And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.

EXODUS 39:31KJV
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Exodus 39:31 (KJV)

What does Exodus 39:31 mean?

Exodus 39:31 describes how the craftsmen made a blue cord to attach a special gold plate to the high priest’s turban, following exactly what God had told Moses. This verse shows the careful attention to detail in making the priestly garments as God instructed.

In this part of Exodus, skilled workers are completing the clothing for Aaron, the high priest, as part of preparing the Tabernacle. The “lace of blue” refers to a blue cord used to fasten the gold plate—often called the “holy crown”—to the turban worn by the high priest. The verse highlights obedience to God’s specific commands about worship and the priesthood.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 39:31

  • “Lace” (פְּתִיל, pᵉtil): This word means a cord or thread, often of fine material. Here, it refers to a decorative and functional blue cord, not just any string.
  • “Blue” (תְּכֵלֶת, tᵉkhelet): This is a particular blue dye, highly valued and often associated with sacred things in ancient Israel. Its use signals the importance and holiness of the high priest’s garments.
  • “Mitre” (מִצְנֶפֶת, mitsnefet): This term means a turban or head wrap, specifically the one worn by the high priest. The gold plate was fastened “high upon the mitre,” showing its prominent, visible placement.

Why Exodus 39:31 matters

  • This verse clears up that every detail of the high priest’s clothing—even how the gold plate was attached—was done exactly as God instructed, not left to human preference.
  • The use of blue (tᵉkhelet) and the careful placement of the gold plate show the special status and set-apart role of the high priest in Israel’s worship.
  • Exodus 39:31 connects to the larger theme of Exodus 39, which is about faithfully carrying out God’s instructions for worship and the Tabernacle, emphasizing obedience and reverence.

Where else these words appear

“mitre” Hebrew H4701 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  • Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
  • Leviticus 8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.

“lace” Hebrew H6616 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
  • Exodus 28:37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
  • Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

“blue” Hebrew H8504 · used in 49 verses

  • Exodus 25:4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
  • Exodus 35:25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
  • Exodus 39:29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

“high” Hebrew H4605 · used in 134 verses

  • Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
  • Numbers 4:35 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
  • 2 Chronicles 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.