Shemot (Exodus) Chapter 28

31You must make the Robe, to be worn under the Ephod, entirely out of turquoise wool.   לאוְעָשִׂ֛יתָ אֶת־מְעִ֥יל הָֽאֵפ֖וֹד כְּלִ֥יל תְּכֵֽלֶת:
אֶת־מְעִיל הָֽאֵפוֹד - The Robe of the Ephod - is so called because the Ephod is placed over it to gird it.   אֶת־מְעִיל הָֽאֵפוֹד.  שֶׁהָאֵפוֹד נָתוּן עָלָיו לַחֲגוֹרָה:
כְּלִיל תְּכֵֽלֶת - means: all of it is of turquoise wool – i.e., there is no other material mixed with it.   כְּלִיל תְּכֵֽלֶת.  כֻּלּוֹ תְכֵלֶת, שֶׁאֵין מִין אַחֵר מְעֹרָב בּוֹ:
32The edge of its top opening must be folded inwards: all around its opening there must be a woven hem, as with the collar of a coat of mail, that it not be torn.   לבוְהָיָ֥ה פִֽי־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ בְּתוֹכ֑וֹ שָׂפָ֡ה יִֽהְיֶה֩ לְפִ֨יו סָבִ֜יב מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹרֵ֗ג כְּפִ֥י תַחְרָ֛א יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ לֹ֥א יִקָּרֵֽעַ:
וְהָיָה פִֽי־רֹאשׁוֹ - And the opening of (lit.) its head must be - means: the opening of the Robe at its top, meaning the opening of the collar.   וְהָיָה פִֽי־רֹאשׁוֹ.  פִּי הַמְּעִיל שֶׁבְּגָבְהוֹ – הוּא פְּתִיחַת בֵּית הַצַּוָּאר:
בְּתוֹכוֹ - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: כָּפִיל לְגַוֵּהּ – folded into it, so that the folded material act as a hem for it; and the fold was formed during the weaving process and not sewn inwards afterwards by needlework.   בְּתוֹכוֹ.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ כָּפִיל לְגַוֵּהּ, כָּפוּל לְתוֹכוֹ, לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְשָׂפָה כְּפִילָתוֹ, וְהָיָה מַעֲשֵׂה אוֹרֵג וְלֹא בְמַחַט:
כְּפִי תַחְרָא - As with the collar of a coat of mail. From here we may infer that the openings of their coats of mail were folded inwards.   כְּפִי תַחְרָא.  לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַשִּׁרְיוֹנִים שֶׁלָּהֶם פִּיהֶם כָּפוּל:
לֹא יִקָּרֵֽעַ - this statement is written in the passive voice because it serves as a reason for the preceding: so that it not be torn - and its main purpose is to teach that one who tears it transgresses a passive commandment, for this prohibition is included among the number of passive commandments written in the Torah, although it would be understood in any case that tearing it is forbidden. The same applies to: “the Breastplate must not come loose”; 1 and similarly: “they may not be removed from it,” 2 stated regarding the poles of the Ark.   לֹא יִקָּרֵֽעַ.  כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִקָּרֵעַ; וְהַקּוֹרְעוֹ עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו, שֶׁזֶּה מִמִּנְיַן לָאוִין שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, וְכֵן וְלֹא יִזַּח הַחֹשֶׁן, וְכֵן לֹא יָסֻרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ הַנֶּאֱמַר בְּבַדֵּי הָאָרוֹן:
33On its lower hem you must make pomegranates, made of threads of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, all around its lower hem. Make gold bells between them, all around:   לגוְעָשִׂ֣יתָ עַל־שׁוּלָ֗יו רִמֹּנֵי֙ תְּכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י עַל־שׁוּלָ֖יו סָבִ֑יב וּפַֽעֲמֹנֵ֥י זָהָ֛ב בְּתוֹכָ֖ם סָבִֽיב:
רִמֹּנֵי - Pomegranates. They were spherical and hollow, resembling a pomegranate closed like a chicken egg.   רִמֹּנֵי.  עֲגֻלִּים וַחֲלוּלִים הָיוּ כְּמִין רִמּוֹנִים הָעֲשׂוּיִים כְּבֵיצַת תַּרְנְגֹלֶת:
וּפַֽעֲמֹנֵי זָהָב - Gold bells - i.e., the bodies of the bells with the clappers inside them.   וּפַֽעֲמֹנֵי זָהָב.  זַגִּין עִם עִנְבָּלִין שֶׁבְּתוֹכָם:
בְּתוֹכָם סָבִיב - means: between them all around - i.e., between every two pomegranates there was a bell attached and hanging from the lower hem of the Robe.   בְּתוֹכָם סָבִיב.  בֵּינֵיהֶם סָבִיב – בֵּין שְׁנֵי רִמּוֹנִים פַּעֲמוֹן אֶחָד דָּבוּק וְתָלוּי בְּשׁוּלֵי הַמְּעִיל:
34a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate, all around the lower hem of the Robe.   לדפַּֽעֲמֹ֤ן זָהָב֙ וְרִמּ֔וֹן פַּֽעֲמֹ֥ן זָהָ֖ב וְרִמּ֑וֹן עַל־שׁוּלֵ֥י הַמְּעִ֖יל סָבִֽיב:
פַּֽעֲמֹן זָהָב וְרִמּוֹן פַּֽעֲמֹן זָהָב וְרִמּוֹן - A gold bell and a pomegranate – next to it, – A gold bell and a pomegranate - next to it.   פַּֽעֲמֹן זָהָב וְרִמּוֹן פַּֽעֲמֹן זָהָב וְרִמּוֹן.  אֶצְלוֹ:
35It must be worn by Aaron when he performs the Divine service. Its sound must be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before God and when he leaves, so that he not die.   להוְהָיָ֥ה עַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לְשָׁרֵ֑ת וְנִשְׁמַ֣ע ק֠וֹל֠וֹ בְּבֹא֨וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ לִפְנֵ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה וּבְצֵאת֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָמֽוּת:
וְלֹא יָמֽוּת - So that he not die. From the negative statement you may infer the positive: If he wears it then he will not be liable for the death penalty, implying that if he enters the Sanctuary while missing one of these three garments, even if he does not perform any priestly rites, he is punishable by death by the heavenly court.   וְלֹא יָמֽוּת.  מִכְּלַל לָאו אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ הֵן – אִם יִהְיוּ לוֹ לֹא יִתְחַיֵּב מִיתָה, הָא אִם יִכָּנֵס מְחֻסָּר אֶחָד מִן הַבְּגָדִים הַלָּלוּ, חַיָּב מִיתָה בִידֵי שָׁמַיִם (סנהדרין פ"ג):
36You must make a Forehead-plate of pure gold, and you must emboss the words ‘Holy unto God’ on it as on a signet ring.   לווְעָשִׂ֥יתָ צִּ֖יץ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וּפִתַּחְתָּ֤ עָלָיו֙ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חֹתָ֔ם קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
צּיץ - Forehead-plate - was a type of golden plate, two fingerbreadths wide, extending across the forehead from ear to ear.   צּיץ.  כְּמִין טַס שֶׁל זָהָב הָיָה, רֹחַב שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבָּעוֹת, מַקִּיף עַל הַמֵּצַח מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן:
37You must place it over a cord of turquoise wool, which must pass over the Turban. It must be placed below the front of the Turban.   לזוְשַׂמְתָּ֤ אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־פְּתִ֣יל תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְהָיָ֖ה עַל־הַמִּצְנָ֑פֶת אֶל־מ֥וּל פְּנֵֽי־הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת יִֽהְיֶֽה:
עַל־פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת - Over a cord of turquoise wool- 

yet elsewhere it says: וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת (lit.) “They put upon it a cord of turquoise wool”! 3 Furthermore, here it is written: וְהָיָה עַל הַמִּצְנָפֶת (lit.) “it must lie upon the Turban,” yet below 4 it says: וְהָיָה עַל מֵצַח אַהֲרֹן “It must be on Aaron’s forehead”! And in Tractate Shechitat Kodashim 5 we learn: “The high priest’s hair was visible between the Forehead-plate and the Turban, and there he wore tefilin,” indicating that the Turban was worn above, on the top of the head, but it was not deep enough for the entire head to fit into it down to the forehead, and the Forehead-plate was worn below it.

I conclude, therefore, that the cords were threaded through holes in the Forehead-plate and hung from its two ends and its middle point, forming six cords extending from these three places – as one cord was above each place, i.e., on its outside surface, and the other on the inside opposite it – and the priest would tie the ends of all three cords behind his neck. Thus, the length of the plate together with the cords at its two ends encircled his skull, and the middle cord, the end of which was tied together with the ends of the other two cords and which passed over the width of the top of the head, thus formed a kind of hat. And it is regarding the middle cord that it says here: “it must lie upon the Turban,” for when he would place the Forehead-plate on his head with the cords forming a kind of hat over the Turban, the middle cord held it in place so that it not fall, and the plate hung against the priest’s forehead. All the verses are thus reconciled: there was a cord over the Forehead-plate, and the Forehead-plate was also on the cord, and the cord was on top of the Turban.

   עַל־פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת.  וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת? וְעוֹד כְּתִיב כָּאן וְהָיָה עַל הַמִּצְנָפֶת, וּלְמַטָּה הוּא אוֹמֵר וְהָיָה עַל מֵצַח אַהֲרֹן? וּבִשְׁחִיטַת קָדָשִׁים שָׁנִינוּ שְׂעָרוֹ הָיָה נִרְאֶה בֵּין צִיץ לַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֶׁשָּׁם מֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין? לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַמִּצְנֶפֶת לְמַעְלָה בְּגֹבַהּ הָרֹאשׁ וְאֵינָהּ עֲמֻקָּה לִכָּנֵס בָּהּ כָּל הָרֹאשׁ עַד הַמֵּצַח, וְהַצִּיץ מִלְּמַטָּה, וְהַפְּתִילִים הָיוּ בִנְקָבִים וּתְלוּיִין בּוֹ בִּשְׁנֵי רָאשִׁים וּבְאֶמְצָעוֹ, שִׁשָּׁה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת הַלָּלוּ, פְּתִיל מִלְמַעְלָה אֶחָד מִבַּחוּץ וְאֶחָד מִבִּפְנִים כְּנֶגְדּוֹ, וְקוֹשֵׁר רָאשֵׁי הַפְּתִילִים מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הָעֹרֶף שְׁלָשְׁתָּן, וְנִמְצְאוּ בֵין אֹרֶךְ הַטַּס וּפְתִילֵי רָאשָׁיו מַקִּיפִין אֶת הַקָּדְקֹד, וְהַפְּתִיל הָאֶמְצָעִי שֶׁבְּרֹאשׁוֹ, קָשׁוּר עִם רָאשֵׁי הַשְּׁנַיִם, וְהוֹלֵךְ עַל פְּנֵי רֹחַב הָרֹאשׁ מִלְמַעְלָה, נִמְצָא עָשׂוּי כְּמִין כּוֹבַע; וְעַל פְּתִיל הָאֶמְצָעִי הוּא אוֹמֵר וְהָיָה עַל הַמִּצְנָפֶת, וְהָיָה נוֹתֵן הַצִּיץ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ כְּמִין כּוֹבַע עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת, וְהַפְּתִיל הָאֶמְצָעִי מַחֲזִיקוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ נוֹפֵל וְהַטַּס תָּלוּי כְּנֶגֶד מִצְחוֹ, וְנִתְקַיְּמוּ כָּל הַמִּקְרָאוֹת – פְּתִיל עַל הַצִּיץ, וְצִיץ עַל הַפְּתִיל, וּפְתִיל עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מִלְמַעְלָה:
38It must be worn on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will effect atonement for the sin regarding the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate, i.e., for any of their holy gifts. It must always be on Aaron’s forehead, in order to ensure them of God’s favor.   לחוְהָיָה֘ עַל־מֵ֣צַח אַֽהֲרֹן֒ וְנָשָׂ֨א אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַקְדִּ֨ישׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְכָל־מַתְּנֹ֖ת קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה עַל־מִצְחוֹ֙ תָּמִ֔יד לְרָצ֥וֹן לָהֶ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
וְנָשָׂא אַֽהֲרֹן - (lit.) And Aaron will bear. The word וְנָשָׂא connotes forgiveness, but nevertheless it does not lose its literal meaning: Aaron bears the burden of the sin and thus the sin is removed from the sacred offerings.   וְנָשָׂא אַֽהֲרֹן.  לְשׁוֹן סְלִיחָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵינוֹ זָז מִמַּשְׁמָעוֹ – אַהֲרֹן נוֹשֵׂא אֶת הַמַּשָּׂא שֶׁל עָוֹן – נִמְצָא מְסֻלָּק הֶעָוֹן מִן הַקֳּדָשִׁים (חולין קל"ח):
אֶת־עֲוֹן הַקֳּדָשִׁים - The sin regarding the sacred offerings - to conciliate for whatever blood and fat that were offered in a state of ritual defilement, as we have learned: 6 Which sin does he bear? If you say it is the sin of contemptible offerings (פִּגּוּל), sacrificed with the intent of eating it outside the proper place, this cannot be, for it already says in reference to this: “it will not be accepted.” 7 And if you say it is the sin of intending that the offering be eaten after being left over the time limit (נוֹתָר), this also cannot be, for it says in reference to this: “it will not count.” 8 And one also cannot say that it atones for the sin of the priest who brings an offering while ritually defiled, for it says here: “the sin regarding the sacred offerings,” and not the sin of those bringing it. We must say therefore that the Forehead-plate restores favor only in that an offering remain valid.   אֶת־עֲוֹן הַקֳּדָשִׁים.  לְרַצּוֹת עַל הַדָּם וְעַל הַחֵלֶב שֶׁקָּרְבוּ בְטֻמְאָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ: אֵי זֶה עָוֹן הוּא נוֹשֵׂא? אִם עֲוֹן פִּגּוּל, הֲרֵי כְבָר נֶאֱמַר לֹא יֵרָצֶה (ויקרא י"ט), וְאִם עֲוֹן נוֹתָר הֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר לֹא יֵחָשֵׁב (שם ז') – וְאֵין לוֹמַר שֶׁיְּכַפֵּר עַל עֲוֹן הַכֹּהֵן שֶׁהִקְרִיב טָמֵא, שֶׁהֲרֵי עֲוֹן הַקֳּדָשִׁים נֶאֱמַר וְלֹא עֲוֹן הַמַּקְרִיבִים – הָא אֵינוֹ מְרַצֶּה אֶלָא לְהַכְשִׁיר הַקָּרְבָּן (יומא ז'):
וְהָיָה עַל־מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד - It must always be on [Aaron’s] forehead. It is impossible to say that it must be on his forehead continually, for in fact it was there only during performance of the priestly service. Rather, it means that it will always effect favor for them, even when it is not on his forehead, i.e., when the high priest is not officiating at that time. And according to the opinion that only when the Forehead-plate is on his forehead does it atone and assure favor, but if not, it does not assure favor – “always on his forehead” is expounded to teach us that the high priest must always be aware of its presence by periodically touching it while it is on his forehead, so that his mind not be distracted from it.   וְהָיָה עַל־מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד.  אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר שֶׁיְּהֵא עַל מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינוֹ עָלָיו אֶלָּא בִשְׁעַת הָעֲבוֹדָה, אֶלָּא תָּמִיד לְרַצּוֹת לָהֶם אֲפִלּוּ אֵינוֹ עַל מִצְחוֹ – שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה כֹהֵן גָּדוֹל עוֹבֵד בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, וּלְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר עוֹדֵהוּ עַל מִצְחוֹ מְכַפֵּר וּמְרַצֶּה, וְאִם לָאו אֵינוֹ מְרַצֶּה, נִדְרָשׁ עַל מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמְּמַשְׁמֵשׁ בּוֹ בְּעוֹדוֹ עַל מִצְחוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ (שם):
39You must make a linen Tunic of recessed checkered knit. You must make a linen Turban, and you must make an embroidered Sash.   לטוְשִׁבַּצְתָּ֙ הַכְּתֹ֣נֶת שֵׁ֔שׁ וְעָשִׂ֖יתָ מִצְנֶ֣פֶת שֵׁ֑שׁ וְאַבְנֵ֥ט תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה רֹקֵֽם:
וְשִׁבַּצְתָּ - means: make a pattern of many recesses on the Tunic, which must be entirely out of linen.   וְשִׁבַּצְתָּ.  עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָם מִשְׁבְּצוֹת מִשְׁבְּצוֹת, וְכֻלָּהּ שֶׁל שֵׁשׁ:
40You must make tunics for Aaron’s sons. You must make them sashes. You must make them hats for dignity and splendor.   מוְלִבְנֵ֤י אַֽהֲרֹן֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה כֻתֳּנֹ֔ת וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם אַבְנֵטִ֑ים וּמִגְבָּעוֹת֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם לְכָב֖וֹד וּלְתִפְאָֽרֶת:
וְלִבְנֵי אַֽהֲרֹן תַּֽעֲשֶׂה כֻתֳּנֹת - You must make tunics for Aaron’s sons…. i.e., these four garments and no more: a tunic, a sash, hats (מִגְבָּעוֹת) – which are identical to the Turban (מִצְנֶפֶת) – and trousers, about which is written further in this passage. 9   וְלִבְנֵי אַֽהֲרֹן תַּֽעֲשֶׂה כֻתֳּנֹת.  אַרְבָּעָה בְגָדִים הַלָּלוּ וְלֹא יוֹתֵר, כֻּתֹּנֶת וְאַבְנֵט וּמִגְבָּעוֹת – הִיא מִצְנֶפֶת – וּמִכְנָסַיִם כְּתוּבִים לְמַטָּה בַּפָּרָשָׁה:
41You must dress your brother Aaron and his sons along with him in them. You must anoint them, inaugurate them, and sanctify them, and they must minister to Me as priests.   מאוְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֤ אֹתָם֙ אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֔יךָ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו אִתּ֑וֹ וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֨ אֹתָ֜ם וּמִלֵּאתָ֧ אֶת־יָדָ֛ם וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם וְכִֽהֲנוּ־לִֽי:
וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ אֹתָם אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן - You must dress Aaron…in them. i.e., those that are stated regarding Aaron: the Breastplate, Ephod, Robe, checkered Tunic, Turban, Sash, and Forehead-plate, and the trousers, about which is written below regarding all the priests.   וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ אֹתָם אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן.  אוֹתָם הָאֲמוּרִין בְּאַהֲרֹן – חֹשֶׁן, וְאֵפוֹד, וּמְעִיל, וּכְתֹנֶת תַּשְׁבֵּץ, מִצְנֶפֶת, וְאַבְנֵט, וְצִיץ, וּמִכְנָסַיִם הַכְּתוּבִים לְמַטָּה בְּכֻלָּם:
וְאֶת־בָּנָיו אִתּוֹ - And his sons along with him - i.e., with those that are stated regarding them.   וְאֶת־בָּנָיו אִתּוֹ.  אוֹתָם הַכְּתוּבִים בָּהֶם:
וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ אֹתָם - Anoint them - i.e., Aaron and his sons with the anointing oil.   וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ אֹתָם.  אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה:
וּמִלֵּאתָ אֶת־יָדָם - (lit.) Fill their hand. Every instance of the term מִלּוּי יָדַיִם denotes inauguration; i.e., when a person enters a position of office to hold it from that day onwards, it is called מִלּוּי “installation.” And similarly we find in Old French – when a person is appointed in charge of a matter, the ruler puts in his hand a leather glove that is called a “gant,” thereby giving him possession of that matter, and that transfer is called “revestir” in Old French, similar to the term מִלּוּי יָדַיִם “filling the hands.”   וּמִלֵּאתָ אֶת־יָדָם.  כָּל מִלּוּי יָדַיִם לְשׁוֹן חִנּוּךְ, כְּשֶׁהוּא נִכְנָס לְדָבָר לִהְיוֹת מֻחְזָק בּוֹ מֵאוֹתוֹ יוֹם וָהָלְאָה הוּא: וּבְלְשׁוֹן לַעַז כְּשֶׁמְּמַנִּין אָדָם עַל פְּקִידַת דָּבָר, נוֹתֵן הַשַּׁלִּיט בְּיָדוֹ בֵּית יָד שֶׁל עוֹר, שֶׁקּוֹרִין גאנ"ט בְּלַעַז, וְעַל יָדוֹ הוּא מַחֲזִיקוֹ בַּדָּבָר, וְקוֹרִין לְאוֹתוֹ מְסִירָה רווישט"יר בְּלַעַז, וְהוּא מִלּוּי יָדַיִם:
42And make them linen trousers to cover their nakedness, reaching from the waist to the thighs.   מבוַֽעֲשֵׂ֤ה לָהֶם֙ מִכְנְסֵי־בָ֔ד לְכַסּ֖וֹת בְּשַׂ֣ר עֶרְוָ֑ה מִמָּתְנַ֥יִם וְעַד־יְרֵכַ֖יִם יִֽהְיֽוּ:
וַֽעֲשֵׂה לָהֶם - And make them - i.e., for Aaron and his sons –   וַֽעֲשֵׂה לָהֶם.  לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו:
מִכְנְסֵי־בָד - Linen trousers. Thus making eight garments for the high priest and four for the ordinary priest.   מִכְנְסֵי־בָד.  הֲרֵי שְׁמוֹנָה בְגָדִים לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל וְאַרְבָּעָה לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט:
43They must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the outer Altar to serve in the Sanctuary, so that they not bear a sin and die. This is a rule for him and for his offspring after him for all time.   מגוְהָיוּ֩ עַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן וְעַל־בָּנָ֜יו בְּבֹאָ֣ם | אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד א֣וֹ בְגִשְׁתָּ֤ם אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְלֹֽא־יִשְׂא֥וּ עָוֹ֖ן וָמֵ֑תוּ חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם ל֖וֹ וּלְזַרְע֥וֹ אַֽחֲרָֽיו:
וְהָיוּ עַל־אַֽהֲרֹן - They must be worn by Aaron - i.e., all these garments; “by Aaron” – those that befit him –   וְהָיוּ עַל־אַֽהֲרֹן.  כָּל הַבְּגָדִים הָאֵלֶּה, עַל אַהֲרֹן הָרְאוּיִין לוֹ:
וְעַל־בָּנָיו - And his sons - those that are stated regarding them.   וְעַל־בָּנָיו.  הָאֲמוּרִין בָּהֶם:
בְּבֹאָם אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - Whenever they enter The tent of Meeting - i.e., the Temple building, and also the Tabernacle.   בְּבֹאָם אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.  לַהֵיכָל, וְכֵן לַמִּשְׁכָּן:
וָמֵתוּ - And die. From this you may infer that one who officiates in the Sanctuary while missing one of these garments is liable for the death penalty.   וָמֵתוּ.  הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהַמְשַׁמֵּשׁ מְחֻסַּר בְּגָדִים בְּמִיתָה.
חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לוֹ - This is a rule for him…for all time. Wherever it says חֻקַּת עוֹלָם it is a decree that applies immediately and for future generations and is essential, not merely a preferred option.   חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לוֹ.  כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר חֻקַּת עוֹלָם הוּא גְּזֵרָה מִיָּד וּלְדוֹרוֹת, לְעַכֵּב בּוֹ (מנחות י"ט):