Exodus 28:39

The coat of fine linen.

The embroidered coat

The portion of the high priest’s dress called the coat was more properly a tunic. It was the innermost garment worn by the high priest, being placed first upon him after he was washed (Leviticus 8:7). It seems to be derived from a verb meaning “to cover, or hide.” It seems to have been interwoven, like net or chequer work, so as to present what in modern days we should call a “damask” appearance, combining weaving with a species of embroidery. The blue robe, and gorgeous ephod with its cluster of brilliant precious stones on the shoulders and breastplate, would entirely conceal from the eye of an observer this fine linen coat. Beneath, therefore, the splendid dress of the high priest there was a more humble attire of pure white, though it was still a “garment for glory and beauty.” The outer garments were distinctly of a representative character; that is, they bore the names of Israel before the Lord. But in this under tunic there was no apparent connection with that people. It was rather the personal clothing of the high priest, manifesting him, beneath all his official glory, as one who could minister before the Lord in a perfect righteousness of his own. A glory and beauty no less costly and precious than was displayed by the other garments, though to the eye of sense not so striking in appearance. In fact, the high priest could not have worn his magnificent apparel Unless he could previously exhibit a spotless purity, diversified in every possible way like the embroidered fine linen coat. The Lord Jesus, in the days of His flesh, passed through an ordeal of temptation and suffering, throughout which He evinced His complete fitness to be the Great High Priest in resurrection, showing forth a righteousness and holiness, as well as grace, sympathy, and tenderness which proved Him perfectly suited for this high dignity and responsibility. (H. W. Soltau.)

The embroidered coat

This garment was most proper to our High Priest of the New Testament, Jesus Christ, who is by it described (Revelation 1:13), “clothed in a garment down to the feet.” Noting--

1. The excellency of His person, who is “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), for such long white garments ever betoken peace, both within the church and without.

2. That He excelled in wisdom and counsel, being the Great Counsellor and the “Spirit of counsel and understanding resting in His breast” (Isaiah 11:2), for to such also the garments belonged (Daniel 5:7; Daniel 5:16).

3. The lovely and beautiful connection and conjunction of His prophetical, priestly, and princely offices; sincerely and perfectly fulfilling them and appearing before God in them as in a most costly embroidered garment consisting of many pieces and many colours fitly couched and laid together. And this garment He wore, not only on earth (as the priests did), but now after His ascension, He continues to perform the office of the High Priest for His Church, in the same embroidered garment, presenting before God the merit of His only sacrifice and making intercession to the Father for it. (T. Taylor, D. D.)

The girdle.

The girdle

This was worn by the Hebrews as an ornament and as a strengthener. It was put on Aaron, but our Jesus has in Himself everything that was symbolized by this, and everything else that was put on Aaron. I like to look at the girdle as the symbol of service, and at Jesus Christ as our girded High Priest, ever ready to go to God on His people’s errands. Jesus is ever ready for any service His people may need. He will present their prayers to God and obtain answers for His beloved disciples, or He will stoop to wash their feet. (G. Rodgers.)

The girdle

This girdle was made of the same materials as the vail; but the order of their arrangement was that of the innermost curtains of the Tabernacle, viz., “fine linen, blue, purple, scarlet.” The fine linen, type of righteousness, comes first, answering to that beautiful passage in Isaiah 11:5. Righteousness and faithfulness which the Lord Jesus has made perfectly manifest and proved to the utmost in His death upon the Cross. The object of the girdle was to strengthen the loins for service. And the high priest, beneath garments of majesty, glory, brilliancy, and power, still preserved his place as the girded righteous servant of the Lord. So the Lord Jesus upon the throne of glory, having all power in heaven and in earth, and with the name above every name, yet delights to maintain His place as God’s servant, fulfilling the Father’s counsels and accomplishing His will in the salvation and ultimate perfection of those that are His. We have in John 13:1 a striking illustration of our blessed Lord’s holy service; deeply instructive to us in two ways: first, as teaching us what His present occupations are in our behalf, and next, as giving us an example which we have to follow if we would taste of His happiness and joy. One way in which we may wash one another’s feet is by prayer and intercession for one another; and another mode is by seeking to deliver any of the Lord’s people that may be ensnared, from the entanglements into which they have fallen. (H. W. Soltau.)

The girdle

The sixth garment is the girdle of needlework (verse 39). Of divers matter, linen, blue silk, purple and scarlet, and of divers colours (Exodus 39:29). The use of it was to fasten the priest’s garment unto him, that they may not hang loose upon him in his ministration; and specially points out unto us our High Priest, Jesus Christ, described after His ascension (Revelation 1:13), “And girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” Noting in Christ four things.

1. The truth and constancy in accomplishing all the gracious promises of the gospel, seeing our High Priest is girt about with a girdle of verity.

2. His justice, integrity, pure and uncorrupt judgment, as gold (Isaiah 11:5), “Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.”

3. His readiness to do the office of a Mediator.

4. His mindfulness and care in performing His office. For as not girding is a sign of carelessness and negligence, so girding of care and industry. So our Lord and High Priest never carelessly cast off any poor and penitent sinner; but in the days of His flesh minded their misery; and now in heaven keeps on His girdle, casts not off the care of His Church, but perpetually accomplisheth whatsoever is needful for her salvation. (T. Taylor, D. D.).