Exodus 28:32

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 28:32 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.
Exodus 28:32 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
32And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there shall be a hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof, etc.] At the neck of it, for the high priest to put his head through when he put it on: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it; a large hem or selvage, perhaps of the same kind of woven stuff the robe itself was made of, and this was done to strengthen it: as it were the hole of an habergeon; a corslet or coat of mail; that it be not rent; when the high priest put it on; or through the weight of the ephod and the ouches of gold on the shoulder pieces of it, and the breastplate hanging down from thence; this may denote the strength and duration of Christ’s righteousness, which is an everlasting one.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Exodus 39:1-31.) Moses is now commanded to commit all that pertains to the offerings made to the Lord in the sanctuary to the exclusive charge of the members of a single family, who were to hold their office from generation to generation. In the patriarchal times, the external rites of worship had generally been conducted by the head of the tribe or family, in accordance with the principle involved in the dedication of the firstborn Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:12-13. Moses, as the divinely-appointed and acknowledged leader of the nation, had, on a special occasion, appointed those who were to offer sacrifice, and had himself sprinkled the consecrating blood of the victims on the people…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“An habergeon - A coat of armour. Exodus 28:33”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“as it were: Exo 39:28; Ch2 26:14; Neh 4:16; Job 41:26 that it be not rent: Joh 19:23, Joh 19:24; Eph 4:3-16 Exodus 28:33”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification