What Does Exodus 28:25 Mean in the King James?

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.

Exodus 28:25 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

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

“fasten / put” 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 thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

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

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

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

THE THREAD

And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Exodus 28:12 · KJV

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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