Bible Strands
Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Moses, commanding him to bring Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar from the Israelites to serve as priests. This command opens the tabernacle instructions, immediately preceding the directive to fashion sacred garments.
The words — The verb הַקְרֵב (hakRev) literally means "bring near," marking the ritual separation of a specific lineage. It operates alongside אָחִיךָ (achiKha), "your brother," which ties the priestly office directly to Aaron's family line.
The thread — The restriction of priestly duties to Aaron and his sons appears in Exodus 28:1, Numbers 16:9, and Numbers 18:7, where God separates them from the congregation and limits altar service to their line. Hebrews 5:1 later observes that every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God.
Why it lands — The text establishes that priestly service requires divine appointment rather than human initiative. It demands that a reader accept mediated access to God as a fixed ordinance, not a voluntary pursuit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
Cross-references
- Numbers 18:7 But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
- Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
- Numbers 16:9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
- Numbers 17:2 “Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,
- Numbers 26:61 but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 10:6 The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son succeeded him as priest.
- 1 Chronicles 6:10 Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem,
- 2 Chronicles 26:18 They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
- Exodus 6:23 And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
- Exodus 24:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.