Exodus 28 describes the garments of the high priest. Aaron and his sons were set apart to serve as priests, and their clothes were made for glory and for beauty (28:2). The ephod, woven of gold thread with blue, purple and scarlet, matched the colors of the tabernacle itself, showing that the priest belonged to God's house. Two onyx stones on the shoulders bore the names of the twelve tribes, for a memorial before God (28:12).
The breastpiece of judgment held twelve precious stones in four rows, each engraved with a tribe's name, on his heart (28:29). Inside it were the Urim and Thummim, used to seek God's will in important decisions. The blue robe had golden bells and pomegranates on its hem, so the sound would be heard when he served. The gold plate on his turban read HOLY TO YAHWEH, and through it Aaron would bear the iniquity of the holy things so the people's gifts would be accepted (28:38).
The priest represented the people before God, carrying them on his shoulders (strength) and heart (love). In the New Testament, Hebrews teaches that Jesus is a High Priest who always lives to pray for His people (Hebrews 7:25) and who, unlike Aaron, has no sin of His own. In the New Testament, believers are said to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and together they are called a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).