And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

EXODUS 28:23KJV
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Exodus 28:23 (KJV)

What does Exodus 28:23 mean?

Exodus 28:23 describes part of the fastening for the high priest’s breastplate, a decorated piece worn on the chest. The verse gives instructions for placing two gold rings at its ends, preparing the breastplate to be secured to the priest’s clothing.

God is speaking to Moses as he gives instructions for the clothing Aaron is to wear as priest. The rings are practical fittings: the verses that follow describe how gold chains are attached to them and to the shoulder pieces of the priest’s garment.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 28:23

  • “breastplate” — חֹשֶׁן (ḥoshen): This word refers to the chest piece described in the surrounding passage. Exodus 28:15 calls it “the breastplate of judgment,” and verse 21 describes the twelve stones set in it.
  • “ends” — קָצֶה (qatseh): This word can mean an edge or extremity. Here it points to the places on the breastplate where the rings are to be put.

Why Exodus 28:23 matters

  • The rings belong to a larger fastening system, not just to the breastplate’s decoration. Verse 24 says the two gold chains are to be put through the rings.
  • The breastplate is meant to be worn together with the ephod, another part of the priest’s clothing. Verses 24–25 describe the chains linking the breastplate to the ephod’s shoulder pieces.

Where else these words appear

“breastplate” Hebrew H2833 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 25:7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
  • Exodus 28:28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
  • Exodus 39:9 It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.

“ends” Hebrew H7098 · used in 30 verses

  • Exodus 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
  • Exodus 37:7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;
  • 1 Kings 13:33 After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

“rings” Hebrew H2885 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
  • Exodus 28:27 And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
  • Exodus 38:7 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.