In what ways does Exodus 28:6 connect to the broader theme of holiness?

Exodus 28:6: “They are to make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen, skillfully worked.”

The verse introduces the priestly ephod, a garment designed by God Himself. Its details connect to the wider biblical theme of holiness in several ways:

Holiness Woven into the Garment

• The ephod is called “holy” in the surrounding passage (Exodus 28:2, 4). Because God explicitly declares it holy, its construction points to His own separateness and perfection.

• Materials—gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen—mirror the colors used in the tabernacle curtains (Exodus 26:1, 31). The priest’s clothing thus matches God’s dwelling place, visually uniting priest and sanctuary in a single sphere of holiness.

• “Skillfully worked” signals painstaking craftsmanship (compare Exodus 31:1-5). Holiness is more than moral purity; it involves excellence, order, and beauty that reflect the character of the Creator.

Holiness and the Priesthood

• The ephod sets Aaron apart for service (Exodus 28:3). Holiness, by definition, means being “set apart.” The priest is literally clothed in the reality he represents.

• By wearing the ephod, Aaron bears Israel’s names on engraved stones (Exodus 28:12) and mediates for them before the LORD. Holiness is therefore relational—devoted first to God and then for the blessing of others.

• Hebrews 7:26 describes Jesus as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.” The Old-Testament ephod foreshadows Christ’s perfectly holy priesthood, grounding the New-Testament call to “draw near” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Holiness Reflected in the Sanctuary

• Exodus 25:8: “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.” Everything linked to that dwelling—including the ephod—is holy because God’s presence defines holiness.

• The same colors and materials appear in the veil that guards the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33), reinforcing that the priest’s access is possible only through divinely assigned holiness.

Holiness and the Covenant People

• Exodus 19:6: “You will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The ephod’s holiness prefigures Israel’s corporate calling.

• Leviticus 19:2: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” The priest’s garment becomes a constant reminder of the nation’s vocation.

• 1 Peter 2:9 extends this calling: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood… a holy nation.” The church inherits the same pattern—set apart, clothed in righteousness (Revelation 19:8).

Living the Theme Today

• The literal ephod is gone, but its message stands: holiness is God-given, beautiful, purposeful, and public.

• Believers are urged to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14) the way Aaron put on the ephod—letting His holiness cover every aspect of life.