Exodus 39:20-21 · Bible study
Exodus 39:20-21 Commentary: Securing the Breastplate to the Ephod
Hebrew · 3 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the gold rings and blue cord matter: the high priest's breastplate was bound securely to bear Israel's names before God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The secure attachment of the high priest's breastplate to the ephod using gold rings and a blue cord ensures it remains fixed while he bears the tribes before God.
- Key words: Rings (tabba'at, H2885), ephod (ephod, H646), breastplate (choshen, H2833), blue cord (tekeleth, H8504), bind (rakas, H7405), not be loosed (zachach, H2118).
- Main debate: Whether the blue cord primarily symbolizes heaven or simply reflects the prescribed dye for the tabernacle.
- Theological theme: God's provision for a permanent mediator who carries His people into His presence; obedience to divine instruction.
- Best use: Teaching on the high priesthood, intercessory prayer, God's attention to detail, or Christ as the fulfillment of the priestly system.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
20They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband.
21Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
WEB World English Bible 2000
20They 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.
21They 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.
KJV King James Version 1769
20And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
21And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the Lord commanded Moses.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
20And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod.
21And they did bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
20and they make two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulders of the ephod below, over-against its front, over-against its joining, above the girdle of the ephod;
21and they bind the breastplate by its rings unto the rings of the ephod, with a ribbon of blue, to be above the girdle of the ephod, and the breastplate is not loosed from off the ephod, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
20And they made two rings of gold, and put them upon the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, to the front thereof, just by the coupling thereof, above the girdle of the ephod.
21And they bound the breastplate with its rings to the rings of the ephod with lace of blue, that it might be above the girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
20They made also the tunic of the ephod all of violet,
21And a hole for the head in the upper part at the middle, and a woven border round about the hole:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 39:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Geneva Bible Notes and Lange's Commentary both observe the precise obedience reflected in these verses. The gold rings on the ephod's shoulder straps and the blue cord tying the breastplate to the ephod serve a concrete function: "that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod" (Exodus 39:21). Lange renders the Hebrew tekeleth as a cord of blue, noting its use throughout the priestly garments. Geneva simply restates the text but underscores the repeated refrain "as the Lord commanded Moses." The commentators agree this is no mere craftsmanship, the secure binding ensures the high priest can carry the tribes' names before God without slippage. Every ring and knot contributes to the permanence of his intercessory role.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The breastplate was securely attached to the ephod using gold rings and a blue cord, fulfilling the command given to Moses, so that it would not come loose during the high priest's service.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Symbolic meaning of the blue cord | Christians agree the blue cord (tekeleth) was a specific dye, expensive and used throughout the tabernacle (Exodus 26:1; 39:31). | Some interpret the color as representing heaven or divinity; others see it simply as the prescribed hue without allegorical significance. |
| Significance of the gold rings | All traditions note the rings were used for secure attachment, not ornament. | Some see the rings as symbols of authority (signet rings), while others treat them purely as functional hardware. |
| Relevance of exact obedience for today | The phrase 'as Yahweh commanded Moses' underscores the importance of following God's instructions. | Catholic and Orthodox traditions may see the details as normative for liturgy; Protestants often treat them as historical principles pointing to Christ rather than prescriptive for worship. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The tabernacle narrative in Exodus 25, 40 repeatedly stresses that every object must match the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain (Exodus 25:9, 40). These two verses come from the final construction phase, where skilled artisans execute exactly what was commanded. The garments of the high priest, the ephod, the breastpiece, the robe, are described in Exodus 28 and carried out here.
The ephod (ephod, H646) was a two-piece outer garment made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads, worn over the priest's linen tunic. Two shoulder pieces held it together, each set with an onyx stone engraved with the names of six tribes (Exodus 39:6, 7). The breastpiece (choshen, H2833) was a folded square pouch containing the Urim and Thummim, used to discern God's will. Its twelve stones bore the names of all Israel (Exodus 39:10, 14).
The attachment described here is the final link between breastpiece and ephod. Two gold rings (tabba'at, H2885) were fixed to the bottom of the ephod's shoulder straps, underneath, toward the front, "close by its coupling" (machberet, H4225), the seam where front and back met. A cord of blue (tekeleth, H8504), a richly colored thread from marine snails, was threaded through the breastpiece's own rings and then through these ephod rings, tying the two together. The same blue is used in the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1) and the priest's turban plate (Exodus 39:31).
The concern "that the breastplate might not come loose" is practical: a swinging or slipping breastpiece would disrupt the order of worship and risk losing the sacred lot-bearing objects. But the text also carries a theological point: the high priest cannot stand before God without carrying the people, and that carrying must be secure. The repeated "as Yahweh commanded Moses" links this meticulous construction to the divine initiative that established the priesthood.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 39:20, 21. The Hebrew text is consistent across the major manuscripts.
Reception History
The early church read the high priest's garments as types of Christ (Hebrews 9:11, 12). The specific binding of the breastplate to the ephod was less frequently cited than the breastplate itself, but when interpreted, it was seen as a figure of the union between Christ and His Church. The blue cord evoked the heavenly origin of the priesthood. Medieval commentators focused on practical function; Christian exegetes saw the permanence of the binding as a promise that Christ's intercession never fails. The Geneva Bible (1599) placed these verses within the larger narrative of faithful construction, while Lange (19th century) stressed the functional purpose. Modern readers often use the passage to reflect on the order God brings to worship and the security of the believer in Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Precision as Devotion. God cares about the small things, gold rings placement, blue cord length, because worship is shaped by His word. The high priest's garments are not left to human creativity; they follow a revealed pattern. Our own service to God can reflect that same attention to what He actually says.
- Bearing the People on the Heart. The breastpiece holds the names of the twelve tribes. Tying it securely means those names do not fall away. The high priest does not merely represent Israel; he carries them. This is a picture of the intercessory love that holds others before God.
- Bound by a Cord of Heaven. Blue is the color of the sky and the sanctuary. The lace that ties breastplate to ephod reaches from earth toward heaven. For Christians, this points to Jesus, the true High Priest, who is both fully human (bearing our names) and fully divine (securing our place before the Father). He is never loosed from His people.
Five-point outline
- Gold rings on the shoulder straps: authority and strength in the priest's role.
- Underside, front, beneath the seam: each placement serves stability, not appearance.
- The cord of blue: a thread that echoes the tabernacle's heavenly orientation.
- Bound so it will not be loosed: the permanence of the priestly office and the security of God's people.
- As the LORD commanded Moses: the final phrase places all human work under divine warrant.
Illustration hooks
- An airline mechanic double-checking a door seal: hundreds of lives depend on one latch staying fixed.
- A parent pinning a name on a child's backpack before the first day of school, making sure it won't fall off.
- A stagehand securing a harness for an actor, where a loose clip could be disastrous.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "Why does the Bible spend so many verses on clothing construction?" (Point to the theology of mediation: every detail supports the high priest's work.)
- "If the high priest prefigures Christ, does this mean Jesus 'wears' me the way the ephod wore the breastpiece?" (Lead gently: Christ carries His people in His heart, and that bond cannot be broken.)
- "How can I read this without falling into a boring list of ancient instructions?" (Suggest reading for the character of God: He is a God of order, presence, and relationship.)
Leading a Discussion
These two verses appear to be a simple inventory note: rings, cord, binding, done. But the repeated phrase "as the LORD commanded Moses" invites us to ask why the writer dwells on the details. What does the careful fastening of the breastplate to the ephod reveal about the high priest's role, and about God's commitment to His people?
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 39:20, 21 together. What words or phrases stand out to you? Why do you think the text repeats "as the LORD commanded Moses" so often?
- The breastplate held the stones engraved with the names of Israel's tribes (Exodus 39:14). What does it mean that the high priest literally carried those names over his heart?
- The binding used a "lace of blue" (or cord of violet). Blue is the dominant color of the tabernacle curtains, the veil, and the priest's turban. What do you think this recurring color might represent?
- Verse 21 says the binding was so "the breastplate might not come loose." Why do you think the writer was concerned with the breastplate staying fixed? What might happen if it swung free?
- How does the security of this physical binding help you think about the security of Christ's intercession for you? Consider Jesus as the High Priest who never fails to present His people before the Father.
- In what area of your life do you need the assurance that you are "bound" to Christ and cannot be lost?
- This passage emphasizes exact obedience. Is there a detail of your faith life, perhaps something small, that you could be more faithful to simply because God has asked for it?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 26:3 | Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. |
| Matthew 16:24 | Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. |
| I Corinthians 1:25 | because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. |
| I Corinthians 1:27 | but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
2 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes emphasize the precise obedience to God's commands in every construction detail, particularly the blue lace that fastened the breastplate. This lace was not merely decorative but served a functional purpose: it kept the breastplate securely attached to the ephod's embroidered band, preventing it from coming loose as the Lord had ordered.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange points out that the people's joyful generosity in building the tabernacle was matched by their exact obedience to every command. This careful compliance, delivered through Moses, marked the moment the old covenant was fully reestablished among Israel. The work was finished quickly, and Moses blessed them.