And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness,.... Or "the flesh of nakedness" q, that part of the body which ought not to be naked and exposed to view, and which, when it is, causes shame and ridicule; what part is designed is easily gathered from the next clause; great care was taken, in the service of God's house, to preserve decency, prevent immodesty, and to guard against laughter and levity, and the like care should be always taken,
from the loins even unto the thigh they shall reach; they were to reach above the navel near the heart, and to the end of the thigh, which is the knee, as Maimonides says r; who also observes, that they had strings, but had no opening before or behind, but were drawn up round like a purse; they were a sort of drawers, and somewhat like our sailors' trousers.
q בשר ערוה "carnem nuditatis", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "carnem nudam", Junius Tremellius "carnem verendorum", Tigurine version; "carnem pudendorum", Piscator. r Cele Hamikdash, c. 8. sect. 18.