TWhen God gave instructions to Moses for the High Priest’s garments, one of the items described was the Ephod. It was a special, beautifully-embroidered, vest-like garment to be worn under the Breastplate. At first it is mentioned as worn solely by the High Priest but later others are mentioned as having Ephods: Gideon (Judges 8:27); Micah (Judges 17:5); Samuel, as a child (1 Samuel 2:18); the 85 Priests that Doeg killed at Nob (1 Samuel 22:18); David (2 Samuel 6:14; 1 Chronicles 15:27).
It seems that at times the Ephod was not used as a piece of clothing: Gideon’s Ephod was “put in his city” and became an item of apostasy for the people of Israel (Judges 8:27); the Ephod at Nob in the time of David’s visit to Ahimelech was somewhat of a decoration, not being worn by anyone (1 Samuel 21:9); Abiathar, a survivor of Doeg’s slaughter of the priests, was carrying an Ephod when he came to David (1 Samuel 23:6) and David asked God’s counsel by means of it (1 Samuel 23:9-11; 30:7, 8).
The Hebrew root word for ephod פֹד (the Hebrew characters pey & daleth) is also the root for a family of words that all mean something akin to “redeem” or “redemption.” Here are those other words:
H6299 פָּדָה pâdâh paw-daw’
A primitive root; to sever, that is, ransom; generally to release, preserve: – X at all, deliver, X by any means, ransom, (that are to be, let be) redeem (-ed), rescue, X surely.
H6302 פָּדוּי pâdûy paw-doo’ee
Passive participle of H6299; ransomed (and so occuring under H6299); as abstraction (in plural masculine) a ransom: – (that are) to be (that were) redeemed.
H6304 פְּדֻת פְּדוּת pedûth pedûth ped-ooth’, ped-ooth’
From H6929; distinction; also deliverance: – division, redeem, redemption.
H6306 פִּדְיֹן פִּדְיוֹן פִּדְיֹם פִּדְיוֹם pidyôm pidyôm pidyôn pidyôn (1,2) pid-yome’, (3,4) pid-yone’
From H6299; a ransom: – ransom, that were redeemed, redemption.
“Ephod” has the letter אֵ (the Hebrew character aleph) prefixed before the פֹד (pey daleth) which in the ancient pictograph characters meant “strength” or “power.” The Ephod symbolized the power of our Redeemer and the Redemption He provides.
H646 אֵפֹד אֵפוֹד ‘êphôd ‘êphôd ay-fode’, ay-fode’
Second form is a rare form; probably of foreign derivation; a girdle; specifically the ephod or high priest’s shoulder piece; also generally an image: – ephod.
The long white robe of fine linen that the High Priest wore was a symbol of Purity and Righteousness, the “Robe of Righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:8). The shorter blue coat symbolized Obedience to the Law. The Breastplate was known as the “Breastplate of Judgment” (Exodus 28:29). The golden crown on his forehead symbolized Holiness (Exodus 28:36). It would seem fitting to refer to the Ephod as the “Ephod of Redemption.” These are all significant components of the Salvation that comes to us through our Great Heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ.