What is the meaning of Exodus 28:18? a turquoise • Exodus 28:18 places this vivid stone first in the second row of the high priest’s breastpiece: “the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond”. • Literally, one of the twelve precious gems was set in gold and fastened over Aaron’s heart (Exodus 28:29); nothing symbolic can replace the fact that God ordered an actual turquoise to be there. • Turquoise carries a sky-blue hue that naturally points upward, reminding Israel of the God who dwells in the heavens (Psalm 115:3). • In Numbers 15:37-41 God later commanded a blue cord on each tassel “so you will remember all My commandments.” The repetition of blue tones links the stone and the tassels as visual calls to obedience. • When the high priest bore Israel’s names before the LORD (Exodus 28:30), the turquoise hinted that every tribe was invited into heavenly fellowship—foreshadowing the believer’s position “seated with Him in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:6). • Revelation 21:19-20 lists similar colored stones in the New Jerusalem’s foundations, showing that what was on Aaron’s heart will one day surround God’s people forever. a sapphire • The middle gem of the row, the sapphire, appears elsewhere at profound moments of divine revelation. When Moses, Aaron, and the elders saw God on Sinai, “under His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire” (Exodus 24:10). • By placing a sapphire over the high priest’s heart, God connected daily intercession with that once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of His glory. The stone testifies that the God who revealed Himself in blazing holiness still listens to prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). • Ezekiel’s throne vision includes “a throne of sapphire” (Ezekiel 1:26), reinforcing that the stone represents God’s unchanging rule. • Practically, every time Aaron entered the Holy Place, Israel could trust that their cause was carried before the same King seated on sapphire splendor. • Believers now approach “the throne of grace” through our perfect High Priest, Jesus (Hebrews 7:25), whose ministry fulfills what this sapphire only anticipated. a diamond • The closing gem of the row is a diamond, renowned for durability and clarity. Its brilliance reminds us that God’s covenant promises are unbreakable (Psalm 89:34). • Jeremiah 31:3 speaks of an “everlasting love”; the diamond reflects that permanence physically, set in gold so it could never be removed. • Because the breastpiece was called “the breastpiece of judgment” (Exodus 28:15), placing a diamond here assures Israel that God’s judgments are flawless—no hidden flaw will be found in His verdicts (Deuteronomy 32:4). • Revelation 4:3 describes the One on heaven’s throne with light “resembling jasper”—another clear stone—showing continuity between earthly priestly symbolism and heavenly reality. • Just as sunlight passing through a diamond scatters into many colors, the multifaceted wisdom of God now shines through the gospel “to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3:10). summary God ordered real, specific gems—turquoise, sapphire, diamond—into the second row of the high priest’s breastpiece so that Israel would carry vivid reminders of heaven’s call, the King’s glory, and the covenant’s permanence. Each stone pointed beyond itself to truths now fulfilled in Christ, our great High Priest, who bears His people on His heart and secures their place before the Father forever. |
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