And you shall take the garments is quite literal, using the singular you. This action is related to the second verb, and put on, which is literally “and you [singular] will cause to put on,” or “and you will clothe.” Two separate actions are not intended, so Good News Translation translates only one, “Then dress Aaron…” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The garments is the same word used in 28.2 and 4. These are “the priestly garments” (Good News Translation), or “vestments,” that are described in chapter 28. Aaron is to be dressed first.

The coat is the tunic mentioned in 28.39. Good News Translation has “shirt,” but this was the common ankle-length undergarment with long sleeves. The robe of the ephod is the “the robe that goes under the ephod” (Good News Translation). It had no sleeves and went over the tunic. It is described in 28.31-34. The ephod was the apron-like skirt with shoulder straps. It is described in 28.6-13. The breastpiece was the small square-shaped pouch worn over the breast and fastened to the ephod. It is described in 28.15-28.

And gird him uses the verb form of ephod, meaning “to put on tightly” (as described in the comment at 28.6). It is used in reference to tying on the ephod by means of the skilfully woven band of the ephod. This band is described in 28.8. It was a part of the ephod. Good News Translation calls it a “belt” and mistakenly lists it as a separate garment. But it should not be confused with the sash, or “girdle,” mentioned in verse 9. (The “girdle” is described in 28.39.) New International Version is much easier to understand: “Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .