Seal on my heart
“Set me as a seal upon your heart,” says the Bride to the Bridegroom.
Now the priest wore stones with the names of the tribes “engraven like a seal” on his breastplate (Exodus 28:11, 21) and the name of Yahweh, also “engraven like a seal” on the golden plate on his head (Exodus 28:36).
The stones were attached to the breastplate so that the names of the sons of Israel would be “upon his heart” as he entered the Holy Place (Exodus 28:29).
Thus: “Set me as a seal upon your heart” = “Be a priest for me, with my name sealed on your heart as you enter Yahweh’s presence.”
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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