What is the meaning of Exodus 28:11? Engrave the names of the sons of Israel “Engrave the names of the sons of Israel…” (Exodus 28:11) • God calls for each of the twelve tribes to be permanently represented on the high priest’s garments, underlining His unbroken covenant (Genesis 17:7; Revelation 21:12). • The command is precise—no tribe is forgotten, no name misspelled. In His economy, people are remembered individually (Isaiah 49:16; Luke 10:20). • By engraving, not stitching or painting, the LORD shows He intends these names to endure, reminding worshipers that His promises do not fade (Numbers 23:19). On the two stones • Verse 9 already identifies these as onyx stones set on the priest’s shoulders. Carrying Israel’s names there pictures intercession: the priest bears the people before God (Exodus 28:12; Hebrews 7:25). • Two stones, six names each, balance the load evenly—symbolizing shared responsibility and unity among the tribes (Ephesians 4:4–6). • The shoulder location highlights strength; God’s mediator carries His people with power (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 15:5). The way a gem cutter engraves a seal • Seals in the ancient world authenticated ownership and authority (Esther 8:8; 2 Timothy 2:19). • Using seal-quality engraving means the Lord Himself claims Israel as His possession and vouches for their legitimacy (Deuteronomy 7:6). • The artistry required reflects the excellence God expects in worship—craftsmanship offered as service to the King (Exodus 31:2–5; Colossians 3:23). Then mount the stones • The sequence matters: engraving precedes mounting. Identity is established before public display, just as salvation precedes service (Exodus 19:4–6; Ephesians 2:10). • Mounting secures the stones so they will not be lost, paralleling the way Christ holds His people fast (John 10:28–29). • The high priest’s garment becomes a living testimony—every movement declares God’s faithfulness (Psalm 89:1). In gold filigree settings • Gold speaks of purity and glory (1 Kings 6:20; Revelation 21:18). Encasing the stones in gold shows the preciousness of God’s people and His promises. • Filigree—delicate twisted gold wire—adds beauty without overpowering the stones, mirroring how God adorns His saints yet remains the central glory (Isaiah 61:10; 1 Peter 3:4). • Placing common, earth-born names in heavenly gold hints at redemption: God elevates the ordinary into the extraordinary (1 Samuel 2:8; Revelation 3:12). Summary Exodus 28:11 commands that Israel’s tribal names be permanently, expertly engraved on shoulder stones and set in ornate gold. Each phrase reveals God’s heart: He remembers His people individually, carries them in strength, claims them by royal seal, secures them for service, and surrounds them with glory. The verse assures believers today that the same covenant-keeping God still bears their names, unerasable and precious, upon His everlasting shoulders. |
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