Topical Bible: The High Priest: Special Garments of Robe of the Ephod

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The High Priest of ancient Israel held a unique and sacred role, serving as the primary mediator between God and the people. Among the distinctive garments worn by the High Priest, the robe of the ephod was particularly significant, both in its construction and its symbolism.

Biblical Description

The robe of the ephod is described in detail in the Book of Exodus. It was an integral part of the High Priest's attire, designed according to divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The robe was to be made entirely of blue cloth, as stated in Exodus 28:31 : "You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth."

Design and Features

The robe was a seamless garment, signifying unity and perfection, and it was worn beneath the ephod, which was a more elaborate vestment. The hem of the robe was adorned with an intricate design of pomegranates and golden bells. Exodus 28:33-34 provides further details: "Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn around the lower hem of the robe, with gold bells between them, alternating the gold bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe."

The purpose of the bells was both practical and symbolic. Exodus 28:35 explains, "Aaron must wear it when he ministers, so that the sound of the bells will be heard when he enters and exits the sanctuary before the LORD, so that he will not die." The sound of the bells announced the High Priest's approach, ensuring that he was not entering the Holy of Holies unannounced, which was a matter of life and death.

Symbolism and Significance

The robe of the ephod, with its blue color, symbolized the heavenly realm and the divine nature of the High Priest's service. Blue, often associated with the sky and the sea, represented the vastness and purity of God's creation. The pomegranates, a fruit associated with abundance and fertility, symbolized the prosperity and fruitfulness of the covenant between God and Israel.

The golden bells served as a reminder of the holiness required in approaching God. The sound of the bells was a constant reminder of the High Priest's sacred duties and the reverence due to the presence of the Almighty.

Theological Implications

The robe of the ephod, like the other garments of the High Priest, pointed to the necessity of holiness and purity in worship. It underscored the separation between the divine and the human, highlighting the need for a mediator. In Christian theology, the High Priest's garments, including the robe of the ephod, are seen as foreshadowing the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who mediates a new covenant between God and humanity.

The robe of the ephod, with its detailed craftsmanship and profound symbolism, remains a testament to the intricate relationship between God and His chosen people, reflecting the beauty and solemnity of divine worship.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 28:31-35
And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... appointed for their use, and a special form of ... indeed is the general reason of ornate
garments. ... terrestrial globe; as though the high-priest confessed himself ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Notes
... that is, after baptism) white garments as a ... times, the Christians purchased special
enclosures (areae ... the frankincense, consider the great high priest: in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/notes.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... that we may by it believe unto special mercy.4 ... notice how, or in what method, the
high priest under the ... 4). These are briefly called his garments, in Revelation ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... whole equipment of jewels, paint, and garments required by ... by the king and the high
priest, we must ... the temple was supported and the special dues appropriated ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... been a god for whom they had a special devotion; some ... lives unto the death,"and Naphtali
upon the high places of ... He was a priest of Bamah, Samuel, the son of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... "They parted my garments among them ... be bringing down, his own high imaginations,
and every high thing that ... had ways of serving God that were special; but when ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

The Doctrine
... slighting convictions, disregarding of convictions, which God useth as a special
means to ... the Sacrifice of the new covenant.7. Christ the High Priest of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm