What Does Exodus 28:25 Mean?

You will set the two ends of the two braided cords in the two settings, and set them on the shoulders of the ephod, toward its face.

Exodus 28:25 · SDV

Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.

Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.

This verse in the King James

King James wording

King James Version

And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.

THE KEY

The chain’s two ends are set into their fittings and brought to the shoulders, positioning what is joined to be carried.

THE MEANING

The two chains are secured at their ends, then placed on the ephod’s shoulderpieces. Connection is anchored where the garment can carry it, rather than left hanging loose.

THE ROOT

תִּתֵּן

titen

GROWS FROM

נתן

give, set, place

“set” in this verse is titen. The Hebrew uses forms of ⁨נָתַן⁩ (natan) for both movements: setting the chain ends into the fittings and placing them on the shoulders. The same root holds giving and placing together, showing how the chains are brought into position in two connected steps.

ALSO GROWS

mattanah: gift; something given

מַתָּנָה

This branch shares the root’s sense of giving or transferring something into a relation; here, each chain end is assigned a place in its fitting.

nathun: given, placed, assigned

נָתוּן

This form describes something set in a designated place, echoing how the chain ends are placed in the fittings and on the shoulderpieces.

THE PATTERN

What is placed at the shoulder is made ready to be carried.

And you will set the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the children of Israel, and Aaron will carry their names before the LORD on his two shoulders, for a remembrance.

Exodus 28:12 · SDVThe shoulderpieces hold stones bearing the names of Israel, making the shoulder the place where the names are carried.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; the governance shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of the Ages, Prince of Wholeness.

Isaiah 9:6 · SDVHere the shoulder bears government, extending the image of the shoulder as a place of carrying.

Carry one another's weights, and so you fill up the instruction of the Anointed One.

Galatians 6:2 · SDVThe same pattern appears in the shared carrying of another’s burden.

THE THREAD

And you will set the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the children of Israel, and Aaron will carry their names before the LORD on his two shoulders, for a remembrance.

Exodus 28:12 · SDV

The Hebrew uses forms of ⁨נָתַן⁩ (natan, to give or place) both here and in verse 25: the stones are placed on the shoulders, and the chain ends are placed in their fittings and on the shoulderpieces. Verse 12 shows what those shoulders carry, the names of Israel held as a memorial.

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