Back to Exodus 28

Exodus 28:9-12

You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. Six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth. With 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. You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Exodus 28:9-12 sits inside this longer paragraph.

“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman. It shall have two shoulder straps joined to the two ends of it, that it may be joined together. The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. Six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth. With 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. You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial. You shall make settings of gold, and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided chains on the settings.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel.

    Six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, in the order of their birth.

    With 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.

    You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel. Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial.

  • KJV King James Version

    And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

    Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

    With 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.

    And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

    six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their birth.

    With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel; thou shalt make them to be inclosed in settings of gold.

    And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

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Cross-references (44)

  • Exodus 28:29 (v12) Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a…
  • Exodus 39:6-7 (v12) They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children…
  • Joshua 4:7 (v12) then you shall tell them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant. When it crossed over the…
  • Leviticus 24:7 (v12) You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
  • Numbers 16:40 (v12) to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn…
Show all 41 cross-references
  • Numbers 31:54 (v12) Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting for a…
  • Isaiah 9:6 (v12) For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,…
  • Ezekiel 28:13 (v9) You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise,…
  • Exodus 28:36 (vv9, 11) “You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’
  • Exodus 39:6 (vv9, 11) They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children…
  • Exodus 39:13 (vv9, 11) and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
  • Genesis 2:12 (v9) and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there.
  • Genesis 9:12-17 (v12) God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual…
  • Genesis 43:33 (v10) They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled with one…
  • Exodus 1:1-4 (v10) Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and…
  • Exodus 12:14 (v12) This day shall be a memorial for you. You shall keep it as a feast to Yahweh. You shall keep it as a feast throughout your generations by…
  • Exodus 13:9 (v12) It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong…
  • Exodus 28:7 (v12) It shall have two shoulder straps joined to the two ends of it, that it may be joined together.
  • Exodus 28:13-14 (v11) You shall make settings of gold, and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them like cords of braided work. You shall put the braided…
  • Exodus 28:20 (v9) and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.
  • Exodus 28:21 (v11) The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet,…
  • Exodus 28:25 (v11) The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its…
  • Exodus 39:18 (v11) The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:7 (v9) “Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue, and who knows how…
  • Job 28:16 (v9) It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
  • Psalms 89:19 (v12) Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.
  • Song of Solomon 8:6 (v9) Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes…
  • Isaiah 12:2 (v12) Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my…
  • Isaiah 49:16 (v9) Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.
  • Isaiah 62:6 (v12) I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on Yahweh, take no rest,
  • Jeremiah 22:24 (v11) “As I live,” says Yahweh, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet on my right hand, I would still pluck you from…
  • Zechariah 3:9 (v11) For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,’ says Yahweh of…
  • Zechariah 6:13-14 (v12) even he shall build Yahweh’s temple; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his…
  • Luke 1:54 (v12) He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
  • Luke 1:72 (v12) to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
  • Acts 10:4 (v12) He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy…
  • Ephesians 1:13 (v11) In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with…
  • Ephesians 4:30 (v11) Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
  • 2 Timothy 2:19 (v11) However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the…
  • Hebrews 7:25-28 (v12) Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make…
  • Revelation 7:2 (v11) I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it…

41 distinct cross-references across this passage (44 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (16 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10, 12 As they were in age, so should they be…

As they were in age, so should they be graven in order.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv9, 12 Exo 28:9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones,…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv10–12 Levi seems to be omitted here, as being sufficiently…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv9–12 And thou shall take two onyx stones,.... called from…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v11 Ouches - Hollow places, such as are made in…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv9, 11, 12 Verse 9. Two onyx stones] See Clarke on Ex…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v11 Exo 28:11. Ouches — Hollow places, such as are…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv9, 10, 12 Onyx. Septuagint, emeralds. (Calmet) --- Hebrew shoham, which the…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v9 9-12. Two onyx stones — Hebrews, stones of shoham.…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv9–12 9–12. Two onyx stones, enclosed in filigree settings of…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv9–12 (9) Two onyx stones.—The shôham of the Hebrews has…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv9–12 Two onyx stones. The correctness of this rendering has…
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v12 Exo 28:12, Exo 28:29.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v12 The place of strenghth. Isa 9:6; Luk 15:4; Luk…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v10 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v12 28:12 names on his shoulders (cp. Isa 9:6): The…
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