Exodus 39:13

Study note

Setting — The narrator records the artisan’s completion of the fourth row of the high priest’s breastplate during the detailed inventory of the tabernacle furnishings. This description follows the listing of the third row and precedes the note on the tribal engravings.

The words — The Hebrew tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ) identifies the first stone of the row, translated here as beryl or chrysolite. The term mishbetzot (מִשְׁבְּצֹת) denotes the interwoven gold filigree settings that surround and secure each stone.

The thread — This specific enumeration of the twelve gemstones appears in Exodus 28:17–20 and is structurally echoed in Revelation 21:19–20 regarding the foundations of the holy city.

Why it lands — The text states the exact sequence and mounting method of the stones before noting their tribal engravings. It requires the reader to observe that sacred function is presented through precise material order rather than abstract symbolism.

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.