What Does Exodus 31:10 Mean in the King James?
And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The garments make the priestly calling visible: what is set apart for service is carried on the body.
THE MEANING
Service here has a visible shape: the garments are set apart for Aaron and his sons as they serve in the priestly role. The work is not abstract; the clothing bears the role into view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the assumption that sacred service is only an inward intention: the role is materially clothed and visibly carried.
THE ROOT
לְכַהֵן
lekahen
GROWS FROM
כהן
k-h-n
To serve as a priest; to carry out priestly service.
The word rendered “minister” here means serving as a priest. The same root names the priest and the priestly office, joining the role to its action: the priestly calling is the work in motion.
ALSO GROWS
kohen: Priest; one who serves in the priestly role.
כֹּהֵן
The person named by this root is the one whose service the verse describes.
kehunah: Priesthood; the priestly office or service.
כְּהֻנָּה
This branch names the office that the garments help make visible.
קֹדֶשׁ
qodesh
GROWS FROM
קדש
q-d-sh
To set apart, consecrate, or dedicate.
The word translated “holy” belongs to the same root as the word for sanctuary. The garments carry this set-apart quality into the visible work of service.
ALSO GROWS
qadosh: Set apart; holy.
קָדוֹשׁ
It names the quality the garments bear in this verse.
miqdash: Sanctuary; a set-apart place.
מִקְדָּשׁ
It shows the same root marking a place as the garments mark the priestly service.
THE PATTERN
A calling becomes visible through what is put on for its work.
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;THE THREAD
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.Exodus 28:2 uses the same set-apart root, קדש (q-d-sh), for Aaron’s garments and names their purpose as glory and beauty. It shows that the clothing is part of how the consecrated role becomes perceptible.
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