Breastplate

Part priest’s clothing and part soldier’s armour, the breastplate shows up in both settings. Exodus 29:5 dresses Aaron for his work, with the ephod and the breastplate among his garments. Then the idea moves to the battlefield. Isaiah 59:17 pictures the LORD putting on “righteousness as a breastplate.” Paul borrows the picture twice: the breastplate of righteousness in Ephesians 6:14, and the breastplate of faith and love in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Ephesians 6:10-18 is a good passage for seeing how it fits with the rest of the armour.

4 verses

Exodus

Exodus 29:5

And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:

Isaiah

Isaiah 59:17

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Ephesians

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

(1.) That piece of ancient armour that protected the breast. This word is used figuratively in Eph. 6:14 and Isa. 59:17. (See ARMOUR.)

(2.) An ornament covering the breast of the high priest, first mentioned in Ex. 25:7. It was made of embroidered cloth, set with four rows of precious stones, three in each row. On each stone was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes (Ex. 28:15-29; 39:8-21). It was in size about ten inches square. The two upper corners were fastened to the ephod by blue ribbons. It was not to be “loosed from the ephod” (Ex. 28:28). The lower corners were fastened to the girdle of the priest. As it reminded the priest of his representative character, it was called the memorial (28:29). It was also called the breastplate of judgment (28:15). (See PRIEST.)

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