Bible Strands
Exodus 39:7
Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The artisans secure the engraved onyx stones onto the ephod’s shoulder pieces during the final assembly of the priestly garments. This action follows the mounting of the stones in gold filigree and precedes the crafting of the breastpiece.
The words — זִכָּרוֹן (zi.ka.Ron) carries the literal sense of “remembrance,” and כִּתְפֹת (kit.Fot) denotes the “shoulder-pieces” of the ephod.
The thread — Exodus 28:12 and Exodus 28:29 establish the original command to place these stones on the ephod and breastpiece, while Joshua 4:7 demonstrates how Israel repeatedly uses physical markers to recall divine intervention.
Why it lands — The text records a completed act of obedience that physically binds the names of the tribes to the priestly vestments. It requires the reader to recognize that communal identity is anchored in precise adherence to divine instruction rather than human design.
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 he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.
Cross-references
- Joshua 4:7 you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”
- Exodus 28:12 Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.
- Exodus 28:29 Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.
- Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
- Nehemiah 2:20 So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”
- Mark 14:9 And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”