Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 28:40

"And for Aaron`s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty." — Exodus 28:40 (ASV)

7. THE MINISTERIAL ATTIRE OF THE PRIESTS.

For Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats — that is, linen tunics like that of the high priest already described (see the last Note on Exodus 28:39), but not woven in any distinctive manner.

Girdles. —Perhaps similar to the inner girdle of the high priest, but not described in detail anywhere.

Bonnets. —Rather, caps. Plain, close-fitting caps, like those so commonly worn in Egypt, seem to be intended. The word used, migbâ’ah, is derived from gâbia’, “a cup” or “basin.”

For glory and for beauty. —It is certainly remarkable that so plain a dress as that of the ordinary priests—a white tunic, a girdle (which may or may not have been embroidered), and a plain white close-fitting cap—should be regarded as sufficient “for glory and for beauty.” White robes, however, are in Scripture constantly represented as eminently glorious (Daniel 7:9; Mark 9:3; John 20:12; Acts 1:10; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 7:9–14; Revelation 15:6, and so on).