Exodus 39:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A blue cord laced through the rings secured the breastplate to the ephod, positioned above the girdle.
The Context of Exodus 39:21
The final attachment method secures the breastplate to the ephod.
What Does Exodus 39:21 Mean?
The blue lace—matching the color of the tabernacle curtains—finalized the attachment system. This cord bound the breastplate immovably to the ephod, using a color that connected the priest's garments to the sacred structure he served. The repeated emphasis on preventing the breastplate from being 'loosed' (separated or detached) underscores that this bond was unbreakable.
The choice of blue is significant: blue appears throughout the tabernacle as the color of heaven and of God's presence. By using blue cord to bind the tribal stones to the priest's body, the design communicated that the connection between priest and people was established and maintained by God's presence, not by human effort alone.
Exodus 39:21 in the Original Language
lace (פְּתִיל) — a cord or thread used for binding; blue (תְּכֵלֶת) — the color of heaven or the divine
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 39:21
What does Exodus 39:21 mean?
A blue cord laced through the rings secured the breastplate to the ephod, positioned above the girdle.
What is the context of Exodus 39:21?
The final attachment method secures the breastplate to the ephod.