New International Version“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel
New Living Translation“Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel.
English Standard VersionYou shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
Berean Standard BibleTake two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
King James BibleAnd thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
New King James Version“Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
New American Standard BibleAnd you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
NASB 1995“You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
NASB 1977“And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
Legacy Standard BibleYou shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
Amplified BibleYou shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the [twelve] sons of Israel,
Christian Standard Bible“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons:
Holman Christian Standard BibleTake two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons:
American Standard VersionAnd thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
English Revised VersionAnd thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationTake two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel
Good News TranslationTake two carnelian stones and engrave on them the names of the twelve sons of Jacob,
International Standard VersionYou are to take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them,
NET Bible"You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,
New Heart English BibleYou shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd thou shalt take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTake two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
World English BibleYou shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you have taken the two shoham stones, and have engraved the names of the sons of Israel on them;
Young's Literal Translation 'And thou hast taken the two shoham stones, and hast opened on them the names of the sons of Israel;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd take two stones of onyx, and engrave upon them the names of the sons of Israel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou shalt take two onyx stones, and shalt grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
New American BibleGet two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel:
New Revised Standard VersionYou shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd you shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel;
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd take two stones of beryl and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd thou shalt take the two stones, the stones of emerald, and thou shalt grave on them the names of the children of Israel.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Ephod… 8And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. 9Taketwoonyxstonesand engraveon themthe namesof the sonsof Israel:10six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth.…
Cross References Exodus 39:6-7They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. / 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.
Leviticus 8:8Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Numbers 1:4And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.
Numbers 1:16These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.
Numbers 2:18On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud,
Numbers 7:2And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.
Numbers 10:14First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.
Deuteronomy 27:12“When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Joshua 4:5-7and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, / to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ / 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.”
1 Kings 18:31And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”
1 Chronicles 27:16These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah;
Isaiah 49:16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.
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 gold, prepared on the day of your creation.
Revelation 21:12The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.
Revelation 7:4-8And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel: / From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, / from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, ...
Treasury of Scripture And you shall take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: onyx Exodus 28:20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. Exodus 39:13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper:they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. Genesis 2:12 And the gold of that landis good: thereis bdellium and the onyx stone. grave Exodus 28:36 And thou shalt make a plateof pure gold, and grave upon it,like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Exodus 39:6 And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. 2 Chronicles 2:7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men thatare with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide. Jump to Previous BerylChildrenCutEngraveGraveIsraelNamesOnyxOpenedShohamStonesJump to Next BerylChildrenCutEngraveGraveIsraelNamesOnyxOpenedShohamStonesExodus 28 1.Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest's office2.Holy garments are appointed6.The ephod and girdle15.The breast-plate with twelve precious stones30.The Urim and Thummim31.The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells36.The plate of the mitre39.The embroidered coat40.The garments for Aaron's sonsTake two onyx stonesThe onyx stones were precious gemstones, often associated with beauty and value. In ancient times, onyx was used in various cultures for jewelry and decoration, signifying its importance and rarity. The use of two stones may symbolize completeness or testimony, as two witnesses were required to establish a matter ( Deuteronomy 19:15). The stones were to be set on the shoulders of the ephod, a priestly garment, indicating the high priest's role in bearing the people before God. and engrave on them Engraving signifies permanence and intentionality. The act of engraving the stones suggests that the names of the sons of Israel were to be permanently remembered and represented before God. This mirrors the idea of God engraving His people on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16), indicating a deep, enduring relationship. the names of the sons of Israel: The sons of Israel refer to the twelve tribes descended from Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. Each tribe had its unique identity and role within the nation. By engraving their names on the onyx stones, the high priest symbolically carried the entire nation into the presence of God, highlighting the unity and collective identity of the Israelites. This act foreshadows Christ, our High Priest, who bears the names of His people before God, interceding on their behalf (Hebrews 7:25). Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, who received the instructions for the priestly garments from God on Mount Sinai. 2. AaronMoses' brother, who was appointed as the first high priest of Israel. The onyx stones were part of his priestly garments. 3. Sons of IsraelRefers to the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). 4. Onyx StonesPrecious stones used in the high priest's ephod, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes. 5. Mount SinaiThe place where God gave Moses the instructions for the tabernacle and the priestly garments. Teaching Points Significance of NamesThe engraving of the names of the sons of Israel on the onyx stones signifies God's personal relationship with His people. Each tribe is individually recognized and valued. Symbolism of the Onyx StonesThe onyx stones represent the burden and responsibility of the priesthood. Aaron carried the names of the tribes on his shoulders, symbolizing his role as an intercessor. Priestly Role of BelieversJust as Aaron bore the names of the tribes before God, believers today are called to intercede for others and carry their burdens in prayer. Continuity of God's CovenantThe inclusion of the twelve tribes' names in both the Old and New Testaments highlights the unbroken nature of God's promises to His people. Holiness and ServiceThe detailed instructions for the priestly garments remind us of the importance of holiness and dedication in our service to God. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 28
What is the Bible's perspective on crystals?
What do birthstones symbolize in the Bible?
What are the components of Priestly Garments?
What does "ephod" mean?(9) Two onyx stones.--The shohamof the Hebrews has been regarded by some as the emerald, by others as the beryl; but it is probably either the stone usually called the onyx, or that variety which is known as the sardonyx--a stone of three layers--black, white, and red. (See Joseph., Ant. Jud.,iii. 7, ? 5.) Emeralds could not have been cut by any process known at the time. Onyx and sardonyx were used from a very early period, as stones for signets, both in Egypt and elsewhere. And grave on them the names of the children of Israel.--That gem-engraving was practised from a remote antiquity both in Egypt and in Babylonia appears from the remains found in those countries. The signet cylinders of Chaldaean kings are regarded by the best Assyriologists as going back, at least, to B.C. 2,000. The signets of Egyptian monarchs reach, at any rate, to the twelfth dynasty, which is perhaps nearly as early. The hardest kinds of stone--diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz--defied the art of the time; but stones of the second class--sard, carnelian, onyx, beryl, jasper, lapis lazuli--readily yielded to the engraver's tools. There is no difficulty in supposing that among the Israelites were to be found persons who had been engaged in Egyptian workshops during the servitude, and were acquainted with Egyptian art in all its principal departments. The "names" to be engraved were doubtless the "tribe" names, as explained by Josephus. Verse 9. - Two onyx stones. The correctness of this rendering has been much disputed. The LXX. give σμάραγδος, "emeraid." as the Greek equivalent in the present passage, while many argue for the beryl (Winer, Rosenmuller, Bollermann), and others for the sardonyx. This last rendering has the support of Josephus and Aquila. The sardonyx is, in fact, nothing but the best kind of onyx, differing from the onyx by having three layers - black, white, and red - instead of two - black and white - only. When large, it fetches a high price, as much as a thousand pounds having been asked for one by a dealer recently. The probability is, that it is the stone here intended. It is an excellent material for engraving. With respect to the possibility of Moses having in the congregation persons who could engrave the sardonyx, we may remark that the Egyptians cut stones quite as hard, from a date long anterior to the exodus. Graveon them the names ofthe children of Israel. Egyptian names are frequently found engraved on rings and amulets in hard stone; these rings and amulets date from the time of the twelfth dynasty. The names here intended are evidently the Israelite tribe names, which are reckoned as twelve, the double tribe of Joseph counting as one only. (Compare Numbers 1:10; Deuteronomy 33:13-17.)
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Takeוְלָ֣קַחְתָּ֔(wə·lā·qaḥ·tā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3947:To taketwoשְׁתֵּ֖י(šə·tê)Number - fdc Strong's 8147:Two (a cardinal number)onyxשֹׁ֑הַם(šō·ham)Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7718:(a gem) perhaps an onyxstonesאַבְנֵי־(’aḇ·nê-)Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 68:A stoneand engraveוּפִתַּחְתָּ֣(ū·p̄it·taḥ·tā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6605:To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carveonעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם(‘ă·lê·hem)Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthem the namesשְׁמ֖וֹת(šə·mō·wṯ)Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 8034:A nameof the sonsבְּנֵ֥י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121:A sonof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc
Links Exodus 28:9 NIVExodus 28:9 NLTExodus 28:9 ESVExodus 28:9 NASBExodus 28:9 KJV
Exodus 28:9 BibleApps.comExodus 28:9 Biblia ParalelaExodus 28:9 Chinese BibleExodus 28:9 French BibleExodus 28:9 Catholic Bible
OT Law: Exodus 28:9 You shall take two onyx stones (Exo. Ex) |