Graving

Two stones, twelve names and a plate of gold: engraving matters in Exodus 28. The priest’s clothing carries the names of the children of Israel, cut into onyx stones “like the engravings of a signet”, and a gold plate cut with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” Exodus 39:30 repeats the plate once it is made. Whatever else the priest did, his clothing carried the tribes’ names and a word about the LORD, in lettering meant to last. Exodus 28:9-11 is a good place to begin.

6 verses

Exodus

Exodus 28:9

And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

Exodus 28:10

Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

Exodus 28:21

And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

Exodus 28:36

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

Exodus 39:30

And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

(1.) Heb. hatsabh. Job 19:24, rendered “graven,” but generally means hewn stone or wood, in quarry or forest.

(2.) Heb. harush. Jer. 17:1, rendered “graven,” and indicates generally artistic work in metal, wood, and stone, effected by fine instruments.

(3.) Heb. haqaq. Ezek. 4:1, engraving a plan or map, rendered “pourtray;” Job 19:23, “written.”

(4.) Heb. pasal points rather to the sculptor’s or the carver’s art (Isa. 30:22; 40:19; 41:7; 44:12-15).

(5.) Pathah refers to intaglio work, the cutting and engraving of precious stones (Ex. 28:9-11, 21; Zech. 3:9; Cant. 1:10, 11).

(6.) Heret. In Ex. 32:4 rendered “graving tool;” and in Isa. 8:1, “a pen.”

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