# What Did The Jewish high priest's Breastplate look like?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 26, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773 "2002-09-26T22:21:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/1 "2002-09-26T22:21:36Z")
I was just looking through the old Testament, and happened upon the description of the High Priest (who conducted the sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple). Apparently, the priest wore a breasplate which was studded with many precious and semi-precious stones…like jasper, zircon, topaz, etc. Is there any archaeological evidence (apart from that given in the Bible) as to what this rather mysterious piece of jewelry actually looked like? And, why the requirement to wear this?
Another question: if (and when) the Jerusalem Temple is rebuilt, will a new High Priest wear a similar breastplate? Who would construct it?;j
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/2 "2002-09-26T22:37:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ralph124c \*
> \*\*I was just looking through the old Testament, and happened upon the description of the High Priest (who conducted the sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple). Apparently, the priest wore a breasplate which was studded with many precious and semi-precious stones…like jasper, zircon, topaz, etc. Is there any archaeological evidence (apart from that given in the Bible) as to what this rather mysterious piece of jewelry actually looked like?
\*\*
No. Just a description. While not a Jewish site, the depiction [here](http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Priestly_Garments.htm) is probably close enough.
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> And, why the requirement to wear this?
\*\*
In short, because God said so.
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> Another question: if (and when) the Jerusalem Temple is rebuilt, will a new High Priest wear a similar breastplate? Who would construct it?;j \*\*
Yes, he would be required to wear it. Presumably artisans and goldsmiths would create it, as they did the original.
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/3 "2002-09-26T22:39:38Z")
Let’s try that [link](http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Priestly_Garments.htm) again…
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/4 "2002-09-26T22:48:03Z")
Is it true that the pomegranates on the robe, like the conch shells in the temple, were a vaginal symbol brought by the Phoenician goddess worshippers? At some point, I read that the pomegranate was associated with the fruit from the Tree of the K of G&E, so I was wondering if there’s Edenic symbolism as well.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/5 "2002-09-27T02:51:43Z")
Pop culture time:
t the climax of the movie **Raiders of the Lost Ark** , Belloc is dressed as a High Priest, and if you look you can see him wearing a breastplate like the one described. There’s also a depiction of it in one of Arnold Freiberg’s paintings at the LDS Visitor’s Center in Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
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### Author:  [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/6 "2002-09-27T03:04:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \*
> In short, because God said so.
Out of curiosity, where?
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/7 "2002-09-27T03:16:34Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by minty green \*
> \*\*Out of curiosity, where? \*\*
At the Cleveland Midtown Ramada, as memory serves. He was there signing copies of his cookbook, “Unleavened Bread for the Soul”.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/8 "2002-09-27T03:22:32Z")
Incidentally, if you’d like a wearable repro of the breastplate, one can be yours for the low low price of $39.95 from the Mennonite Info Center in Lancaster PA. [http://mennoniteinfoctr.tripod.com/index/id15.html](http://mennoniteinfoctr.tripod.com/index/id15.html)
You’ll be the toast of your Conquest of Canaan Reenactment Society. (The info center there has a full size repro of the tabernacle, which other than for the robot priest isn’t as cheesy as you might think.)
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### Author:  [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/9 "2002-09-27T03:31:47Z")
[Ricardo Montalban’s fake pecs](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136669)
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-jewish-high-priests-breastplate-look-like/129773/10 "2002-09-27T04:22:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by minty green \*
> \*\*Out of curiosity, where? \*\*
I was afraid someone would ask for a cite and force me to look it up…
Keeping in mind that I am quoting from Jewish law…
Construction commanded: Exodus 28:4, details 28:15-30.
That the High Priest is to serve wearing the breastplate is found in the \*Mishna Yoma \* 7:5.
Zev Steinhardt