Exodus 28:17
in Exodus 28And mount on it a setting of gemstones, four rows of stones: In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;
KJV
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
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This verse in Exodus 28
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
set in it settings of stones
on Exodus 28:17-21
Twelve stones in four rows carry the twelve names, one name to a stone, each cut like the engraving of a signet. The shoulder stones grouped the names six and six by birth order, while here every tribe has its own stone and its own place in the setting. Revelation 21:14 and 21:19-20 set twelve foundation stones in the wall of the city with the names of the twelve apostles upon them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Again, you can multiply the four cardinal virtues by the three theological, and then there are twelve: for prudence must be faithful, trusting, and loving; and so it is with the others. And they are represented by the twelve springs, the twelve gems in the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Some question whether Levi had a precious stone with his name or no. If not, Ephraim and Manasseh were reckoned distinct, as Jacob had said they should be, and the high priest himself, being head of the tribe of Levi, sufficiently represented that tribe. If there was a stone for Levi, as is intimated by this, that they were engraven according to their birth (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And thou shalt set in it settings of stones,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work--a very splendid and richly embroidered piece of brocade, a span square, and doubled, to enable it the better to bear the weight of the precious stones in it.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Four rows of stones - With a name on each stone, making in all the twelve names of the twelve tribes.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּמִלֵּאתָ֥ | umileta | and you will fill | H4390 → | 249 times |
| בוֹ֙ | vo | in <the> it | ||
| מִלֻּ֣אַת | miluat | a setting of | H4396 → | 3 times |
| אֶ֔בֶן | ʾeven | stone[s] | H68 → | 273 times |
| אַרְבָּעָ֖ה | ʾarbaah | four | H702 → | 318 times |
| טוּרִ֣ים | turim | rows | H2905 → | 26 times |
| אָ֑בֶן | ʾaven | stone | H68 → | 273 times |
| ט֗וּר | tur | [will be] a row of | H2905 → | 26 times |
| אֹ֤דֶם | ʾodem | a ruby | H124 → | |
| פִּטְדָה֙ | pitdah | a topaz | H6357 → | |
| וּבָרֶ֔קֶת | uvareket | and a beryl | H1304 → | |
| הַטּ֖וּר | hatur | the row | H2905 → | 26 times |
| הָאֶחָֽד׃ | haechad | <the> one | H259 → | 971 times |
וּמִלֵּאתָ֥and you will fill
umiletaH4390 →249 times
בוֹ֙in <the> it
vo
מִלֻּ֣אַתa setting of
miluatH4396 →3 times
אֶ֔בֶןstone[s]
ʾevenH68 →273 times
אַרְבָּעָ֖הfour
ʾarbaahH702 →318 times
טוּרִ֣יםrows
turimH2905 →26 times
אָ֑בֶןstone
ʾavenH68 →273 times
ט֗וּר[will be] a row of
turH2905 →26 times
אֹ֤דֶםa ruby
ʾodemH124 →
פִּטְדָה֙a topaz
pitdahH6357 →
וּבָרֶ֔קֶתand a beryl
uvareketH1304 →
הַטּ֖וּרthe row
haturH2905 →26 times
הָאֶחָֽד׃<the> one
haechadH259 →971 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 28:13You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 28:15
From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you.
- Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed.
- Ezekiel 27:16
Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
- Ezekiel 28:15
Through
Proverbs 8:11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:5–7
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
- Proverbs 3:14–15
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
- Proverbs 16:16
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
- Psalms 19:10
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
- Psalms 119:127
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
- Proverbs 4:5–7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
On this verse
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.