Bible Strands

Exodus 39:6

They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrative records artisans executing divine instructions to construct the high priest’s ephod. This action occurs during the detailed inventory of sacred vestment production.

The words — The text specifies מְפֻתָּחֹת (me.fu.ta.Chot), meaning "engraved," applied to הַ/שֹּׁ֔הַם (ha./Sho.ham), "the onyx." These stones are set within מִשְׁבְּצֹ֣ת (mish.be.Tzot), "filigree settings," crafted from זָהָ֑ב (za.Hav), "gold."

The thread — The preparation of engraved onyx stones first appears in the divine command for the ephod (Exodus 28:9). The text later uses onyx as a marker of extreme value (Job 28:16) and as part of a symbolic portrait of celestial adornment (Ezekiel 28:13).

Why it lands — The text states that craftsmen mounted onyx in gold settings and engraved the names of the tribes on them for the ephod. A reader must note the deliberate preservation of tribal identity within the priestly garment and the material cost required to secure it.

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

וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙va/i.ya.'a.Suand/ they preparedאֶת־'et-<obj.>אַבְנֵ֣י'av.Nei[the] stones ofהַשֹּׁ֔הַםha./Sho.hamthe/ onyxמֻֽסַבֹּ֖תmu.sa.Botsurroundedמִשְׁבְּצֹ֣תmish.be.Tzotfiligree settings ofזָהָ֑בza.Havgoldמְפֻתָּחֹת֙me.fu.ta.Chotengravedפִּתּוּחֵ֣יpi.tu.Chei[the] engravings ofחוֹתָ֔םcho.Tama sealעַל־'al-onשְׁמ֖וֹתshe.Mot[the] names ofבְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.

Cross-references