Exodus 28:3
New International Version
Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.

New Living Translation
Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service.

English Standard Version
You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

Berean Standard Bible
You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.

King James Bible
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

New King James Version
So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.

New American Standard Bible
You shall speak to all the skillful people whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may serve as priest to Me.

NASB 1995
“You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.

NASB 1977
“And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall speak to all those wise at heart whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to set him apart as holy, in order for him to minister as priest to Me.

Amplified Bible
Tell all the skilled and talented people whom I have endowed with a spirit of wisdom, that they are to make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him and set him apart to serve as a priest for Me.

Christian Standard Bible
You are to instruct all the skilled artisans, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve Me as priest.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Contemporary English Version
Aaron is to be dedicated as my high priest, and his clothes must be made only by persons who possess skills that I have given them.

English Revised Version
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Tell all those who have the skill-those to whom I have given this ability-to make Aaron's clothes. These clothes will set him apart as holy when he serves me as priest.

Good News Translation
Call all the skilled workers to whom I have given ability, and tell them to make Aaron's clothes, so that he may be dedicated as a priest in my service.

International Standard Version
You are to speak to all who are skilled, whom I've endowed with talent, that they should make Aaron's garments for consecrating him to serve me as priest.

Majority Standard Bible
You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron?s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.

NET Bible
You are to speak to all who are specially skilled, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they may make Aaron's garments to set him apart to minister as my priest.

New Heart English Bible
You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt speak to all that are wise in heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.

World English Bible
You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled [with] a spirit of wisdom, and they have made the garments of Aaron to sanctify him for his being priest to Me.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou -- thou dost speak unto all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they have made the garments of Aaron to sanctify him for his being priest to Me.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt speak to all the wise of heart, whom I filled with the spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aaron to consecrate him, for him to be a priest to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's vestments, in which he being consecrated may minister to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of prudence, so that they may make the vestments of Aaron, in which, having been sanctified, he may minister to me.

New American Bible
Therefore, tell the various artisans whom I have endowed with skill to make vestments for Aaron to consecrate him as my priest.

New Revised Standard Version
And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with skill, that they make Aaron’s vestments to consecrate him for my priesthood.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall speak to all who are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make holy vestments for Aaron to consecrate him that he may minister to me in the priest's office.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you say to all the wise of heart whom the Spirit of Wisdom has filled and they shall make holy garments for Ahron to hallow him to serve as Priest to me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And speak thou to all those who are wise in understanding, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and perception; and they shall make the holy apparel of Aaron for the sanctuary, in which apparel he shall minister to me as priest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Garments for the Priests
2Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor. 3You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. 4These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.…

Cross References
Exodus 31:3-5
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, / to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, / to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.

Exodus 35:30-35
Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. / And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, / to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ...

1 Kings 7:14
He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

2 Chronicles 2:13-14
So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity. / He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.

Isaiah 28:26
For his God instructs and teaches him properly.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 8:14
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. ...

Ephesians 1:17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.

Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 Peter 4:10-11
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. / If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; / if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; / if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall speak to all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.

wise hearted

Exodus 31:3-6
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, …

Exodus 35:30,35
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; …

Exodus 36:1,2
Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded…

filled

Deuteronomy 34:9
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Isaiah 11:2
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal…

Jump to Previous
Aaron Aaron's Ability Able Consecrate Consecration Endowed Filled Full Garments Heart Hearted Holy Matters Mind Minister Office Orders Persons Priest Priesthood Priest's Robes Sanctify Serve Skilled Skillful Speak Spirit Thou Wisdom Wise Wise-Hearted Workmen
Jump to Next
Aaron Aaron's Ability Able Consecrate Consecration Endowed Filled Full Garments Heart Hearted Holy Matters Mind Minister Office Orders Persons Priest Priesthood Priest's Robes Sanctify Serve Skilled Skillful Speak Spirit Thou Wisdom Wise Wise-Hearted Workmen
Exodus 28
1. Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest's office
2. Holy garments are appointed
6. The ephod and girdle
15. The breast-plate with twelve precious stones
30. The Urim and Thummim
31. The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells
36. The plate of the mitre
39. The embroidered coat
40. The garments for Aaron's sons














You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen
This phrase indicates a divine directive given to Moses. The skilled craftsmen were individuals endowed with specific talents necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. In the ancient Near Eastern context, craftsmanship was a highly valued skill, often passed down through generations. The instruction to involve skilled craftsmen underscores the importance of precision and excellence in creating items for worship. This reflects the broader biblical principle that God values and uses human skill and creativity for His purposes, as seen in the building of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 5:6).

whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom
The "spirit of wisdom" here refers to a divine endowment of skill and understanding necessary for the task at hand. This is not merely human wisdom but a special empowerment from God, similar to the wisdom given to Solomon (1 Kings 3:12). This divine filling is reminiscent of the New Testament concept of spiritual gifts, where believers are equipped by the Holy Spirit for service (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). It highlights the idea that God equips those He calls, ensuring they have the necessary abilities to fulfill His commands.

to make garments for Aaron’s consecration
The garments were not ordinary clothing but were specifically designed for Aaron's consecration as high priest. The consecration process involved setting Aaron apart for sacred service, and the garments played a crucial role in this. Each piece of the priestly attire had symbolic significance, representing aspects of holiness, service, and the relationship between God and His people. The detailed description of these garments in Exodus 28 emphasizes their importance in the worship and sacrificial system of Israel.

so that he may serve Me as priest
This phrase highlights the purpose of the garments: to enable Aaron to serve as a priest. The role of the priest was to mediate between God and the people, offering sacrifices and prayers on their behalf. This mediatorial role is a type of Jesus Christ, who is described as our High Priest in the New Testament (Hebrews 4:14-16). Just as Aaron needed to be consecrated and properly attired to serve, so Jesus, through His perfect life and sacrificial death, is uniquely qualified to intercede for humanity. The priesthood of Aaron foreshadows the ultimate priesthood of Christ, who serves eternally in the heavenly sanctuary.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this context, Moses is receiving instructions from God on Mount Sinai regarding the priestly garments.

2. Aaron
The brother of Moses, appointed as the first high priest of Israel. The instructions in Exodus 28 are specifically for the garments Aaron and his sons are to wear as they serve as priests.

3. Skilled Craftsmen
Individuals endowed with wisdom and skill by God to create the priestly garments. They are tasked with executing the divine instructions given to Moses.

4. Priestly Garments
Sacred clothing designed for Aaron and his sons to wear while ministering in the tabernacle. These garments symbolize holiness and the special role of the priesthood.

5. Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites. The priestly garments are part of the broader instructions for worship and service in the tabernacle.
Teaching Points
Divine Empowerment for Service
God equips those He calls. Just as He endowed the craftsmen with wisdom and skill, He provides believers with spiritual gifts to serve His purposes today.

Holiness and Set-Apartness
The priestly garments symbolize the holiness required to approach God. Believers are called to live holy lives, set apart for God's service.

The Role of the Priesthood
The Old Testament priesthood points to the mediating role of Christ and the priesthood of all believers. We are called to intercede and minister in our communities.

Attention to Detail in Worship
The specific instructions for the garments remind us of the importance of reverence and intentionality in our worship practices.

Community and Collaboration
The making of the garments involved a community of skilled individuals working together, illustrating the importance of unity and collaboration in the body of Christ.(3) Thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted.--By "all that are wise hearted" we must understand all that had the special knowledge which would enable them to give effectual aid in the production of such garments as were about to be commanded. The Hebrews regarded the heart as the seat of knowledge, with perhaps neither more nor less scientific accuracy than underlies our own current modes of speech whereby the heart is made the seat of the affections.

Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom.--Few passages in the Bible are more antagonistic than this to the general current of modern thought. God speaks of Himself as having infused His Spirit into the hearts of men, in order to enable them to produce satisfactory priestly garments. Moderns suppose such things to be quite beneath the notice of the Creator of the universe. But it has to be remembered, on the other hand, (1) that God is the fountain whence all knowledge is derived; (2) that He alone knows what is beneath Him and what is not beneath Him; and (3) that dress is not a wholly insignificant matter, or so much would not have been said in Scripture about it (Genesis 3:21; Genesis 37:3; Genesis 41:42; Leviticus 8:7-9; Leviticus 16:4; Numbers 15:38, &c.). Garments intended "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2) required artistic power in those who were to make them; and artistic power, like all other intellectual excellence, is the gift of God. . . .

Verse 3. - Wise-hearted. In modern parlance the heart is made the seat of the affections and emotions, the brain of the intellect. But the Hebrew idiom was different. There the heart was constantly spoken of as the seat of wisdom. (See below, Exodus 31:6; Exodus 35:10, 25; Exodus 36:1, 2; Job 9:4; Proverbs 11:29, etc.) The spirit of wisdom might seem to be scarcely necessary for the work of constructing a set of priestly garments; but where "glory and beauty" are required, high artistic power is needed; and this power is regarded by the sacred writers, as indeed it is by most of those who have written on the human understanding - notably Plato and Aristotle - as a very important part of the intellect. Techne, says Aristotle, involves theoria, as well as aesthesis and genesis, requires, i.e., a knowledge of high abstract truths, as well as the perceptive faculty which we commonly call "taste," and the constructive one known as "power of execution." (See Eth. Nic. 6:4, § 4.) It is, with him, one of the five chief intellectual excellences. To consecrate him. Investiture in the holy garments was made a part of the ceremony of consecration (Exodus 29:5-9; Leviticus 8:7-9, 13), as it is in the English Ordinal in the consecration of a bishop.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You
וְאַתָּ֗ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are to instruct
תְּדַבֵּר֙ (tə·ḏab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the skilled craftsmen,
חַכְמֵי־ (ḥaḵ·mê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2450: Wise

whom
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I have filled
מִלֵּאתִ֖יו (mil·lê·ṯîw)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

with a spirit
ר֣וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

of wisdom,
חָכְמָ֑ה (ḥāḵ·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

to make
וְעָשׂ֞וּ (wə·‘ā·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

garments
בִּגְדֵ֧י (biḡ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

for Aaron’s
אַהֲרֹ֛ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

consecration,
לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ (lə·qad·də·šōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

so that he may serve Me as priest.
לְכַהֲנוֹ־ (lə·ḵa·hă·nōw-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3547: To officiate as a, priest, to put on regalia


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