Breastplate of the High Priest
Jump to: ISBEHebrewLibrarySubtopicsResources
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Breastplate of the High Priest

BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

prest: The Hebrew word choshen, rendered in the King James Version "breastplate," means really a "pouch" or "bag." The references to it are found exclusively in the Priestly Code (Exodus 25:7; Exodus 28; Exodus 28 29:5; Exodus 28 35:9, 27 Leviticus 8:8). The descriptions of its composition and particularly the directions with regard to wearing it are exceedingly obscure. According to Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65 the Urim and Thummim, which were called in the priestly pouch, were lost during the Babylonian exile. The actual pouch was a "span in length and a span in breadth," i.e. about 9 inch square. It was made, like the ephod, of "gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen" (Exodus 28:15 f). In it were twelve precious stones, in rows of four, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Apparently the pouch had two rings (perhaps four) through which passed two gold chains by which it was fastened to the ephod supplied for the purpose with ouches or clasps. The pouch was worn by the high priest over his heart when he entered the "holy place" "for a memorial before Yahweh." The presence of the high priest, the representative of the people, with the names of the separate tribes on his person, brought each tribe before the notice of Yahweh and thereby directed His attention to them. The full designation was choshen mishpaT, "pouch of judgment" or "decision." It was the distinctive symbol of the priest in his capacity as the giver of oracles. As already suggested the priestly pouch contained the Urim and Thummim which were probably precious stones used as lots in giving decisions. In all probability the restored text of 1 Samuel 14:41 preserves the true custom. On one side stood Saul and Jonathan, and the people on the other side. If the result was Urim, Saul and Jonathan would be the guilty parties. If the result was Thummim, the guilt would fasten on the people.

T. Lewis

Strong's Hebrew
224. Urim -- part of the high priest's breastplate
... 223b, 224. Urim. 225 . part of the high priest's breastplate. Transliteration:
Urim Phonetic Spelling: (oo-reem') Short Definition: Urim. Word Origin pl. ...
/hebrew/224.htm - 6k

8537. tom -- completeness, integrity, also part of the high ...
... tom. 8538 . completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest's breastplate.
Transliteration: tom Phonetic Spelling: (tome) Short Definition: integrity. ...
/hebrew/8537.htm - 6k

8550. Tummim -- Thummim
... Thummim. Plural of tom; perfections, ie (techn.) One of the epithets of the objects
in the high-priest's breastplate as an emblem of complete Truth -- Thummim. ...
/hebrew/8550.htm - 6k

Library

The Names on Aaron's Breastplate
... For, with regard to the one of them, we read that the high priest's breastplate
was named 'the breastplate of judgment'; and what that means is explained by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the names on aarons breastplate.htm

Concerning the Garments of the Priests, and of the High Priest.
... He also appointed the breastplate to be placed in the middle of the ephod ... And the
girdle which encompassed the high priest round, signified the ocean, for that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 concerning the garments.htm

Our Compassionate High Priest
... Hence, the high priest was taken from among men that he might be their fellow, and ...
the white garments; no angel put on the ephod and the breastplate with the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/our compassionate high priest.htm

Introduction.
... Furthermore, they are compared with the twelve stones in the High Priest's breastplate,
and their inseparability is shown by a new distribution of them. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/introduction 4.htm

Book 3 Footnotes
... his people Israel: I say, these answers were not made by the shining of the precious
stones, after an awkward manner, in the high priest's breastplate, as the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 3 footnotes.htm

Passages from Moses, which the Heretics Pervert to the Support of ...
... of Jacob, [2896] from whom also sprung twelve tribes," the breastplate of the high
priest, which bore twelve precious stones and twelve little bells, [2897 ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xviii passages from moses which.htm

Israel in Canaan.
... and felt themselves under the rule of God their King, Who made His Will known at
Shiloh by the signs on the breastplate of the High Priest, while judges and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson v israel in canaan.htm

Of the Priesthood of Aaron.
... this: for God declared beforehand, by those twelve stones which the high priest
bare on his breast, and which were inserted into his breastplate, when they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 of the priesthood.htm

A Peal of Bells
... shall be Holiness to the Lord, and as the High Priest wore bells ... even as on the very
ornaments of the Priest, on his ephod and breastplate holiness was ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/a peal of bells.htm

The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture.
... Now the high priest's robe is the symbol of the world of sense ... and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ." [3031] Moreover, there was the breastplate, comprising the ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi the mystic meaning of.htm

Resources
What is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the full armor of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the readiness of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)? | GotQuestions.org

Breastplate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Breastplate
Top of Page
Top of Page