👉 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, [like] the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this verse from Exodus 28:21. It's a really interesting and significant passage about Godās plan for Israel! Hereās what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is going to give each of the twelve tribes of Israel unique names based on their lineage. Letās unpack that a bit: āThe stones shall be with the namesā¦ā : This refers to the rocks and stones ā think of them as representing people. āā¦of the children of Israelā¦ā : This means all the Israelites, the group God chose to lead, will have distinct names. āā¦twelve, according to their namesā¦ā : God is assigning each tribe a specific name. āā¦like the engravings of a signetā¦ā : This is where it gets a little poetic. āSignetā was an ancient wax seal used for important documents and records. So, this isnāt just random naming; it's like creating a unique mark or signature for each tribe. āā¦every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.ā : This is the crucial part! God is saying that each tribe will have its own individual name, and those names will reflect their family history and lineage. Itās a way of identifying them as distinct groups within the nation. What's the point of this? The Bible says this was a deliberate act of God to: Establish Identity: It shows that Israel is not just a collection of people, but a group with a specific history and identity. Show His Care & Purpose: It demonstrates Godās meticulous planning and his desire to bless and guide his people. Important Note: This verse speaks to a very early stage of the nation's history ā before they had a strong, unified government or laws. It's a powerful symbol of divine order and the importance of lineage in God's plan. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? For example, would you like to know: Why is this passage significant in the Bible? What does it tell us about Godās perspective on Israelās history?