The Priestly Turban and Coat

We have seen that the high priest of ancient Israel wore beautiful garments of blue, gold, silver, and scarlet that were meticulously designed by the Lord Himself (Ex. 28:1–35). Today’s passage tells us that these garments included a turban and a coat with a sash.

Before describing the turban and the coat, both of which were to be made of fine linen, and the sash, which was “embroidered with needlework” (Ex. 28:39), the Lord gives directions for a gold plate that the high priest wore on his forehead. On this plate, the words “Holy to the LORD” were engraved, and the high priest had to wear it during his ministry so that the “holy gifts” of the people—their sacrifices—would be accepted by God (Ex. 28:36–38). This plate conveyed at least two key realities. First, it served as a reminder that God set apart the high priest for His service and by extension that the whole nation of Israel was set apart unto the Lord. Dr. R.C. Sproul frequently reminded us that the biblical conception of holiness primarily has to do with being set apart by God for service to Him. The gold plate on the priest’s forehead, by stating that he was holy to the Lord, was a visual mark of this setting apart, and since the high priest represented all Israel (Ex. 28:15–30), the gold plate marked out the nation as God’s special people as well.

Second, the forehead plate of the high priest also functioned as a call to faith. The mere presence of the gold plate did not make the sacrifices effectual, as if the plate were a totem or other object that imparted some kind of “magical” power to the religious rituals of ancient Israel that made them work to atone for sin. Holiness is the quality of being set apart, but people are not truly holy in Scripture unless they trust in the Lord and demonstrate that trust by seeking to follow His commands (see Ex. 19:1–6; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:13–25). The forehead plate called the priest and those whom he represented to believe, and through faith the people were made holy and their sacrifices were accepted. Matthew Henry comments: “All that attend in God’s house must have Holiness to the Lord engraven upon their foreheads, that is, they must be holy, devoted to the Lord, and designing his glory in all they do. This must appear in their forehead, in an open profession of their relation to God, as those that are not ashamed to own it, and in a conversation in the world answerable to it.”