Exodus 28 — For Glory and for Beauty
God gives the pattern for the priestly garments of Aaron — the ephod with onyx stones engraved with the tribes of Israel, the breastplate of judgment with twelve precious stones, the robe with bells and pomegranates, the mitre with a plate of pure gold reading "Holiness to the Lord," and the coats and bonnets for his sons. Garments for glory and for beauty.
“Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.”
— Exodus 28:2
- v.1-5 Aaron called to the priesthood; the garments commissioned
- v.6-14 The ephod with two onyx stones bearing the names of the tribes
- v.15-30 The breastplate of judgment with twelve stones; Urim and Thummim
- v.31-35 The robe of the ephod with bells and pomegranates
- v.36-39 The mitre and the holy crown
- v.40-43 Garments for Aaron's sons
For glory and for beauty. Two purposes named. Glory honors God; beauty honors the office. The priestly garments were not utilitarian but reverential — and meant to impress on the people the dignity of approaching God.
Modern worship sometimes flattens this principle into casual familiarity. The biblical pattern is reverent beauty. The believer is now the temple and the priest; live as one whose priestly identity is for glory and beauty.
The names of the twelve tribes engraved on two onyx stones, set on the high priest's shoulders. When he entered God's presence, the people came with him on his shoulders.
Hebrews 7:25 — he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Christ's high priestly ministry carries every believer's name before the Father continually. The names on the shoulders prefigure His bearing us in the place of intercession.
Names on the shoulders for strength (where the load is borne). Names on the heart for love (where affection dwells). The high priest carried his people both ways — supported by strength and held by affection.
Christ does the same. He bears the church on shoulders strong enough to carry, and on a heart tender enough to weep. Both are essential. A priest with only one or the other could not represent us faithfully.
Urim and Thummim — meaning Lights and Perfections. Mysterious objects used to discern God's will (Numbers 27:21). Their exact nature is unknown to us today, but their function is clear: they were instruments of divine guidance.
Christ is the believer's Urim and Thummim. We are not given the stones themselves but the Spirit who knows the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). The principle endures: God's people seek His will not by their own intuition but through His designated means.
Bells of gold alternating with pomegranates of yarn around the hem of the robe. The bells were heard by the people outside the Holy Place — the sound assured them the priest was alive and ministering. Pomegranates symbolized fruitfulness.
Sound and fruit together. The priestly life makes noise that others can hear and produces fruit they can see. A priesthood that is heard but not fruitful is hollow; one that is fruitful but unheard from cannot give assurance. Both must be present.
Holiness to the Lord. Engraved on the gold plate worn on the forehead of the high priest. The first thing seen on his face was the declaration of dedication to God.
Zechariah 14:20 looks forward to a day when upon the bells of the horses shall be written Holiness to the Lord — the whole creation marked by the same dedication that was the priest's alone. The believer's forehead bears the seal of God (Revelation 7:3, 22:4). The Old Testament priest's ornament is the New Testament saint's standing.
You are a priest (1 Peter 2:9). Are you dressed for the office? Not in physical garments — in glory and beauty of the life God designs. People near you should hear the bells of a living priesthood and see the pomegranates of fruit. The forehead of your daily living should bear, visibly, Holiness to the Lord.
Aaron foreshadows Christ at every point. He bears our names on his shoulders (strength) and on his heart (love). He carries the Urim and Thummim (perfect light and perfect knowledge). He wears Holiness to the Lord on His forehead. He is the great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron — but every aspect of Aaron's ministry pointed forward to His. To know what He does for us, look long at Exodus 28.
Aaron is called by name — chosen by God, not self-appointed. Hebrews 5:4 makes this the principle of all true priesthood: no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Notice the names. Nadab and Abihu would soon offer strange fire and die (Leviticus 10). Even the priestly family was not exempt from judgment. Position does not protect from God's holiness.