While cotton fabric is derived from the fibers in the bolls that grow around the plant's seed heads, linen is made from fibers in the stems of the flax plant. The ephod was one of these instructions, as significant as the rest. Per my previous explanations, the Ephod was a garment that was only to be worn by the high priest. These are the same people who Moses led out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But what is an ephod, exactly? (Matthew 13:44) When God, who is light, looks upon us living stones in Christ, He sees reflected back His perfect light from the stones. They have to be diligently searched for with great determination, excavated, washed, and finally cut andpolished(1) by the master jeweler to release their true beauty. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. We can replace Jesus Christ with money, power, status, or possessions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ephod, I Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY - JW.ORG Satan seeks to display them in a shameful, exploitative way leading to a sense of vulnerability that approximates a fear of evil (Genesis 3:7). ), (4) Depicted is a Temple service with the kohane blessing ritual (duchenen in Yiddish) that is performed on certain holy days. If you are unsure of what to do, dont be afraid to ask God for guidance. So God, speaking through Moses, gave the people instructions on how they should live. In the former the ephod is referred to in the priestly ordinances as a part of the official dress of the high priest, and was to be made of threads . 1 Peter 2:24). This is so important because it indicates a condition, a state of being, a resting place. And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. Years later the prophet Samuel, who so pleased God especially in comparison to the showy, sinful sons of the prophet Eli, is described as wearing a linen ephod as he served the Lord as a boy (1 Samuel 2:18). Thank you for this information, God bless you. May God bless you abundantly! The word "ephod" occurs 51 times in 41 verses in the NASB, and refers to the sacred outer garment worn by the high priest, made of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarn (colors of royalty), to which the breastpiece was attached, and worn over a blue robe. The other items are a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban, and sash (Exodus 28:4). This light reflects the righteousness of Jesus and does not expose our blemishes from sin but rather reflects the righteousness of Jesus who is a forever brilliant, beautiful, shining, priceless, precious, and secure person! The Bible instructs that each thread used in the High Priests breastplate and ephod must be 28 plies. For Glory and Beauty, the garments bring praise to God and admiration from all that gaze upon them. God invents boxer shorts! The ephod also symbolized the importance of obedience to Gods laws. It is also to be noted that the high priests ephod (Exodus 28:6; Exodus 28:8, &c.) was made of shesh, while the garments of the ordinary priests, as well as the ephods of Samuel and David, were of bad. Rather it was made into a weaving pattern of small boxes or cells, or diamond-shaped, giving it an appearance of a white on white honeycomb. In the Bible, in the contexts where it is worn, the ephod is usually described as being linen, but did not constitute complete clothing of any kind, as the Books of Samuel describe. This is a type of Christ's righteousness and perfect holiness during his entire human life. This means that we are eternally secure in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, God our Father looks upon us with all the favor with which He looks upon His own unique Son Jesus that He loves infinitely. The most important garment worn by the High Priest is the ephod. The High Priest had two tunics that he wore on the Day of Atonement. Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? As a garment the ephod is referred to in the priestly ordinances as a part of the official dress of the high priest. David then inquired of God, and God told him what to do. Only the special priest could wear the ephod. There must have been a small golden ring attached to each corner of the breastplate to which, in turn, the golden chains and ribbons were connected. It reminds us that we are His chosen people and have been given authority over the enemy. (1) Select the link to open another article in a new tab with additional information. Realize, precious stones are typically located deep within the earth. The wearer of such linen made from breathable flax fibers would not sweat. What Do We Learn about Babylon in the Bible? P.S Here is the YouTube video that relates to this blog post: Wow! Jesus tunic was made out of the finest linen and was completely seamless. These pomegranates were actually hollow spheres of fabric in the shape of pomegranates. p. 156, 157. l. 3. c. 7. sect. The perfect tense is a combination of two Greek tenses: the Present tense and the Aorist tense. One he wore in the morning and the other in the evening. (Exodus 33:20-23. When the High Priest put on these garments, he was putting on Christ! Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like itof one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen (Exodus 28:6-8 NIV). And David danced before the LORD with all, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Only certain people were allowed to wear the ephod. It reminds us of our need to obey Gods laws and of His authority over us. No demand made upon that grace can delete it. Although the significance of the ephod has changed over time, it still represents the authority and power that God has given to His people. What Was the Spiritual Purpose of the Ephod in the Bible? It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the Messiahs sufferings, were accomplished. Mosess brother, Aaron, donned the ephod and other priestly garments as his formal clothing at the holy tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites to worship the Lord during their years in the wilderness. It was also a symbol of his office. shoulder pieces | RayKLiu (Tractate Yoma 72a) Some people[by whom?] While the priestly garments were allowed to have a combination of wool and linen, those of the laity were not. It was listed first of these priestly garments, and the breastpiece was to be fashioned after the ephod, as well as tied to it with blue cord. Again, what Jesus is is what we are in the sight of God! According to Josephus, the engraved onyx stones on the shoulders were designed so that the six eldest sons names were engraved on the stone on the right shoulder and those of the six youngest sons on the stone on the left shoulder. The Talmud argues that each of the textures was combined in six threads with a seventh of gold leaf, making 28 threads to the texture in total. We will ultimately be let down when we put our trust in anything other than Jesus Christ. Learnt a lot from the work you put into this. Girded with a linen ephod.This is usually spoken of as if David were arrayed in a distinctively priestly dress; but it is remarkable that the ephod was not prescribed as a part of the priestly dressthe ephod of the high-priest (Exodus 25:7, &c.) being quite a different thingand was worn by others, as Samuel (1Samuel 2:18). This does not mean we are to sit around and do nothing all day. First, the "ephod" (a garment): They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, worked into designs . Here, the ephod is included among a litany of sacred garments Aaron is to wear. This sparked an interest in re-reading the story of David and his conquests. Stating that it was held together by a girdle, and had two shoulder straps which were fastened to the front of the ephod by golden rings, to which the breastplate was attached by golden chains (Exodus 28:614). These straps went behind, up, and slightly over the garments upper corners, over the priests shoulders. That day was the highest andmost holy day of the year, the Day of Atonement, a day also called the Day of Judgment. Ephod - Meaning and What Was it Used For? [See on [265]1Ch 15:27.]. O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.. Hallelujah! Hebrews 7:1-17) Therefore, He is the King of Righteousness and Peace and a giver of righteousness that leads to peace with God the Father. Each garment was individually made from the finest white flax linen in Israel. The breastplate, called the Urim and Thummim would rest in a cloth receptacle upon the ephod. That is, God the Father looks at Jesus to judge Christians. The Breastplate was also attached to the Ephod by one piece of blue wool yarn on each lower side. In modern Christianity, it is easy to gloss over the parts of scripture that are no longer seen or practiced like the garments and items the Jewish priests wore in the Old Testament. It was a day of rejoicing as David "and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets . Much effort went into the making of the ephod, and it was crafted from finery. Ephod | RayKLiu The people of Israel worshipped the ephod as if it were a god. The high priest wore a skillfully crafted ephod consisting of gold shoulder pieces bearing carved onyx stones showing the names of the 12 tribes, and a woven band of colorful threads. I hope this post shows you the depth of the word of God and how the Lord Jesus came to fulfill the law. The Bible tells us that we are not to worship anything but God. We are also given the Holy Spirit, who helps us to grow in our relationship with God. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aarons garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. But Moses pleaded with God to forgive the people, and God relented. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6a). 12 Fascinating Facts about the Ephod in the Bible | Ephod Bible Study His name is Jesus Christ, and He is our great High Priest. It is a place of unlimited grace (i.e., unlimited favor). Gideon went on to make an ephod out of the gold won in battle; according to Ginzberg's The Legends of the Jews: "..In the high priest's breastplate, Joseph was represented among the twelve tribes by Ephraim alone, not by Manasseh, too. Pictured above: Blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn along with white linen thread and pure gold thread. The high priests ephod of the Old Testament is not a part of the modern church or Christian worship experience but it is a part of scripture and so it is still relevant today. A linen ephod; the usual habit of the priests and Levites in their sacred ministrations, yet sometimes worn by others, as it was by the young child Samuel, 1 Samuel 2:18, before he was come to those years in which the Levites were allowed to minister; and so hereby David, who laid by his royal robes, and put on this robe, to signify and declare, (p) Lexic. On each side, one chain represents that we will never be snatched from God our Fathers hand, and a second chain represents we will never be snatched from our God Jesus hand. The same as the High Priests sash previously described. One Greek word, Tetelestai, is spoken in the perfect tense by Jesus on the cross, and itwasfinished at that moment and for all time. The High Priest was revered as much or more than any king or royalty of the nations around Israel. The ephod enabled him to do his job and to properly hear God. Bluespeaks of Jesus Divinity as Very God having come down from Heaven the abode of God. It was not, therefore, a peculiarly priestly dress, though naturally more worn by them than by any one else. On many levels, linen and cotton are similar fabricsone made from the fibers of the cotton plant, the other from fibers of the flax plant, which has many of the same qualities as cotton. He used to be only All God, but now He is also All man, making HIm the Perfect Man! Finally, I will take a look at the significance of the ephod today and how it can be applied to our lives. The Bible mentions Urim and Thummim many times. As an Image. As Christians, we can look at the image of the ephod and praise God that through the death of His Son, Jesus our Great High Priest, we can have direct access to God. We dont need an ephod anymore, because Jesus fulfilled its purpose. Jesus says Tetelestai here in the perfect tense, which is very rare in the New Testament and has no English equivalent. All rights reserved. (1 Corinthians 15:45,47), Golden Bells ringing out the good news that Jesus the Last Adam has paid the price of our sin from eating the forbidden fruit! (Hebrews 2:17;4:15) He does not simply understand what we feel, He feels what we feel! Note that God is concerned about covering our nakedness or private parts (Exodus 20:26. The crafting of these priestly garments, along with other preparations for the elaborate details of the Lords tabernacle, takes up several chapter in Exodusfirst the descriptions of how they are to be made, then the description of the crafting itself. Let us take a closer look at the way in which the Torah describes how Aaron must function vis--vis the "clothing items.". The Aorist tense is punctiliar: meaning something that happens at a specific point in time; a moment. The precious stones with the names represented that all of Gods Special Treasures (i.e., His people) are on His heart. Since the twelve stones were in one breastplate, they speak of the oneness of the people of God, while their position upon Aarons breast speaks of Gods affection for His people. (John 10:28,29). That word literally means blue. Consequently, theblue thread is another picture of the God who came from Heaven, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose completed work is what holds us close to God our Fathers heart. David Was Wearing a Linen Ephod | Trinity Presbyterian Church North Bay Other biblical books describe an ephod that may or may not be similar to the one legislated for the High Priest. This bespoke of custom-fitted, meticulously detailed, and immaculately clean garments. The high priest wore it when he went into the Holy of Holies to intercede with God on behalf of the people. The high priest wore a skillfully crafted ephod consisting of gold shoulder pieces bearing carved onyx stones showing the names of the 12 tribes, and a woven band of colorful threads. The simplest explanation of an ephod is given to us in Exodus 28:6-8. Why did David request the ephod knowing he wasnt the High Priest? He offers sacrifices after every six paces, gets the ark into a . (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20) Even as the Levites were priests of the Old Covenant, we believers are all priests and kings after the order of Melchizedek and ministers of the New Covenant. Blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn along with white linen thread and pure gold thread of the ephod. When Jesus cried out FINISHED from the cross, He only said one word in Aramaic:KLH: Finished or fulfilled! From the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron was chosen to serve as priests. Breastplate Ephod (Vest or Apron) Robe (Coat - Outer Garment) Plate (Diadem or Crown) Tunic (Long Shirt - Inner Garment) Turban (Hat or Mitre) Sash ( Linen (1) Belt or Girdle) Undergarments (Short Pants) Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. He (David) has an infamous line Bring me the ephod.. In Jesus, we have someone who has even more authority. The ephod supported the breastpiece of 12 precious stones. Lets find out more about the significance of the ephod. , Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolishthe Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them butto fulfill them.. His thoughts are for us. It was worn at all times while the High Priest was within the Temple. [6], The object at Nob, which must have been somewhat freestanding since another object is kept behind it, and the objects made by Gideon and by Micah, from molten gold, logically cannot have just been garments. To most commentators, a belt and shoulder straps suggested an apron-like garment. The high priest, in particular, wore skillfully crafted, expensive and beautiful items to indicate that he had been consecrated by God to come before Him on behalf of the nation. There is some deviation from the Breastplate order as the tribe of Levi is in the middle of the camp around the tabernacle, and the tribe of Joseph is replaced with his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, effectively giving the tribe of Joseph a double portion in the promised land. Consequently, the blue robe represents that the finished work of grace completed by Jesus, our Great High Priest, will never end (i.e., not undone or torn). In Judges, we see that there was already a lot of division among the Israelites. This sash was made of only white linen thread. 28:6-8; 39:2-5). It was made of linen with gold, blue, purple and scarlet. The Ephod is a beautiful reminder of the history of the Jewish people and their faith. In this situation, it is clear that God alone was being worshiped following the victory. (Romans 5:1,2). EPHOD - JewishEncyclopedia.com Besides the fact that the language of doing something "before the LORD" is inherently priestly language, this clothing is what especially draws our attention. This arrangement of the tribes forms a cross with its base to the East. These sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjaminall became the heads of their own family groups, comprising Gods people, Israel. Doulos Hal's Topical Index, on The Tabernacle of Moses Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VI: The Priestly Garments, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part I: The Outer Court, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part II: The Holy Place Golden Lampstand, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part III: The Holy Place Table of Showbread, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part IV: The Holy Place Golden Altar of Incense, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part V: The Most Holy Place, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VI: The Priestly Garments, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VII: Our Great High Priest, Gods Heavenly Pattern for our Spiritual Transformation Part VIII: The Women of the Tabernacle, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel Introduction, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Burnt Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Meal Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Peace Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Sin Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Trespass Offering, The Fire Sacrifices and Offerings of Israel The Red Heifer Offering, http://www.templeinstitute.org/high-priest-garments-gallery.htm, http://www.ciu.edu/content/it-finished-look-greek, The Beautiful Attitudes Part IV: Blessed are those that Hunger and Thirst, Part X: The Lord of the Scroll When will the King of Kings Return? The High Priests garment was holy and sacred; therefore, not to be torn even for a relatives death. A. God was furious over their disobedience and faithlessness and planned to destroy the Israelites. Jesus, the one full of Grace and Truth! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Through these holes, threads dyed with Sky-Blue color were run, and the ends of these threads were connected in the back of the priests head. Purple Gods Royal Blood in the Son of Man (Red) that came from Heaven (Blue). Exodus 39:10-14). When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided the city and burned it down. After his victory, Gideon made an ephod out of the gold that he had captured from the Midianites. Photo credit: GettyImages/Javier_Art_Photography. Thats the number of GRACE! When you and I accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we, the red of human birth, accept the blue of Christs divinity,and we become purple, too! Birth mother is indicated and the birth order (Genesis 29:31-35. Pomegranates a reminder that mans (i.e., the First Adams) disobedience by partaking of the forbidden fruit (i.e., a pomegranate) from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil resulted in spiritual death (i.e., separation from God), thus requiring God to come from Heaven as a man born of a virgin (i.e., Jesus the Last Adam) to shed His Royal blood to pay the price for our redemption. The only eye-witness account of the breastplate, outside of the OldTestament,is the written description of Josephus, who himself was a priest and served in his priestly duties in Herods Temple in Jerusalem. Ephesians 2:8,9. It was made by fine weaving, in which there was no sewing except to sew on the arm sleeves. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. In conclusion,in Jesus statement It is finished, we have a declaration of salvation that is both in a particular moment in time and eternal, Aorist and Present, linear and punctiliar. Wearing the Ephod demonstrated his humility and faith. Now the first three stones were asardonyx, a topaz, and an emerald. Hello Ken, thank you so much for stopping by! The high priest also wore a plate of pure gold on his forehead. But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic, as they have always been in Oriental countries, of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion. What Is Linen Fabric? Linen vs. Cotton This skillful weave was not the routine cross-weave pattern found in most linen garments made from Israels looms. These names were to be a reminder to the nation and The LORD of the history of Israel, and so were called the stones of remembrance. Over a robe of checker work the High Priest wore a garment called an 'ephod'. Ephod | Catholic Answers 2 Samuel 6:14 Commentaries: And David was dancing before the LORD with On each shoulder piece, six of Jacobs sons names were engraved on an onyx stone (these were the 12 men who founded the 12 tribes of Israel). These are the same precious stones in the Garden of God called Eden (Ezekiel 28:13), symbolizing when mankind was free from sin. The ephod is an exterior garment, worn over the tunic and robe (vv, 31-35, 39). The names on the breastplate were always close to Aarons heart, just as with Christ and His precious ones. This belt was made of a mixture of blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn and white linen thread. They attempted to follow everything God commanded, from His rules about how to properly make a sacrifice and how to build the tabernacle, to who gets to enter the tent and how they are to ceremonially prepare for this work. The high priest used the ephod along with the breastplate and the Urim and Thummim as a means of divination. I will start by explaining what an ephod is, who was allowed to wear it, and what it looked like. Glad this was of some help. What was the significance of the ephod? | GotQuestions.org David's Ephod. Purple the God-Man (Blue+Red=Purple) Jesus who is the Last Adam! Purple is the color of Royalty. As a Garment. The ephod also had a waistband, which was made of gold and was also attached to the ephod at the two upper corners (Exodus 28:27-28). This indicates the ongoing nature of our salvation. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Josephus, Antiquities 3:7:1 Twelve stones were also on the breastplate, extraordinary in largeness and beauty; and they were anornament not to be purchasedby men, because of theirimmense value. Sacr. This blog post will discuss 12 fascinating facts about the ephod. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aarons heart, when he goes in before the Lord. (1) A sacred vestment originally designed for the high priest ( Exodus 28:4; 39:2 ), and made "of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen," held together by two shoulder-pieces and a skillfully woven band which served as a girdle for the ephod. What does it look like? Over the ephod, the High Priest wore abreastplatewhich was a pouch about 22-cm (about 9 inches) square made of beautifully woven material. Ephodits a word you dont typically see today, and yet it carries great weight in the Bible when it comes to ceremony and honor. Shortly after, in Leviticus 8, we read how Moses then adorned Aaron with the priestly garments, fastening them all on him just so. Great detail goes into the Lords description of the ephod. I will also explore some of the most famous stories involving the ephod, such as Gideon and David.
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