And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgmentThe Urim and Thummim were mysterious objects used for divination, often associated with the high priest's breastpiece, also known as the breastplate of judgment. These objects were used to discern God's will in specific situations, reflecting the importance of divine guidance in Israelite leadership. The exact nature and appearance of the Urim and Thummim are unknown, but they were integral to the priestly garments, symbolizing the need for righteous judgment and decision-making. The breastpiece itself was a sacred garment, richly adorned and signifying the high priest's role as a mediator between God and the people.
so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD
The placement of the Urim and Thummim over Aaron's heart emphasizes the connection between the high priest's duties and his inner life. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. By carrying these objects over his heart, Aaron was reminded of the weighty responsibility of seeking God's will with sincerity and integrity. This act symbolizes the need for leaders to carry the concerns of the people with compassion and truthfulness when approaching God.
Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD
Aaron, as the high priest, served as an intermediary between God and the Israelites. His role involved not only performing rituals but also representing the people's needs and sins before God. The phrase "carry the judgment" indicates the ongoing responsibility of the high priest to seek divine guidance and justice for the nation. This continual act underscores the perpetual need for atonement and intercession, foreshadowing the ultimate high priest, Jesus Christ, who carries the sins of humanity and intercedes on their behalf. The high priest's role points to the greater priesthood of Christ, who fulfills and perfects the mediation between God and humanity.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AaronThe brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He is tasked with wearing the breastpiece of judgment, which includes the Urim and Thummim, as he enters the presence of the LORD.
2.
Urim and ThummimObjects placed in the breastpiece of judgment, used for divination or decision-making. Their exact nature is unknown, but they were a means for the high priest to discern God's will.
3.
Breastpiece of JudgmentA sacred garment worn by the high priest, containing the Urim and Thummim, symbolizing the priest's role in seeking God's guidance for the people.
4.
Presence of the LORDRefers to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, where God's presence dwelt, and where the high priest would enter to perform his duties.
5.
IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, for whom Aaron, as high priest, would seek divine guidance using the Urim and Thummim.
Teaching Points
The Role of the High PriestAaron's role as high priest was to mediate between God and the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of spiritual leadership in seeking God's will.
Seeking Divine GuidanceThe Urim and Thummim symbolize the need for believers to seek God's guidance in decision-making, reminding us to prioritize prayer and discernment.
Heart of the MatterThe placement of the Urim and Thummim over Aaron's heart signifies the importance of aligning our hearts with God's will when making decisions.
Symbolism of the BreastpieceThe breastpiece represents the weight of responsibility carried by spiritual leaders, encouraging us to pray for and support those in leadership.
God's Presence and GuidanceJust as Aaron entered the presence of the LORD for guidance, believers are called to seek God's presence through prayer and scripture for direction in their lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 28:30?
2.How does Exodus 28:30 emphasize God's guidance through the Urim and Thummim?
3.What role did the Urim and Thummim play in Israel's decision-making process?
4.How can we seek God's guidance today, as in Exodus 28:30?
5.Compare the Urim and Thummim with other biblical methods of seeking God's will.
6.How does Exodus 28:30 inspire trust in God's direction for our lives?
7.What is the significance of the Urim and Thummim in Exodus 28:30?
8.How do the Urim and Thummim function as divine guidance tools in Exodus 28:30?
9.Why were the Urim and Thummim placed in the breastpiece of judgment in Exodus 28:30?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 28?
11.Exodus 28:30: How reliable is the claim about the Urim and Thummim, given the lack of concrete archeological evidence or consistent references elsewhere?
12.What are the Urim and Thummim?
13.In 2 Samuel 2:1, how can David’s direct conversation with God be historically or archaeologically verified?
14.How did David consult the ephod for instant divine guidance in 1 Samuel 23:9–12 when similar direct communication is uncommon elsewhere in the Old Testament?What Does Exodus 28:30 Mean
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment- God commands Moses to insert these sacred objects into the high-priestly breastpiece, underscoring His gift of tangible guidance (Leviticus 8:8;Numbers 27:21).
- The “breastpiece of judgment” is already inset with the twelve stones bearing Israel’s tribal names (Exodus 28:21). Adding the Urim and Thummim makes the breastpiece a complete instrument for discerning the LORD’s will.
- Scripture records occasions when leaders sought direction through this means (1 Samuel 28:6;Ezra 2:63). Each time, the certainty of God’s answer affirms that His Word is sure and His guidance never ambiguous.
so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD.- The breastpiece rests directly over the heart, signaling that every decision and every revelation from God must come from a place of covenant love and sincere devotion (Deuteronomy 6:5;Matthew 22:37).
- This placement reminds Aaron that ministry begins inwardly. Before approaching the Holy One, the priest bears both the people and God’s guidance “over his heart,” not merely on his garments.
-Hebrews 4:14–16 later shows our perfect High Priest, Jesus, whose heart of compassion invites us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence.” Aaron’s attire foreshadows that deeper reality.
Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.- “Continually” stresses an unbroken duty: every time Aaron enters the sanctuary, he represents all Israel, not himself. Their “judgment” (or case) is always before God (Exodus 28:12, 29).
- This ongoing intercession pictures:
• Constant remembrance—God never forgets His people (Isaiah 49:15–16).
• Mediation—Aaron stands between heaven and Israel, anticipating Christ who “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25).
• Accountability—decisions rendered through Urim and Thummim are binding; the nation submits to the verdict God reveals (Joshua 9:14;1 Samuel 14:41).
- For believers today, the scene points to our identity as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). We, too, carry others on our hearts while we seek God’s will, trusting His Word as flawless direction.
summaryExodus 28:30 unites divine guidance and priestly compassion. By placing the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece, God ensures that every verdict comes from His heart and rests on the heart of His appointed mediator. Aaron’s continual intercession foreshadows the perfect, unceasing ministry of Christ, inviting us to trust Scripture’s certainty and to bear one another faithfully before the Lord.
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Thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim.--Comp.
Leviticus 8:8. The expression used is identical with that employed in
Exodus 25:15;
Exodus 25:21 with respect to putting the Two Tables into the Ark of the Covenant, and can scarcely have any other meaning than the literal placing of one thing inside another. It has been already shown (see Note on
Exodus 28:16) that the breastplate was a bag, and so capable of being used as a receptacle. The words "Urim and Thummim" mean literally, "lights and perfections," or, if the plural be one of dignity, "light and perfection" (Aquila and Symmachus translate by
???????? ??? ???????????; the LXX., by
? ??????? ??? ? ???????; the Vulg. by doctrina et veritas). The question arises, what do these two words, as here used, designate? Do they designate material objects; if so, what objects? In favour of their designating material objects are (1) the expressions, "thou shalt put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim," "they shall be upon Aaron's heart," "he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim" (
Leviticus 8:8); (2) the fact that the words are accompanied by the article, on this, the first mention of them, as if they were familiar objects, well known at the time to the people generally; and (3) the explanations of Philo and Josephus, which, while they differ in all other respects, agree in this, that material objects are intended. But, if so, what objects? The two sides of the breastplate, says Philo (
De Monarch.,ii. 5). But these were not "put in" the breastplate after it was complete, as implied in
Exodus 28:30;
Leviticus 8:8. The twelve jewels, says Josephus; but the present passage, taken in conjunction with
Exodus 28:17-21, distinguishes the Urim and Thummim from them. Some small objects which the bag of the breastplate could hold, and with which the people had long been familiar, can alone answer the requirements of the case. Most modern critics are thus far agreed; but when the further question is asked, what were these objects? The greatest difference appears. Diamonds, cut and uncut; slips of metal, marked with "yes" and "no"; lots, of some kind or other; and small images, like the
teraphim(
Genesis 31:19), are among the suggestions. A very slight examination of the arguments by which these various views are supported is sufficient to show that certainty on the subject is unattainable. Probability, however, seems on the whole to be in favour of a connection between divination by
teraphimand consultation of God by Urim and Thummim (
Judges 17:5;
Judges 18:14;
Judges 18:17;
Judges 18:20;
Hosea 3:4), whence it is reasonable to conclude that the Urim and Thummim were small images, by which God had been consulted in the past, and by which Moses was now authorised to state that He would be consulted in the future. How the consultation was made, and the decision given, is a question still more obscure than that which has been just considered, and one which seems to the present writer to admit of no solution. The reader who is curious upon the point may be referred to Dean Plumptre's article on "Urim and Thummim," in Dr. W. Smith's
Dictionary of the Bible,where the views propounded are ingenious, if not altogether satisfactory. . . .
Verse 30.- Thou shalt put in the breast-plate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim. The words
Urim and
Thummim mean respectively "Lights "and" Perfections," or perhaps "Light" and "Perfection - the plural form being merely a plural of honour. They were well translated by Aquila and Symmachus,
φωτισμοὶ καὶ τελειότητες: less well by the LXX.
ἡ δήλωσις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια: still worse by the Vulgate,
Doctrina et Veritas. What exactly the two words represented is doubtful in the extreme. It has been supposed by some that they were not material objects, but a method by which God communicated his will;
e.g., a miraculous light, or a miraculous voice. But such things as these could not have been put by Moses either "in," or "on the breastplate of judgment." Modern critics are generally agreed that the Urim and Thummim must have been material objects of one kind or another. The objects suggested are -
1. The engraved stones of the breast-plate.
2. Two small images, like theteraphim.
3. A gold plate, engraved with the name of Jehovah. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And placeוְנָתַתָּ֞(wə·nā·ṯa·tā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setthe Urimהָאוּרִים֙(hā·’ū·rîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 224:Part of the high priest's breastplateand Thummimהַתֻּמִּ֔ים(hat·tum·mîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8550:Perfectionsinאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, tothe breastpieceחֹ֣שֶׁן(ḥō·šen)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2833:A pocket, rich, the gorget of the highpriestof judgment,הַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט(ham·miš·pāṭ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941:A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, styleso that they will also beוְהָיוּ֙(wə·hā·yū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beoverעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstAaron’sאַהֲרֹ֔ן(’a·hă·rōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175:Aaron -- an elder brother of Mosesheartלֵ֣ב(lêḇ)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820:The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centrewhenever he comesבְּבֹא֖וֹ(bə·ḇō·’ōw)Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gobeforeלִפְנֵ֣י(lip̄·nê)Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440:The facethe LORD.יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of IsraelAaronאַ֠הֲרֹן(’a·hă·rōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175:Aaron -- an elder brother of Moseswill continuallyתָּמִֽיד׃(tā·mîḏ)Adverb
Strong's 8548:Continuance, constant, ellipt, the regular, sacrificecarryוְנָשָׂ֣א(wə·nā·śā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375:To lift, carry, takethe judgmentמִשְׁפַּ֨ט(miš·paṭ)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941:A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, styleof the sonsבְּנֵי־(bə·nê-)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descoverעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againsthis heartלִבּ֛וֹ(lib·bōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820:The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centrebeforeלִפְנֵ֥י(lip̄·nê)Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440:The facethe LORD.יְהוָ֖ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel
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OT Law: Exodus 28:30 You shall put in the breastplate (Exo. Ex) 
