Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 28:33
And [beneath] upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
33, 34. The skirt was to be adorned with a border of pomegranates (i.e. balls shaped like pomegranates), made of the richly coloured materials mentioned in Exo 25:4; and a small golden bell was to be attached to the hem between each two of the pomegranates. The pomegranate tree was common in Palestine (cf. Num 13:23, Deu 8:8, al.); its fruit, when ripe, is of a bright red colour, about the size of an orange. In v. 33 Sam. LXX. add, and fine twined linen: cf. Exo 38:24.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Pomegranates; the figures of pomegranates, but flat and embroidered. By the sound of the
bells the people might be admonished of the work which the priest was employed in, and thereby be provoked to join their affections and devotions with his. These pomegranates and bells might note either,
1. The qualifications of the priest, who was both to declare or give forth the sound of pure and wholesome doctrine, and to adorn his doctrine with the fragrancy and fruitfulness of a good conversation. Or,
2. The glorious achievements of Christ, who caused the sound of his doctrine to be heard by all men, and offered up himself as a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour, Eph 5:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And beneath upon the hem of it,…. Or the skirts of it, at the bottom of the robe:
thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; these were figures made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, in the form of pomegranates: Jarchi says they were round and hollow, and made like hens’ eggs, about the size of them, and of an oval form:
and bells of gold between them round about; according to some, the bells were put into the pomegranates, which is supposed to be the meaning of the phrase “between them”, or, “in the midst of them”; and so Aben Ezra observes, that some say the bells did not appear, they were only in the midst of the pomegranates, and there they caused their sound to be heard: but according to our version and others, the bells were placed between the pomegranates, between every pomegranate and pomegranate there was a golden bell; and this seems to be plainly the sense of the following verse.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(33) Pomegranates.The pomegranate was a favourite ornament in Assyria, but not in Egypt. It appears from Jos. 7:21 that the fabrics of Babylon were carried by the merchants into Syria at a date not much later than this, whence we may conclude that they circulated also in Arabia and Egypt.
Bells of gold.The bell is also more Assyrian than Egyptian. Its use as an article of priestly costume has no direct parallel, nor are bells known to have been employed in the religious services of any ancient nation. The statement that Persian kings wore bells rests upon no sufficient authority. We seem to have here the introduction of an entirely new religious usage.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Probably those bells were intended to inform the people by their sound, that the high priest when rising up by which they rung was then going to offer incense; so that they which were in the outward court might join in prayer. See Luk 1:9-10 . Some have thought, that that expression in the Psalms hath an allusion to it: Psa 89:15 . But whether this or not, it is sweet to hear the bells of Christ’s gospel, I mean the joyful sound of his words: and in the same moment to recollect, that he as our high priest is gone in before the throne, there to appear in the presence of God for us. Heb 9:23-24 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 28:33 And [beneath] upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of] scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Ver. 33. Pomegranates of blue. ] These hanging intermixed with bells, signified the sweet and comfortable effects of Christ’s doctrine; a by which we come to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness, and “from his fulness to receive even grace for grace.” Joh 1:16
a Mr Jackson.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hem = skirts.
pomegranates. See note on Num 13:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And: Exo 39:24-26
hem: or, skirts
pomegranates: 1Ki 7:18, 2Ki 25:17
bells: Zec 14:20
Reciprocal: Exo 35:6 – blue Exo 39:25 – bells 2Ch 4:13 – four hundred Mat 14:36 – hem