Exodus 39 · Verse 23

Exodus 39:23

And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.
Exodus 39:23, King James Version

Exodus 39:23 in other translations

BSBwith an opening in the center of the robe like that of a garment, with a collar around the opening so that it would not tear.
WEBThe opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
ASVand the hole of the robe in the midst thereof, as the hole of a coat of mail, with a binding round about the hole of it, that it should not be rent.
YLTand the opening of the upper robe is in its midst, as the opening of a habergeon, a border is to its opening round about, it is not rent;
DARBYand the opening of the cloak in its middle, as the opening of a coat of mail; a binding was round about the opening, that it should not rend.
BBEWith a hole at the top in the middle, like the hole in the coat of a fighting-man, edged with a band to make it strong.
WebsterAnd there was a hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band around the hole, that it should not rend.

What does Exodus 39:23 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 As the hole of a habergeon - The habergeon or hauberk was a small coat of mail, something in form of a half shirt, made of small iron rings curiously united together. It covered the neck and breast, was very light, and resisted the stroke of a sword. Sometimes it went over the whole head as well as over the breast. This kind of defensive armor was used among the Asiatics, particularly the ancient Persians, among whom it is still worn. It seems to have been borrowed from the Asiatics by the Norman crusaders.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 39:1-31

The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking…

Read the full comment on Exodus 39:1-31 →

Exodus 39:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּפִֽי\־u.fi-and [the] opening ofH6310
הַמְּעִ֥ילha.me.'Ilthe robeH4598
בְּתוֹכ֖וֹbe.to.Kho[was] in [the] middle of itH8432
כְּפִ֣יke.Filike [the] opening ofH6310
תַחְרָ֑אtach.Ra'a collarH8473
שָׂפָ֥הsa.Fahan edgeH8193
לְפִ֛יוle.Fiv[belonged] to opening itsH6310
סָבִ֖יבsa.Vivall aroundH5439
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
יִקָּרֵֽעַ\׃yi.ka.Re.a'it was tornH7167

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

  • Exodus 39:22

    And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

  • Exodus 39:23

    And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.

  • Exodus 39:24

    And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.

Read all of Exodus 39

Exodus 39:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Con su abertura en medio de él, como el cuello de un coselete, con un borde en derredor de la abertura, porque no se rompiese.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et l’ouverture de la robe était au milieu, comme l’ouverture d’une cotte de mailles; il y avait une bordure à son ouverture, tout autour, afin qu’elle ne se déchire pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Öffnung des Oberkleides war in seiner Mitte, wie die Öffnung eines Panzers; eine Borte hatte es an seiner Öffnung ringsum, damit es nicht einrisse.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et tintinnabula de auro purissimo, quæ posuerunt inter malogranata, in extrema parte tunicæ per gyrum: