And they shall bind the breastpiece is changed in Good News Translation to second person singular, “[You] Tie” (Good News Translation). Other translations change to the passive voice, “The breastpiece shall be bound” (New Revised Standard Version). However, in languages that do not have the passive voice, it will be more natural style to say, for example, “You shall tie…” or “Have them tie….” By its rings is literally “from its rings,” so to the rings of the ephod therefore means, as in Good News Translation, that “the rings of the breastpiece” and “the rings of the ephod” are to be tied together.

With a lace of blue is literally “by a cord of purple.” The word for lace is derived from the verb meaning to twist, so it has been variously translated as “thread” (Translator’s Old Testament), “braid” (Revised English Bible), and “ribbons” (New American Bible). The word for blue is more accurately translated as “violet-purple” in New Jerusalem Bible. (See the comment at 25.4.) The material is not mentioned, but if necessary in translation, it may be thought of as wool yarn, as in 25.4. Durham has “a twisted cord of violet yarn,” and Contemporary English Version has “a blue cord.”

That it may lie upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod is literally “to be upon [or, above] the waistband of the ephod.” If it is clear to the reader that this is the band mentioned in verse 27, then it is not necessary to repeat skilfully woven again. (See the comment at verse 8.) Good News Translation simply has “so that the breastpiece rests above the belt.”

And that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod uses a verb meaning “to come loose” or “to get out of place.” Durham has “not fall forward from the Ephod,” and New International Version has “will not swing out from the ephod.” Good News Translation simply has “does not come loose,” without repeating the ephod. Contemporary English Version has “This will keep the breastpiece in place.”

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 .