And you shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen is literally “And you [singular] shall weave the tunic [of] fine linen.” Again this may be rendered as “Have them weave.” The word for weave suggests the idea of weaving in patterns, so Revised Standard Version adds in checker work. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh interprets the word to refer to what is “fringed,” and New American Bible has “brocaded.” Since the precise meaning of the term is not clear, Good News Translation uses only the word “weave.” The word for coat should be translated as “tunic” (New Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation‘s “shirt” is misleading. Another way to translate the first part of this verse is “Have them use fine linen [or, fine white cloth] to weave Aaron’s tunic and turban.” (See the discussion at verse 4.)

And you shall make is the same as in previous verses. Turban, or “headdress” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), is discussed at verse 4. King James Version and American Standard Version have “mitre,” and New American Bible surprisingly has “miter,” but this suggests something different from the turban of fine linen. (See the comment on fine linen at 25.4.)

Girdle is better translated as “sash.” This is discussed at verse 4. Embroidered with needlework is literally “something done by an embroiderer.” This is identical to 26.36. (See the comment there.) Translator’s Old Testament‘s “embroidered sash” is clear.

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 .