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Beit HaMikdash

בגדי כהונה

The Priestly Garments

Four garments for every kohen, eight for the High Priest, 'for splendour and for beauty'.

Text, diagram and reconstruction

וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי־קֹדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת׃

And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for splendour and for beauty.
The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation

Dimensions and materials

Kohen
Tunic, breeches, headdress, sashMishnah / Talmud: Recorded in the Mishnah or Talmud, the rabbinic texts that preserve Temple practice and law.

Linen for the ordinary priest; gold, blue, purple, scarlet and linen in the High Priest's additional garments.

Function

Required for service; a priest served only when fully dressed.

Daily and annual use

Worn for every service.

On Yom Kippur the High Priest also served in plain white linen.

Interpretations

The site does not add symbolic readings here.

Historical questions

  • The exact appearance of the ephod and the colours of the twelve stones are debated.

In the Third Temple

Halachah: Rambam: Codified as Jewish law by Maimonides (Rambam) in the Mishneh Torah.

Required for service. See the Kohen Gadol explorer.

All sources for this object