And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.
The stones were made to represent the names of Israel's children—twelve stones total, one for each name. Each stone was engraved like a signet ring, with each one bearing the name of one of the twelve tribes.
This verse describes how twelve precious stones were carefully engraved with the names of Israel's twelve tribes, creating a lasting memorial on the high priest's breastplate.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes part of the high priest's sacred garments, specifically the breastplate that contained twelve precious stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The high priest would wear this when entering God's presence, symbolically carrying all the people of Israel with him. The engraving 'like a signet' refers to the official seal rings used by important people to authenticate documents, indicating the permanent and official nature of God's covenant with each tribe.
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