English Standard Version
Exodus 28:16
16It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth.
Exodus 28:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)It is to be square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double.
- New King James Version (NKJV)It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.
Context of Exodus 28:16
14and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings. 15"You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth. 17You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
Read all of Exodus 28Exodus 28:16 word by word
רָב֥וּעַ יִֽהְיֶ֖ה כָּפ֑וּל זֶ֥רֶת אָרְכּ֖וֹ וְזֶ֥רֶת רָחְבּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Exodus 28:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Four-square it shall be - Here we have the exact dimensions of this breastplate, or more properly breast-piece or stomacher. It was a span in length and breadth when doubled, and consequently two spans long one way before it was doubled. Between these doublings, it is supposed, the Urim and Thummim were placed. See Clarke on Exodus 28:30; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-43Verses 1-43 (Compare Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:12-13. Moses, as the divinely-appointed and acknowledged leader of the nation, had, on a special occasion, appointed those who were to offer sacrifice, and had himself sprinkled the consecrating blood of the victims on the people Exodus 24:5-6, Exodus 24:8. On the completion of the tabernacle, after Aaron and his sons had been called to the priesthood, he took chief part in the daily service of the sanctuary…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-30Verses 15-30 The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men esteem them. The high priest…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-30The breastpiece receives more attention than any other item. This suggests the breastpiece was very important. The breastpiece symbolized the priest's representation of Israel (28:17–21, 29). It held the Urim and Thummim, objects through which God revealed his will (28:30). The high priest had two main tasks. First, he brought the people to God. He represented them before the Lord. Second, he brought God’s word to the people. He spoke to them on God’s…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2915-29. thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work--a very splendid and richly embroidered piece of brocade, a span square, and doubled, to enable it the better to bear the weight of the precious stones in it. There were twelve different stones, containing each the name of a tribe, and arranged in four rows, three in each. The Israelites had acquired a knowledge of the lapidary's art in Egypt, and the amount of their skill in cutting…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 28:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries