Lexical Summary aphad: To bind, gird, or equip Original Word: אָפַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bind, gird A primitive root (rather a denominative from 'ephowd); to gird on (the ephod) -- bind, gird. see HEBREW 'ephowd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina denominative verb from the same as ephod Definition to gird on the ephod NASB Translation gird (1), tied (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אָפַד] verb denominative gird on ephod, Qal Perfect וְאָפַדְתָּ לוֺ בְּחֵשֶׁכ חָאֵפֹד Exodus 29:5 and thou shalt gird the ephod upon him with the cunningly-wrought band of the ephod; so Imperfect וַיֶּאְמֹּד לוֺ בּוֺ "" (חגרׅLeviticus 8:7. Topical Lexicon Occurrences The verb occurs twice, both in the narrative of Aaron’s consecration (Exodus 29:5; Leviticus 8:7). On each occasion it describes the act of securely fastening the ephod around the high priest. Setting and Function These passages form part of a carefully prescribed ceremony that set Aaron apart for lifelong service. The priestly garments, assembled piece by piece, culminated in the ephod—an ornamental, apron-like vestment bearing the breastpiece of judgment over the heart (Exodus 28:15-30). By “binding” the ephod to Aaron, Moses was completing the visible sign of the high priest’s office. The action conveyed: The Ephod and Covenant Worship Israel’s worship centered on access to a holy God. The ephod was essential to that access because it bore the memorial stones for the tribes on its shoulders and held the breastpiece containing the Urim and Thummim. To “bind” the ephod, therefore, was to bind Israel’s names and concerns to the presence of the Lord (Exodus 28:12, 29-30). Priestly Consecration and Holiness Holiness was more than moral uprightness; it was separation unto God’s service. The binding of the ephod came only after washing, anointing, and dressing in the tunic, robe, and sash (Leviticus 8:6-7). The sequence illustrates that ministry flows from cleansing and anointing, not personal initiative. “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44) undergirds the entire ceremony. Typology and Christological Significance The high priest foreshadowed the ultimate Mediator. Hebrews 7:26 speaks of Jesus Christ as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.” Where Aaron was girded with material fabric, Christ “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14) and now bears His people before the Father forever. As the ephod’s breastpiece lay over Aaron’s heart, believers are engraved on Christ’s heart (John 10:27-30). Teaching for the Church 1. Order in Worship: God prescribes how He is to be approached (1 Corinthians 14:40). Related Themes and Cross-References • Priestly garments: Exodus 28; Hebrews 8:1-5 Forms and Transliterations וְאָפַדְתָּ֣ וַיֶּאְפֹּ֥ד ואפדת ויאפד vaiyePod veafadTa way·ye’·pōḏ wayye’pōḏ wə’āp̄aḏtā wə·’ā·p̄aḏ·tāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 29:5 HEB: וְאֶת־ הַחֹ֑שֶׁן וְאָפַדְתָּ֣ ל֔וֹ בְּחֵ֖שֶׁב NAS: and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band KJV: and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle INT: and the ephod and the breastpiece and gird the skillfully of the ephod Leviticus 8:7 2 Occurrences |
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