9 It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.

Other Translations of Exodus 39:9

New International Version

9 It was square-a spanThat is, about 9 inches or about 23 centimeters long and a span wide-and folded double.

English Standard Version

9 It was square. They made the breastpiece doubled, a spanA span was about 9 inches or 22 centimeters its length and a span its breadth when doubled.

The Message

9 Doubled, the Breastpiece was nine inches square.

New King James Version

9 They made the breastplate square by doubling it; a span was its length and a span its width when doubled.

New Living Translation

9 He made the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 39:9

Commentary on Exodus 39:1-31

(Read Exodus 39:1-31)

The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, Revelation 19:8.