Exodus 28:11

Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God instructs Moses on the construction of the high priest’s ephod, directing the preparation of the two shoulder stones and their placement as a memorial before the Lord.

The words — The text employs תְּפַתַּח֙ (te.fa.Tach), meaning "you will engrave," alongside חֹתָם (cho.Tam), meaning "seal," to define the gem-cutter's technique. It also references פִּתּוּחֵ֣י (pi.tu.Chei), the engraved openings, and מַעֲשֵׂה (ma.'a.Seh), the artisan's work.

The thread — This engraving method and gold filigree mounting reappear in Exodus 28:13 and Exodus 28:21, where the twelve tribal stones are secured to the ephod's shoulder pieces with chains and settings.

Why it lands — The text commands a precise, permanent craft to fix the tribal names on the priest's shoulders. Readers must note that the instruction prioritizes exact replication of the seal-cutting technique and secure mounting over aesthetic variation.

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

מַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.Seh[the] work of חָרַשׁ֮cha.Rashan engraver of אֶבֶן֒'e.Venstone פִּתּוּחֵ֣יpi.tu.Chei[the] engravings of חֹתָ֗םcho.Tama seal תְּפַתַּח֙te.fa.Tachyou will engrave אֶת־'et-<obj.>שְׁתֵּ֣יshe.Tei[the] two הָאֲבָנִ֔יםha./'a.va.Nimthe/ stones עַל־'al-on שְׁמֹ֖תshe.Mot[the] names of בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] sons of יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael מֻסַבֹּ֛תmu.sa.Botsurrounded מִשְׁבְּצ֥וֹתmish.be.Tzotfiligree settings of זָהָ֖בza.Havgold תַּעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.Sehyou will make אֹתָֽם׃'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them

King James Version

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

Cross-references

Exodus 28:13 Fashion gold filigree settings
Exodus 28:21 The twelve stones are to correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
Exodus 28:25 and fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
Exodus 28:36 You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
Exodus 39:6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.
Exodus 39:13 and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings.
Exodus 39:18 and they fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front.
Jeremiah 22:24 “As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off.
Zechariah 3:9 See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.
Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,