The Ephod Girdle

Exodus 28:7; Exodus 39:4‑5  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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"It shall have the two shoulder- pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.- Ex. 28:7-87It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. 8And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (Exodus 28:7‑8)
"They made shoulder pieces for it, to couple it together; by the two edges was it coupled together. And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses.-Ex. 39:4-54They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. 5And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:4‑5)
The Ephod seems to have been made of two pieces, joined together at the shoulders, and bound to the person of the high priest by a girdle or belt.
The word translated " curious girdle," is not that usually employed for " girdle;" indeed there is no idea of girding connected with it at all. It is solely used to express this part of the ephod, and is a Hebrew word expressing a curious device or embroidery. It seems to have been a belt, to bind the ephod to the high priest, rather than a girdle to strengthen the loins. In Ex. 29:5,5And 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: (Exodus 29:5) (and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod,) and Lev. 8:7,7And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. (Leviticus 8:7) (and bound it unto him therewith,) the expression literally is " and ephodized him with it:" the object apparently being to convey the thought, that this curious belt so connected the ephod with the person who wore it, as to impart to him the virtues it contained. In Lev. 8:7,7And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. (Leviticus 8:7) the word " and he girded him with the curious belt " is the only occasion where the ordinary word gird is connected with this belt