set over them in the Lord; not objecting that Moses did not understand such work, and therefore that there was no reason for submitting it to his judgment. No, that God who gave them so much knowledge as to do the work gave them also so much humility as to be willing to have it examined and compared with the model. Moses was in authority, and they would pay a deference to his place. The spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets. And besides, though they knew how to do the work better than Moses, Moses had a better and more exact idea of the model than they had, and therefore they could not be well pleased with their own work, unless they had his approbation. Thus in all the services of religion we should labour to be accepted of the Lord.
  • IV. Moses, upon search, found all done according to the rule, v. 43. Moses, both for their satisfaction and for his own, did look upon all the work, piece by piece, and behold they had done it according to the pattern shown him, for the same Being that showed him the pattern guided their hand in the work. All the copies of God's grace exactly agree with the original of his counsels: what God works in us, and by us, is the fulfilling of the good pleasure of his own goodness; and when the mystery of God shall be finished, and all his performances come to be compared with his purposes, it will appear that behold all is done according to the counsel of his own will, not one iota or tittle of which shall fall to the ground, or be varied from.
  • V. Moses blessed them.
    • 1. He commended them, and signified his approbation of all they had done. He did not find fault where there was none, as some do, who think they disparage their own judgment if they do not find something amiss in the best and most accomplished performance. In all this work it is probable there might have been found here and there a stitch amiss, and a stroke awry, which would have served for an over-curious and censorious critic to animadvert upon; but Moses was too candid to notice small faults where there were no great ones. Note, All governors must be a praise to those that do well, as well as a terror to evil-doers. Why should any take a pride in being hard to be pleased?
    • 2. He not only praised them, but prayed for them. He blessed them as one having authority, for the less is blessed of the better. We read not of any wages that Moses paid them for their work, but this blessing he gave them. For, though ordinarily the labourer be worthy of his hire, yet in this case,
      • 1. They wrought for themselves. The honour and comfort of God's tabernacle among them would be recompence enough. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself.
      • 2. They had their meat from heaven on free-cost, for themselves and their families, and their raiment waxed not old upon them; so that they neither needed wages nor had reason to expect any. Freely you have received, freely give. The obligations we lie under, both in duty and interest, to serve God, should be sufficient to quicken us to our work, though we had not a reward in prospect. But,
      • 3. This blessing, in the name of the Lord, was wages enough for all their work. Those whom God employs he will bless, and those whom he blesses are blessed indeed. The blessing he commands is life for evermore.