Priestly Garments

Biblical Text and Content

The priestly garments were the clothing worn by the priests of Israel when they ministered in the tabernacle. Exodus 28 gives the instructions for making them, and chapter 39 records their actual making. God commanded Moses to make holy garments for Aaron "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2). The materials were gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine twined linen (Exodus 28:5).

Exodus 28:4 lists the following six garments of the high priest, to which the golden plate is added.

• Ephod: A garment worn over the shoulders. On two onyx stones attached to its two shoulder pieces were engraved the names of the sons of Israel, six on each stone (see Ephod).
• Breastplate: The "breastplate of judgment" worn on the chest. The names of the twelve tribes were engraved on twelve precious stones, and the Urim and Thummim were placed within it (Exodus 28:15-30).
• Robe: A blue garment worn beneath the ephod. Pomegranate-shaped ornaments and golden bells alternated around its hem (Exodus 28:31-35).
• Embroidered coat: A tunic woven of fine linen.
• Mitre and girdle: On the front of the mitre, a plate of pure gold engraved "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" was fastened with a blue lace (Exodus 28:36-38).

The ordinary priests wore coats, girdles, and bonnets (Exodus 28:40). All the priests also wore linen breeches to cover their nakedness (Exodus 28:42-43).

Background

The garments were made by craftsmen, among them Bezalel and Aholiab (Exodus 31:1-11). In Leviticus 8, Moses washed Aaron and his sons with water, clothed them in these garments, and installed them as priests.

The garments represented the office itself. In Numbers 20:25-28, Moses stripped Aaron of his garments on Mount Hor and put them on his son Eleazar, thereby transferring the high priesthood. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid aside his splendid garments and entered the Most Holy Place wearing only garments of fine linen (Leviticus 16:4, 23-24). Ezekiel 44:17-19 also contains regulations concerning the priests' linen garments.

Significance Across Scripture

In connection with the sound of the golden bells and with the linen breeches, the text warns that the priest must observe these provisions "that he die not" (Exodus 28:35, 43). This shows how solemn a matter it was to approach the holy place. The engraving of names on the shoulder pieces and the breastplate "for a memorial before the LORD" expresses the idea that the high priest came before God as the representative of the people (Exodus 28:12, 29). In Zechariah 3:1-5, the filthy garments of Joshua the high priest are removed and he is clothed in fine garments, a scene that signifies the taking away of iniquity (Zechariah 3:4).

Hebrews calls Jesus Christ "a great high priest" (Hebrews 4:14), though it does not directly interpret the garments. Some interpreters connect the garment reaching down to the foot and the golden girdle worn by one like the Son of man in Revelation 1:13 with the attire of the high priest, while others regard them as the clothing of a king or other exalted figure. First Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6 call all believers priests.

Interpretations and Issues

• Typology (the interpretation that Old Testament objects foreshadow Christ): Many preachers connect the details of the garments with the work of Christ. However, color interpretations such as blue signifying heaven and scarlet signifying blood are later interpretations; the text itself does not explain the meaning of the colors.
• Names of the stones: Many of the Hebrew names of the breastplate stones cannot be identified with certainty, so translations render them differently.
• Urim and Thummim: The text does not describe their appearance or how they were used.
• The ankle rope story: Sermons often cite a story that a rope was tied to the high priest's ankle so that he could be dragged out if he died in the Most Holy Place. However, the story is not found in the Bible; it is a later tradition of uncertain origin.
• Relation to present-day worship attire: In liturgical traditions such as the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Church of Korea, some interpretations symbolically link clerical vestments (garments worn during worship) with the Old Testament priestly garments. By contrast, Protestant denominations that emphasize the priesthood of all believers hold that the Old Testament priesthood has been fulfilled in Christ, and so they often do not regard ministers' attire as a continuation of the priestly garments.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, the names engraved on the breastplate are often used to speak of "an intercessor who carries the people on his heart," and the words "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" engraved on the golden plate are used to speak of holy living. Ministers in many denominations wear gowns during worship, but denominations and congregations differ in how they relate this practice to the priestly garments.