Exodus 28:34

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 28:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.
Exodus 28:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
34a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, etc.] First a golden bell and then a pomegranate, then a bell and then a pomegranate again, and so on: upon the hem of the robe round about; all round the hem or skirts of the robe were they placed in this manner: the Targum of Jonathan says, the sum or number of them were seventy one; but Maimonides f845 says there were seventy two, thirty six in each skirt; and so says R. Levi Ben Gersom; but Clemens of Alexandria f846 has increased the number to three hundred and sixty six, according to the days of the year, and thinks they signified the acceptable year of the Lord proclaiming and resounding the great appearance of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“a golden bell and a pomegranate--The bells were hung between the pomegranates, which were said to have amounted to seventy-two, and the use of them seems to have been to announce to the people when the high priest entered the most holy place, that they might accompany him with their prayers, and also to remind himself to be attired in his official dress, to minister without which was death.”
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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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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Psa 89:15; Sol 2:3, Sol 4:3, Sol 4:13, Sol 6:7, Sol 6:11, Sol 8:2; Joh 15:4-8, Joh 15:16; Col 1:5, Col 1:6, Col 1:10 Exodus 28:35”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification