Exodus 28:32

with an opening at its top in the center. Around the opening shall be a woven collar with an opening like that of a garment, so that it will not tear.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God instructs Moses on the construction of the high priest's blue robe, positioned between the command for its upper neckline and the directive to attach pomegranates and bells to its lower hem.

The words — The Hebrew terms פִּי (pi, "opening") and שָׂפָה (saphah, "edge" or "border") denote the reinforced collar surrounding the central neck hole.

The thread — This structural detail for the priestly vestment appears alongside the inventory of finished garments in Exodus 39:28 and aligns with the biblical pattern of reinforced edges in sacred and military equipment.

Why it lands — The text specifies a woven collar designed to prevent tearing, requiring the artisan to prioritize durability in the garment's construction before any symbolic meaning is drawn from the robe's function.

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

וְהָיָ֥הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be פִֽי־fi-[the] opening of רֹאשׁ֖וֹro.Sh/otop/ its בְּתוֹכ֑וֹbe./to.Kh/oin/ [the] middle of/ it שָׂפָ֡הsa.Fahan edge יִֽהְיֶה֩yih.Yehit will be[long]לְפִ֨יוle./Fi/vto/ opening/ its סָבִ֜יבsa.Vivall around מַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.Seh[the] work אֹרֵ֗ג'o.Rega weaver כְּפִ֥יke./Filike/ [the] opening of תַחְרָ֛אtach.Ra'a collar יִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-it will be[long]לּ֖וֹl/oto <the>/ itלֹ֥אlo'not יִקָּרֵֽעַ׃yi.ka.Re.a'it will be torn

King James Version

And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.

Cross-references

Exodus 39:28 as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen,
2 Chronicles 26:14 Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.
Nehemiah 4:16 And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah
Job 41:26 The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or dart or arrow.
John 19:23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
Ephesians 4:3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.