She has a weekly YouTube devotional, too. Curiosity got the best of me to research about the ephodHence, after much research, this super detailed blog post was birthed. (John 10:28,29) Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39). All the best with your assignment, I hope you get a good grade. So, just as the ephod was a reminder of Gods power for the Israelites, so too can our relationship with Jesus be a source of strength and comfort for us. Shes also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. ), (4) Depicted is a Temple service with the kohane blessing ritual (duchenen in Yiddish) that is performed on certain holy days. (2)http://www.templeinstitute.org/high-priest-garments-gallery.htm, (3) Ut supra. Sweat was part of the curse and represents human works, effort, reasoning, striving, worrying, fear, etc. As a Garment. In Judges, we see that there was already a lot of division among the Israelites. Mandrakes in the Bible | Thought-Provoking! According to the Talmud, the wearing of the ephod atoned for the sin of idolatry on the part of the Children of Israel.[7]. Here, we explore the biblical meaning and spiritual significance of the ephod. On each of these stones was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. col. 1793. They sacrificed to it and made offerings to it. We are also called to be holy people, set apart for His (Gods) purposes. We are saved at a specific point in time, it is finished, our debt is paid, we are ransomed from the kingdom of darkness, and then we confidently rest in the reality that it will continue to be finished because we are in a position of grace and stand justified for all time before God. A. That is, God became something He was not before. In the Books of Samuel and Books of Chronicles, David is described as wearing an ephod when dancing in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:14, 1 Chronicles 15:27) and one is described as standing in the sanctuary at Nob, with a sword behind it (1 Samuel 21:9). (Exodus 33:20-23. These were integral elements in the communion between God and the high priest, like our union with Christ today, who represented the entire nation before God. Presently, He desires to honor Jesus Christ through this Internet teaching ministry, thereby glorifying the Heavenly Father in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. As previously stated,Urim and Thummim were an important part of the ephod and were used to inquire of the Lord about specific matters. NASB Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. It carried much symbolic weight. Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? There are two basic meanings for the word ephod. When we wear Jesus Christ, we are clothed in his righteousness and are forgiven of our sins. These garments are made from white flax, hence their designationthe white garments.They must be woven, and each thread used must be six-ply woven from six individual strands of fabric. which was of the forementioned colors, with gold intermixed which, when it had gone once round, was tied again upon the seam and hung down.. They were all united under one High Priest. There appears to have been a strong religious and ceremonial implication to wearing an ephod, since the 85 priests at Nob are specifically identified as being the type of people who wore an ephod;[2] though the Masoretic text here describes them as being linen ephods (1 Samuel 22:18) the word linen is not present in the Septuagint version of the passage, nor is it present when the Septuagint describes David and Samuel as girding themselves with an ephod. These straps were attached to the ephod at the two upper corners. Thanks Lallie, thanks for stopping by! He also had a Shechemite concubine who bore him a son whom he named Abimelech, which means "my father is king" (Judges 8:31). The holy garments that the priests wore while performing their duties set them apart from the rest of the Israelites. (Romans 5:1,2). (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20) Even as the Levites were priests of the Old Covenant, we believers are all priests and kings after the order of Melchizedek and ministers of the New Covenant. Gideons ephod just added to this division. This skillful weave was not the routine cross-weave pattern found in most linen garments made from Israels looms. It was worn at all times while the High Priest was within the Temple. God is not looking at my thoughts to judge me but rather the thoughts of the high priest. Pictured above: Memorial Stones with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which had the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) according to their birth order and were placed on the shoulders of the ephod (Exodus 28:9-12. From the tribe of Levi, the family of Aaron was chosen to serve as priests. We cant be sure, but we do know that it was a significant part of the priests garments and it was worn out of obedience to God while they made intercession and heard from God. So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. Very informative, people need to study the Old Testament more for a solid foundation of understanding of the New Testament. l. 3. c. 7. sect. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. An ephod was a garment usually made of linen that covered the priest from the shoulder to the hip. Well, I recently wrote a blog post on breakthrough and touched on David. - They shall make the ephod The word ephod signifies etymologically any "vestment" or "garment;" but in its use it is confined to the special vestment here described, the great object of which was to be a receptacle for the "breast-plate." The ephod was a sort of jerkin or waistcoat, consisting of two pieces, one to cover the chest and the other the back, joined together probably by a . Ephesians 2:13-18. Over the ephod, the High Priest wore abreastplatewhich was a pouch about 22-cm (about 9 inches) square made of beautifully woven material. The High Priests Day of Atonement garment. He is the only one who can give us true peace and satisfaction. Hebrews 12:23) This is because we are hidden in Christ, so the perfect light only reflects the perfect work of Jesus in removing our sins. There was onlyone time of the yearthat the High Priest wore the white garments. The robe is put on from above, meaning not self-appointed but rather office and authority God appointed (John 19:11). God bless you . God then gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws. The blue cord represents that Jesus mind is our mind (i.e., the mind of Christ). The Golden Garments of the High Priest revealed Jesus as God the Great High Priest in Heaven. It symbolized authority and power and signified the wearers status as a mediator between God and man. When David asked for the Ephod, he was asking for a symbol of Gods presence and favor. In Hebrew, the word for red is Adam or Edom. Adam, one of the words for man and literally means red-blooded man. It is derived from the root word in Hebrew for blood: Dam. Redspeaks of Jesus shed blood, The One Who became the second and last Adam, or red or red-blooded man.. Exodus 39:10-14). It was made . While the priestly garments were allowed to have a combination of wool and linen, those of the laity were not. The high priest used the ephod along with the breastplate and the Urim and Thummim as a means of divination. We dont need an ephod or any special objects in order to do this; all we need is the Holy Spirit. Stating that it was held together by a girdle, and had two shoulder straps which were fastened to the front of the ephod by golden rings, to which the breastplate was attached by golden chains (Exodus 28:614). The Hebrew word tekheletliterally means blue, with its root word meaning complete. When Jesus from the cross cried out finished, He said one Aramaic word: kulah, translated as Teleostei in Greek, with both words meaning finished (6). And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. Genesis 35:16-19). 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. This connection between the ephod and the oracle may also be seen very clearly in the combination of . ESV Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. Romans 5:1;10:15. It was made of linen with gold, blue, purple and scarlet. The Aorist tense is punctiliar: meaning something that happens at a specific point in time; a moment. God tells Moses the two stones upon the ephod are, in fact, memorial stones for the sons of Israel and that Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord (Exodus 28:12). The book of 1 Chronicles states that David was "clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the . I will also explore some of the most famous stories involving the ephod, such as Gideon and David. with all his mightintimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. Most likely some sort of bag or pouch that carried the Urim and Thummim, some sort of objects used for divination. The other items are a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban, and sash (Exodus 28:4). We cannot do anything without Him. Scarlet,or red, is the last color mentioned. A. The high priest wore it when he went into the Holy of Holies to intercede with God on behalf of the people. Hebrews 7:1-17) Therefore, He is the King of Righteousness and Peace and a giver of righteousness that leads to peace with God the Father. , Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolishthe Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them butto fulfill them.. The ephod supported the breastpiece of 12 precious stones. 22:18). Thank you for this information, God bless you. It is usually described and being made of linen but was not a full garment; more like a loincloth but not a complete outer garment. Hallelujah! Red and blue combined yield purple. 3 Surprising Reasons to Be Like Doubting Thomas. Similar material as the High Priests Turban previously described; however, it was donned by wrapping the head. Consequently, the blue robe represents that the finished work of grace completed by Jesus, our Great High Priest, will never end (i.e., not undone or torn). [1], Besides its use as a garment, an Ephod was also used for oracular purposes, in conjunction with Urim and Thummim;[5] the books of Samuel imply that whenever Saul or David wished to question God via oracular methods, they asked a priest for the ephod. White represents Jesus purity and righteousness which is the legal foundation for our redemption. Today, we dont have Urim and Thummim, but here is what we can learn from their use in the Old Testament: The ephod played an important role in the lives of both Gideon and David. (John 19:23,24). The second element of Jesus statement is equally important: the Present, ongoing, linearand will continue to be finishedcomponent of the perfect tense. So God, speaking through Moses, gave the people instructions on how they should live. It was also a symbol of his office. The breastplate was, in reality, a piece of elaborately finished cloth of the same material as the ephod. An ephod was a garment usually made of linen that covered the priest from the shoulder to the hip. 1 John 3:2). It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the Messiahs sufferings, were accomplished. This indicates the ongoing nature of our salvation. Chitn is the word in the Greek Old Testament for the tunic/undergarment worn by all priests, while a different word, hypodyts ( ), is usually the word for the priestly robe. Blue, purple, and scarlet wool yarn along with white linen thread and pure gold thread of the ephod. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aarons garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. So when they wanted to know Gods will, they consulted a priest or prophet, who would then speak to God on their behalf. In the Bible, in the contexts where it is worn, the ephod is usually described as being linen, but did not constitute complete clothing of any kind, as the Books of Samuel describe. Later on in 1 Samuel 23 and 30, we see David call for the ephod in order to communicate with God at a time when Saul was plotting against him. The Amalekites also took captive all the women and children. One he wore in the morning and the other in the evening. Jesus, the one full of Grace and Truth! Note the story told by the colors and their order: Blue Jesus who is God came from heaven, Red Jesus was born of a red-blooded human virgin to become the Son of Man. Jesus came from Heaven to become a red-blooded man. Thats the number of GRACE! Its width is approximately 4 cm (approximately 1.5 inches). Although the linen ephod is primarily associated with the high priests garments, it was by no means limited to the high priest. Mosess brother, Aaron, donned the ephod and other priestly garments as his formal clothing at the holy tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites to worship the Lord during their years in the wilderness. First, the "ephod" (a garment): They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, worked into designs . (Tractate Yoma 72a) Some people[by whom?] We can replace Jesus Christ with money, power, status, or possessions. 2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, God our Father looks upon us with all the favor with which He looks upon His own unique Son Jesus that He loves infinitely. In conclusion,in Jesus statement It is finished, we have a declaration of salvation that is both in a particular moment in time and eternal, Aorist and Present, linear and punctiliar. In modern Christianity, it is easy to gloss over the parts of scripture that are no longer seen or practiced like the garments and items the Jewish priests wore in the Old Testament. What is a Ephod and what does it look like? For all time and eternity, we are the objects of the Fathers supreme affection, the recipients of His unlimited mercies (i.e., unlimited ability to meet all our needs, wants, and desires). The ephod is an exterior garment, worn over the tunic and robe (vv, 31-35, 39). Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them (Exodus 19:21-22). Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. (significance and symbolism), And thats it, folks, the ephod in the bible, Dream About the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (Raw), 31+ Brilliant Bible Emergency Numbers (Verses). He remains faithful, He is the God who saves. Satan seeks to display them in a shameful, exploitative way leading to a sense of vulnerability that approximates a fear of evil (Genesis 3:7). It was made by fine weaving, in which there was no sewing except to sew on the arm sleeves. Why Is it Important for Us to Be Restored? (, The descendants of Aaron were responsible for offering sacrifices and keeping the tabernacleor, later, the templeclean and orderly. Epomis, ephod, ephoud, Lat. Let us take a closer look at the way in which the Torah describes how Aaron must function vis--vis the "clothing items.". It is also to be noted that the high priests ephod (Exodus 28:6; Exodus 28:8, &c.) was made of shesh, while the garments of the ordinary priests, as well as the ephods of Samuel and David, were of bad. In Exodus 39, we read how the Israelites were obedient in this and crafted the ephod exactly as God commanded. This blog post will discuss 12 fascinating facts about the ephod. In this situation, it is clear that God alone was being worshiped following the victory. Today, the ephod is not worn by the High Priest. The robes hem was woven over double to prevent it from ripping due to the weight of the pomegranates and bells. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. This belt was woven into the entire length of the ephods upper hem. While cotton fabric is derived from the fibers in the bolls that grow around the plant's seed heads, linen is made from fibers in the stems of the flax plant. Here, the ephod is included among a litany of sacred garments Aaron is to wear. Just as the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to commune with God on behalf of the people, we need a Savior to go into the presence of God on our behalf. David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. These are the same people who Moses led out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. There must have been a small golden ring attached to each corner of the breastplate to which, in turn, the golden chains and ribbons were connected. (1) Select the link to open another article in a new tab with additional information. But these items, designed by God, are significant. In Jesus statement, It is finished, we have a declaration of salvation that is both in a particular moment in time and eternity. Bluespeaks of Jesus Divinity as Very God having come down from Heaven the abode of God. His name is Jesus Christ, and He is our great High Priest. I agree that more studies need to be done on the O.T. Pomegranates, by contrast, are somewhat easier to identify. The first of the fourth row was achrysolite, the next was an onyx, and then a beryl, which was the last of all. Only the special priest could wear the ephod. It reminds us that we are His chosen people and have been given authority over the enemy. ephod, also spelled Efod, part of the ceremonial dress of the high priest of ancient Israel described in the Old Testament (Ex. They show us that we can consult God on all of our decisions. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. God desires His ministers to be even-tempered (i.e., cool-headed).
