Bells on the Bottom of Priestly Garments in History
The high priest's robe, worn as part of his sacred vestments in ancient Israel, featured small golden bells attached to its hem [1, 5]. These bells alternated with decorative pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn [4, 16]. The book of Exodus specifies that these bells were to be placed "round about the hem" of the robe [5].
The primary purpose of these bells, as described in Exodus 28:35, was so that the high priest's "sound might be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die" [2]. This instruction suggests a protective function, ensuring the high priest's presence was acknowledged as he ministered in the divine presence [14]. One interpretation is that the bells signaled the priest's continued movement, indicating he had not been struck dead by God's presence [10]. Jewish tradition further elaborates on this, suggesting that the sound of the bells alerted the appointed priest outside the Sanctuary that the High Priest was emerging, prompting him to lift the curtain for his exit [8, 12, 13].
The number of bells is not explicitly stated in the biblical text, but some traditions suggest there were 72 bells [2, 15]. The robe itself was made entirely of blue fabric and was worn under the ephod [11]. The bells were sometimes described as being placed "between" the pomegranates [16].
Beyond their practical function, the bells also held symbolic significance. The early Christian writer Clement of Alexandria interpreted the twelve bells on the high priest's robe as a symbol of the twelve apostles, whose voices spread the glory and grace of God throughout the earth [9]. This interpretation connects the Old Testament priestly garments to the New Testament ministry of the apostles.
The attire of priests, including the high priest, was distinct from common clothing, though ancient Israelite apparel generally did not have a strong distinction between male and female attire, apart from specific ornaments and head-dresses [6, 7]. The high priest's garments, including the robe with its bells, were specifically appointed for his sacred office [7]. The historian Josephus also described the high priest's garments, noting the use of the golden bells at the bottom of the long garment [3]. He suggested that the bells served to announce the high priest's movements, particularly when offering incense on the Day of Atonement [3].
The bells on the high priest's robe served both a practical and symbolic role, ensuring the high priest's safety during his sacred duties and communicating his presence in the Holy Place, while also inspiring later theological interpretations.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bell — The bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells attached to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Ex. 28:33, 34, 35). The "bells of the horses" mentioned by Zechariah (14:20) were attached to the bridles or belts round the necks of horses trained for war, so as to accustom them to noise and tumult.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Bells — In (Exodus 28:33) the bells alluded to were the golden ones 72 in number, round the hem of the his priest's ephod. The object of them was so that his sound might be heard." (Exodus 28:34) Ecclus. 45:9. To this day bells are frequently attached, for the sake of their pleasant sound, to the anklets of women. The little girls of Cairo wear strings of them around their feet. In (Zechariah 14:20) "bells of the horses" were concave or flat pieces of brass, which were sometimes attached to horses for the sake of ornament.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 6: yet he intended to publish, about the reasons of many of the laws of Moses; of which see the note on the Preface, sect. 4.] 12 (return) [ Of this tabernacle of Moses, with its several parts and furniture, see my description at large, chap. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12., hereto belonging.] 13 (return) [ The use of these golden bells at the bottom of the high priest's long garment, seems to me to have been this: That by shaking his garment at the time of his offering incense in the temple, on the great day of expiation, or at other prop”
- Exodus “Exodus 39:26 (BSB) — alternating the bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe to be worn for ministry, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.”
- Exodus “Exodus 28:34 (BSB) — alternating the gold bells and pomegranates around the lower hem of the robe.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Apparel — In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut. 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked" (1 Sam. 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa. 20:2). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the "upper garment" (1 Sam. 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20). (2.) They wore in common an over-garment ("mantle”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 7, section 1: . Concerning The Garments Of The Priests, And Of The High Priest. 1. There were peculiar garments appointed for the priests, and for all the rest, which they call Cohanoeoe [-priestly] garments, as also for the high priests, which they call Cahanoeoe Rabbae, and denote the high priest's garments. Such was therefore the habit of the rest. But when the priest approaches the sacrifices, he purifies himself with the purification which the law prescribes; and, in the first place, he puts on that which is called Machanase, which means ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Tamid 33b.2: And once the appointed priest heard the sound from the feet of the High Priest, produced by the bells attached to the bottom of his robe, he knew that the High Priest was emerging from the Sanctuary, and he lifted the curtain suspended at the opening of the Entrance Hall for him, to facilitate his exit. After the High Priest entered and prostrated himself and emerged from the Sanctuary, his brethren the priests entered, prostrated themselves, and emerged from the Sanctuary.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XLII.--THE BELLS ON THE PRIEST'S ROBE WERE A FIGURE OF THE APOSTLES.: "Moreover, the prescription that twelve bells(8) be attached to the [robe] of the high priest, which hung down to the feet, was a symbol of the twelve apostles, who depend on the power of Christ, the eternal Priest; and through their voice it is that all the earth has been filled with the glory and grace of God and of His Christ. Wherefore David also says: 'Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of th”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 28:31: 28:31-35 The robe worn under the ephod is described. The bells signaled that the priest was still moving and had not been struck dead by God’s presence (see Lev 10:1-2). Jewish tradition tells us that the priest had a cord tied to his ankle so that if he died in the Holy Place (Exod 28:35), his body could be dragged out.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 29:5: And thou shall take the garments,.... The priestly garments before ordered to be made, and when made: and put upon Aaron the coat: the broidered coat, the coat of fine linen, which was put on first and was next to his flesh, for all these garments were put on in the order in which they are here placed: and the robe of the ephod: which was all of blue, and had pomegranates and golden bells at the hem of it; this was put over the broidered coat: and the ephod; which was made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: this was a short garment put over t”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Tamid 67b.66:2: And once the appointed priest heard the sound from the feet of the High Priest, produced by the bells attached to the bottom of his robe, he knew that the High Priest was emerging from the Sanctuary, and he lifted the curtain suspended at the opening of the Entrance Hall for him, to facilitate his exit. After the High Priest entered and prostrated himself and emerged from the Sanctuary, his brethren the priests entered, prostrated themselves, and emerged from the Sanctuary.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Tamid 67a.66:2: And once the appointed priest heard the sound from the feet of the High Priest, produced by the bells attached to the bottom of his robe, he knew that the High Priest was emerging from the Sanctuary, and he lifted the curtain suspended at the opening of the Entrance Hall for him, to facilitate his exit. After the High Priest entered and prostrated himself and emerged from the Sanctuary, his brethren the priests entered, prostrated themselves, and emerged from the Sanctuary.”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 28:35: His sound shall be heard - The bells were doubtless intended to keep up the people's attention to the very solemn and important office which the priest was then performing, that they might all have their hearts engaged in the work; and at the same time to keep Aaron himself in remembrance that he ministered before Jehovah, and should not come into his presence without due reverence. That he die not - This seems an allusion to certain ceremonies which still prevail in the eastern countries. Jehovah appeared among his people in the tabernacle as an emperor in his ten”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 28:34: a golden bell and a pomegranate--The bells were hung between the pomegranates, which were said to have amounted to seventy-two, and the use of them seems to have been to announce to the people when the high priest entered the most holy place, that they might accompany him with their prayers, and also to remind himself to be attired in his official dress, to minister without which was death.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 28:32: And beneath upon the hem of it,.... Or the skirts of it, at the bottom of the robe: thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; these were figures made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, in the form of pomegranates: Jarchi says they were round and hollow, and made like hens' eggs, about the size of them, and of an oval form: and bells of gold between them round about; according to some, the bells were put into the pomegranates, which is supposed to be the meaning of the phrase "between them", or, "in the midst”