Exodus 28:43

Authorized King James Version

And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהָיוּ֩
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#3
אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן
And they shall be upon Aaron
aharon, the brother of moses
#4
וְעַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#5
בָּנָ֜יו
and upon his sons
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#6
בְּבֹאָ֣ם׀
when they come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#7
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#8
אֹ֣הֶל
in unto the tabernacle
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#9
מוֹעֵ֗ד
of the congregation
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
#10
א֣וֹ
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
#11
בְגִשְׁתָּ֤ם
or when they come near
to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati
#12
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙
unto the altar
an altar
#14
לְשָׁרֵ֣ת
to minister
to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
#15
בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
in the holy
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
#16
וְלֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#17
יִשְׂא֥וּ
place that they bear
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#18
עָוֹ֖ן
not iniquity
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
#19
וָמֵ֑תוּ
and die
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#20
חֻקַּ֥ת
it shall be a statute
a statute
#21
עוֹלָ֛ם
for ever
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
#22
ל֖וֹ
H0
#23
וּלְזַרְע֥וֹ
unto him and his seed
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
#24
אַֽחֲרָֽיו׃
after
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Exodus Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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