Exodus 28:42
in Exodus 28Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
KJV
And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
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This verse in Exodus 28
Commentary
6 notes on this verseLinen breeches - This command had in view the necessity of purity and decency in every part of the Divine worship, in opposition to the shocking indecency of the pagan worship in general, in which the priests often ministered naked, as in the sacrifices to Bacchus, etc. On the garments of the high priest some general reflections have already been made; see Exo 28:2 (note): and to what is there said it may be just necessary to add, that there can be no doubt of their being all emblematical of spiritual things; but of which, and in what way, no man can positively say.
This site's exposition
make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness
on Exodus 28:42-43
Linen breeches are ordered to cover their nakedness from the loins to the thighs, which is the same concern Exodus 20:26 raised about going up by steps to an altar. Genesis 3:7 and 3:21 began the covering of nakedness and the priesthood inherits it. The chapter closes on a penalty, that they bear not iniquity and die, made a statute for ever to Aaron and his seed after him.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness,....
This teaches us modesty and decency of garb and gesture at all times, especially in public worship, in which a veil is becoming, 1 Cor. xi. It also intimates what need our souls have of a covering, when we come before God, that the shame of their nakedness may not appear.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
linen breeches--drawers, which encompassed the loins and reached half way down the thighs. They are seen very frequently represented in Egyptian figures.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַעֲשֵׂ֤ה | vaaseh | and make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לָהֶם֙ | lahem | for <the> them | ||
| מִכְנְסֵי־ | mikhnesei- | undergarments of | H4370 → | |
| בָ֔ד | vad | linen | H906 → | |
| לְכַסּ֖וֹת | lekhasot | to cover | H3680 → | 152 times |
| בְּשַׂ֣ר | besar | [the] flesh of | H1320 → | 270 times |
| עֶרְוָ֑ה | ʾervah | nakedness | H6172 → | |
| מִמָּתְנַ֥יִם | mimatenayim | from [the] hips | H4975 → | |
| וְעַד־ | vead- | and to | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| יְרֵכַ֖יִם | yerekhayim | [the] thighs | H3409 → | 34 times |
| יִהְיֽוּ׃ | yihyu | they will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
וַעֲשֵׂ֤הand make
vaasehH6213 →2628 times
לָהֶם֙for <the> them
lahem
מִכְנְסֵי־undergarments of
mikhnesei-H4370 →
בָ֔דlinen
vadH906 →
לְכַסּ֖וֹתto cover
lekhasotH3680 →152 times
בְּשַׂ֣ר[the] flesh of
besarH1320 →270 times
עֶרְוָ֑הnakedness
ʾervahH6172 →
מִמָּתְנַ֥יִםfrom [the] hips
mimatenayimH4975 →
וְעַד־and to
vead-H5704 →1261 times
יְרֵכַ֖יִם[the] thighs
yerekhayimH3409 →34 times
יִהְיֽוּ׃they will be
yihyuH1961 →3559 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
Revelation 3:18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to…
it leads to
- Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- 1 Peter 1:7
so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
- Revelation 19:8
She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Malachi 3:3
And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in…
- Revelation 16:15
Through
Leviticus 16:4He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself…
it leads to
- Exodus 28:39–43
You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Exodus 30:20
Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die.
- Exodus 28:39–43
Through
Leviticus 6:10And the priest shall put on his linen robe and linen undergarments, and he shall remove from the altar the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed and place them beside…
it leads to
- Leviticus 16:4
He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 16:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
On this verse
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.