Back to Exodus 39

Exodus 39:6-14

They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double. They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes.

World English Bible · Public Domain
Show the surrounding paragraph

Exodus 39:6-14 sits inside this longer paragraph.

They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double. They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row; and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes. They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold. They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 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. They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Read all of Exodus 39 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.

    He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

    He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.

    It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double.

    They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;

    and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;

    and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

    and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.

    The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes.

  • KJV King James Version

    And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.

    And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

    And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

    It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.

    And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.

    And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

    And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

    And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.

    And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And they wrought the onyx stones, inclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.

    And he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.

    And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

    It was four-square; they made the breastplate double; a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being double.

    And they set in it four rows of stones: a row of carnelian, topaz, and smaragd was the first row.

    And the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and an emerald.

    And the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst.

    And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were inclosed in fittings of gold in their settings.

    And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, for the twelve tribes.

View more translations →

Cross-references (23)

  • Revelation 21:12 (v14) having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the…
  • Joshua 4:7 (v7) 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…
  • Exodus 28:4 (v8) These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy…
  • Exodus 28:12 (v7) 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…
  • Ezekiel 28:13 (vv6, 11) You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise,…
Show all 22 cross-references
  • Exodus 28:9 (v6) You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel.
  • Exodus 28:13-29 (v8) 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 28:16-17 (v10) It shall be square and folded double; a span shall be its length, and a span its width. You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows…
  • Exodus 28:18 (v11) and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
  • Exodus 28:21 (v10) 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 28:29 (v7) 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…
  • Leviticus 8:8-9 (v8) He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate,…
  • Isaiah 59:17 (v8) He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad…
  • Mark 14:22-25 (v7) As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” He…
  • Ephesians 6:14 (v8) Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
  • Revelation 21:19-21 (v10) The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire;…
  • Job 28:16 (v6) It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
  • Exodus 25:7 (v6) onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
  • Exodus 35:9 (v6) onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
  • Nehemiah 2:20 (v7) Then I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have…
  • Psalms 89:28 (v8) I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him.
  • Mark 14:9 (v7) Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be…

22 distinct cross-references across this passage (23 total citations).

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

Explain this passage (8 sources)

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

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6, 12, 14 That is, of very fine and curious workmanship.

That is, of very fine and curious workmanship.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 10 Verse 6. Onyx stones] Possibly the Egyptian pebble. See…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v8 Exo 39:8. He made the breast-plate — This was…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9, 10, 14 6. ouches] rosettes; see on Exo_28:11 s. So vv.…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v7 (7) Stones for a memorial.—See Note on Exo_28:12.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv9–10 For a memorial. Compare Exo_28:12.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v8 The Breastplate and its Fastenings
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 8, 10, 14 General Information:
Share