Exodus 28:42

WEB

You shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the waist even to the thighs they shall reach:

KJV

And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

Commentary

And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness,.... Or "the flesh of nakedness" (q), that part of the body which ought not to be naked and exposed to view, and which, when it is, causes shame and ridicule; what part is designed is easily gathered from the next clause; great care was taken, in the service of God's house, to preserve decency, prevent immodesty, and to guard against laughter and levity, and the like care should be always taken; see Gill on Exo 28:2 , from the loins even unto the thigh they shall reach; they were to reach above the navel near the heart, and to the end of the thigh, which is the knee, as Maimonides says (r); who also observes, that they had strings, but had no opening before or behind, but were drawn up round like a purse; they were a sort of drawers, and somewhat like our sailors' trousers. (q) "carnem nuditatis", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "carnem nudam", Junius & Tremellius; "carnem verendorum", Tigurine version; "carnem pudendorum", Piscator. (r) Cele Hamikdash, c. 8. sect. 18.