In the Old Testament, the Jewish high priest wore an article of clothing known as the ephod. It was a garment made of two parts: a front portion and a back portion.
The front portion was woven together from fine linen, with a blue border around it. This cloth was designed to be wrapped around a person’s body, and it had two shoulder straps attached to it. The back portion was made from more finely woven material, and it had four threads attached to it that were used as tassels.
The ephod was used for ceremonial purposes. For example, when an individual wanted to approach God for help or guidance, he would put on the ephod so that God could see him wearing it during his prayer time.
Meaning Of Ephod In The Bible
Ephod—it’s a word you don’t typically see today, and yet it carries great weight in the Bible when it comes to ceremony and honor. King David wore a linen ephod when he famously danced before the Lord when they carried the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David. At the holy tabernacle, the Israelites’ temporary sanctuary where they worshiped the Lord during their years in the wilderness, Aaron wore the ephod and other priestly garb as his formal attire. The prophet Samuel, too, wore an ephod during his service to God.
But what is an ephod, exactly? Is it an article of clothing or a piece of jewelry? And why was it important? Here, we explore the biblical meaning and spiritual significance of the ephod.
What Is Meant by ‘Ephod’ in the Old Testament?
There are two basic meanings for the word ephod. The most well-known understanding of it, that of a garment or item to be worn, comes in Exodus and Leviticus, where God describes for Moses exactly what preparations Aaron is to take for his priestly service, including how to wash himself and what to wear. Here, the ephod is included among a litany of sacred garments Aaron is to wear. The other items are a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban, and sash (Exodus 28:4). Great detail goes into the Lord’s description of the ephod.
As He specifies, the ephod should be made “of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen” (Exodus 28:6-8 NIV).
Further, two onyx stones are to be mounted in gold and fastened on the ephod’s shoulder pieces. These stones are to be engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, with six names on one and six on the other, and two braided gold chains are to connect the stones (v. 9-14).
The Ephod as a Priestly Garment
The ephod, as described in the Bible, was a unique garment that was predominantly worn by the high priest. It was made of fine linen and intricately woven with gold, purple, blue, and scarlet threads. The ephod featured two shoulder pieces that were attached by onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The breastplate of judgment adorned the front of the ephod, containing twelve precious stones representing each tribe. This sacred vestment reflected the high priest’s authority and his role as a mediator between God and the people.
The Ephod as a Means of Divine Communication
In addition to being a prestigious garment, the ephod served as a vital means of divine communication. According to the Old Testament, the high priest would consult God’s will by using the Urim and Thummim, which were placed within the ephod’s breastplate. These objects were believed to provide answers and guidance from God. By wearing the ephod and utilizing the Urim and Thummim, the high priest could make important decisions, seek divine guidance, and bring the concerns of the people directly to God. The ephod thus became a tangible representation of the spiritual connection between God and His chosen people.
The Symbolism of the Ephod
The ephod is a symbol of spiritual authority, communion, and intercession. It represents the unique role of the high priest as a representative of both God and the people. The ephod’s beauty and intricate design symbolize the majesty and holiness of God, while the engraved stones serve as a reminder of the unity and significance of the twelve tribes of Israel. This sacred vestment also signifies the high priest’s ability to communicate directly with God, standing as an intercessor between humanity and the divine. Through the ephod, believers recognize the profound importance of seeking divine guidance, wisdom, and discernment.
How Did God Speak Through The Ephod
The ephod was of great importance. It was listed first of these priestly garments, and the breastpiece was to be fashioned after the ephod, as well as tied to it with blue cord. The crafting of these priestly garments, along with other preparations for the elaborate details of the Lord’s tabernacle, takes up several chapter in Exodus—first the descriptions of how they are to be made, then the description of the crafting itself. In Exodus 39, we read how the Israelites were obedient in this and crafted the ephod exactly as God commanded.
Shortly after, in Leviticus 8, we read how Moses then adorned Aaron with the priestly garments, fastening them all on him just so. Thus, Aaron and his sons were ordained as God’s priests in accordance with all God’s commands. But the ephod is not just mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus. Years later the prophet Samuel, who so pleased God especially in comparison to the showy, sinful sons of the prophet Eli, is described as wearing a “linen ephod” as he served the Lord as a boy (1 Samuel 2:18). We also see King David wearing a linen ephod in 2 Samuel 6:14 and 1 Chronicles 15:27 as he and others carried the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem.
The other meaning of “ephod” is somewhat similar—described less as a garment but rather more as an item of ceremonial, sacred significance, much like an idol or other special item to be worn but not necessarily an item of clothing. This ephod might have been worn or set upon an altar. For instance, in Judges 8:25-27, the Israelites threw gold rings into a pile, which were then melted down and turned into an ephod that Gideon placed in his town, where it was worshipped by the people.
Bring Me The Ephod Meaning
What Was the Spiritual Purpose of the Ephod?
We know the ephod was a tool of ceremony—a special, ornate, handcrafted item with great significance. Much effort went into the making of the ephod, and it was crafted from finery. It carried much symbolic weight. The onyx stones were meant to be memorial stones, we are told in Exodus 28:12, representing the sons of Israel—literally, the descendants of the biblical patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel, through his 12 sons birthed through his two wives, Leah and Rebekah, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah. In addition to being a holy item, the ephod is a symbol of the people, as well as their sins. God tells Moses the two stones upon the ephod are, in fact, “memorial stones for the sons of Israel” and that “Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord” (Exodus 28:12). They are a part of the ritual the people must do to communicate with God, both to worship God and atone for their sins.
These sons— Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin—all became the heads of their own family groups, comprising God’s people, Israel. These are the same people who Moses led out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But the people had gone astray, as the Bible tells us. So God, speaking through Moses, gave the people instructions on how they should live. On Mount Sinai, God commanded Moses to tell the people, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6a).
God also told Moses to make sure the people stayed back and did not try to approach the Lord, for they were not holy or capable enough to be in His presence. He told Moses, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them” (Exodus 19:21-22). God then gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws. But when Moses stayed with God too long on the mountain, 40 days and nights, the people turned away from the Lord and worshipped other gods (Exodus 32). God was furious over their disobedience and faithlessness and planned to destroy the Israelites. But Moses pleaded with God to forgive the people, and God relented. He made a covenant with Moses, promising He would still be with the people in spite of their misdeeds as long as they obeyed God (Exodus 34:10-11).
Therefore, the people knew they were not only duty-bound but also bound under threat of annihilation by God Himself to follow God’s commands. They attempted to follow everything God commanded, from His rules about how to properly make a sacrifice and how to build the tabernacle to who gets to enter the tent and how they are to ceremonially prepare for this work. The ephod was one of these instructions, as significant as the rest. Only the special priest could wear the ephod. It was an integral part of being ceremonially ready to serve God. Without the ephod—or the breastpiece, tunic, or sash—the priest was unfit to serve. He was not prepared, not “clean” and “holy” enough, to do the work of the Lord. The ephod enabled him to do his job and to properly hear God.
As Moses explained to Aaron, they needed to follow these directions perfectly or face consequences, including death. “What has been done today was commanded by the Lord to make atonement for you. You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and do what the Lord requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded” (Leviticus 8:34-35).
How Did God Speak through the Ephod to His People?
Before Jesus, most people didn’t simply talk with God about His will, whether out of fear they were not holy enough and would incur His wrath or because God typically only spoke through His prophets. So when they wanted to know God’s will, they consulted a priest or prophet, who would then speak to God on their behalf. Those who spoke to God would use holy items, such as the ephod, to help them communicate with the Lord.
For instance, in 1 Samuel 23, when David heard Saul was plotting against him, he went to Abiathar the priest and asked him to “bring the ephod” (v. 9). Then David asked God for guidance, and God told him what to do. Later, the same thing happened. David needed guidance from God, so he asked Abiathar again to bring him the ephod (1 Samuel 30:7). David then inquired of God, and God told him what to do.
Much, much later, the Bible tells us God allowed the destruction of Israel because of their great and continued long streak of disobedience, and that part of their destruction included no guidance from God. As God said through His prophet Hosea, “The Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods” (Hosea 3:4). They would be alone, isolated, without help—without God or a way to communicate with Him.
Do We Need an Ephod to Talk to God Today?
We don’t need an ephod to talk to God today, just as we no longer need to sacrifice lambs on the altar to atone for our sins. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior and “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus removed the barrier between us and God. We don’t have to fear God’s wrath when we approach Him or think He cannot hear us. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” And as we’re told in 1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”