EPHOD (Hebr. 'ephōdēh). — Among the sacred vestments of Aaron are listed (Ex. 28:4) the hōsēm ('breastplate,' Vulg. rationale), and the 'ephod (Vulg. superhumérale). "The ephod shall be made of gold, violet, purple, scarlet, and twisted fine linen; it shall be the work of a skilled embroiderer" (Ex. 28:6).
Neither the etymology of the word nor the form and posture of the object are certain. According to some, it consisted of two panels, one in front and one behind, held by shoulder pieces, two bands hanging from the shoulders, front and back, meeting under the arms where they were joined to the ephod. Others suggest it was a kind of apron (cf. 1 Sam. 2:28). The breastplate, called "of judgment," because "the high priest drew the oracle from it to decide the most important or difficult cases" (Vaccari), was made, like the ephod, of gold (gold thread), violet, etc., and had four rows of precious stones set into it (Ex. 28:15-21); these stones were twelve, engraved like seals, each with its name, for the twelve tribes. "The breastplate shall be fastened by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a violet cord, so that the breastplate may rest upon the band of the ephod and not be detached from it." In the breastplate, over his heart, Aaron carries the names of the sons of Israel when he enters the holy place, as a continual reminder before the Lord. Within the breastplate were placed the 'urim and thummim, meaning "lights" and "integrity" or "lights" and "truth" (Vulg. doctrina et veritas), perhaps two stones of various colors or shapes, from which the divine response was drawn. Ex. 28:30 and Lev. 8:8 speak also of the "mantle" of the ephod, provided with golden bells: "Aaron shall wear it when he ministers, so that its sound may be heard when he enters the holy place before the Lord and when he goes out, lest he die." It may be imagined that this kind of garment was worn over a tunic and under the ephod, like a kind of tunic (but without sleeves), put on through an opening at the top (A. Vaccari, *La Sacra Bibbia tradotta... a cura del Pont. Ist. Bibl.*, I, Florence 1943, pp. 243 ff.). Some identify the breastplate with the ephod (cf. Ex. 28:9 ff. with 28:17 ff.). Samuel and David wore a linen ephod (ephod bad), and so, according to the Masoretic text, did the priests of Nob (1 Sam. 22:19). For the ephod connected with sacred images cf. Judg. 18:14; Hos. 3:4. For 'urim in 1 Sam. 14:41, cf. the Septuagint and the Vulgate. For the use of the 'urim and thummim in later times: Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65.