What does Exodus 28:1 mean?
"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons." - Exodus 28:1
Exodus 28:1 - "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
Create a digital art approximation of a scene from Exodus 28:1. Show Aaron, aesthetically represented as a Middle-Eastern man, and his sons, Nadab and Abihu, who are also Middle-Eastern, along with Eleazar and Ithamar. All are depicted among the children of Israel. They are prepared to take on the role of ministers in the priest's office, capturing the reverence, passion, and devotion in their expressions and postures.
Exodus 28:1 (KJV) states, "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
This verse comes from the book of Exodus, which recounts the story of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the promised land. In this particular verse, God instructs Moses to appoint Aaron, his brother, and Aaron's sons as priests to minister to Him in the tabernacle. This verse serves as the beginning of a detailed description of the priestly garments and their sacred purpose within the worship of God.
The context of this verse is significant in understanding its meaning. The Israelites, having been freed from Egyptian bondage, were in the process of forming a new nation and establishing their relationship with God. The priesthood, with Aaron and his sons as high priests, played a crucial role in representing the people before God, offering sacrifices, leading in worship, and maintaining holiness and sanctity within the community.
One of the themes that can be derived from Exodus 28:1 is the idea of divine calling and appointment. The selection of Aaron and his sons for the priestly office was not a decision made by Moses or the people, but rather a direct command from God himself. This emphasizes the importance of divine authority and the recognition that serving in the priest's office required a special calling and anointing from God. This theme of divine calling can be seen throughout the Bible, as many prophets, priests, and leaders were chosen and commissioned by God for specific purposes.
Another important theme in this verse is the concept of mediation. The role of the priesthood in ancient Israel was to act as intermediaries between God and the people. The priests were responsible for offering sacrifices on behalf of the people, seeking forgiveness for sins, and maintaining the holiness of the tabernacle. This theme of mediation highlights the need for a bridge between a holy God and a sinful humanity. The New Testament later presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity, fulfilling the role of the high priest and offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Symbolism is also prevalent in this verse, particularly in the selection and anointing of Aaron and his sons. Their consecration as priests signified their separation for a specific purpose and their dedication to serving God. The elaborate garments and accessories described in the following verses symbolize the holiness, dignity, and sanctity of their office, as well as their role as representatives of the people before God. The high priest's breastplate, for example, contained twelve precious stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the priest's responsibility to intercede for the entire nation.
In conclusion, Exodus 28:1 serves as a foundational verse in establishing the priesthood and its significance in the religious life of ancient Israel. It emphasizes the divine calling, mediation, and symbolism associated with the priestly office. This verse also provides a glimpse into the intricate system of worship and sacrifice that characterized the Israelite religion, while also pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of these roles in Jesus Christ.
Exodus 28:1 Artwork
Exodus 28:1 - "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."
Exodus 28:19 - "And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst."
Exodus 28:13 - "¶ And thou shalt make ouches of gold;"
Exodus 40:28 - "¶ And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle."
Exodus 28:18 - "And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond."
Exodus 35:28 - "And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense."
Exodus 28:31 - "¶ And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue."
Exodus 36:28 - "And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides."
Exodus 28:5 - "And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen."
Exodus 37:28 - "And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold."
Exodus 30:28 - "And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot."
Exodus 26:28 - "And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end."
Exodus 28:20 - "And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings."
Exodus 22:28 - "¶ Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people."
Exodus 28:28 - "And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod."
Exodus 28:2 - "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty."
Exodus 6:28 - "¶ And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,"
Exodus 28:9 - "And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:"
Exodus 28:34 - "A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about."
Exodus 28:22 - "¶ And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold."
Exodus 28:10 - "Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth."
Exodus 28:37 - "And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be."
Exodus 28:6 - "¶ And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work."
Exodus 28:7 - "It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together."
Exodus 28:16 - "Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof."
Exodus 28:24 - "And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate."
Exodus 12:28 - "And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they."
Exodus 39:28 - "And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,"
Exodus 28:36 - "¶ And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."
Exodus 38:28 - "And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them."