These verses follow the instructions given in 28.39-43, but they refer specifically to the wording in 28.39-40 and 42. They also made the coats refers both to the coat for Aaron (28.39) and the coats for his sons (28.40). Here it is clear that even the coats for the sons were woven of fine linen. Literally the Hebrew says “[fine] linen, work of a weaver.”

The turban of fine linen is the same as in 28.39. This was just for Aaron, not for his sons. (See the comment there.) The caps of fine linen refer to what the sons were to wear. Here the Hebrew has “head-dresses of the head-bands,” but in 28.40 only the word for “head-bands” is used. (See the comment there.) Only a few translations try to bring out this difference: Revised English Bible has “tall headdresses” and Durham has “high-hat headwear.” Since we cannot be certain of the type of headdress for the sons, most translations simply combine the two and refer to them as in 28.40.

The linen breeches are mentioned in 28.42, where they are also called literally “undershorts of linen.” The word for linen refers to the common quality. But the surprising thing is that here the words for fine twined linen are also given. So New Revised Standard Version has “the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen.” This suggests that these breeches may have been made from a finer quality of linen than the instructions specified.

The girdle refers to the instructions in 28.39, and since it is singular it must refer only to Aaron’s “sash” (Good News Translation). This was also of fine twined linen and of blue and purple and scarlet stuff, even though 28.39 does not mention this. But it was embroidered with needlework, literally “work of an embroiderer.” This is specified in 28.39. (See the comment there.) Nothing is said about the girdles for the sons, which are mentioned in 28.40. As the LORD had commanded Moses is now repeated for the sixth time. (See the comment at verse 1 above.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .