Augustine of Hippo : What is called aspidiscas (linkers) in the priestly garment? Is it perhaps a kind of bowl, which in Latin is derived from scutum (shield), because the Greeks call the scutum aspida (shield)? Or call aspidiscas (engarces) to those objects that are carefully set, as are the chains, deriving the word of asp (asp, snake)? The length will be one spithama (span) and the width of one spithama (span) (Cf Exodus 28,16). Some Latin translators have thus explained this word: ‘Measure of the palm of the hand extended from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger.’ And the stones correspond to the names of the children of Israel according to their births (Exodus 28,21), that is, according to the order of their birth. 116 (Exodus 28.22). And you will make on the rational intertwined borders, braided of pure gold. The poverty of the Latin language has caused the word rationale to be invented (rational, pectoral), since the Greek text has a logic, not a logikon. Now, we usually call rationale (rational) to what the Greeks call logikón. But as it is doubtful whether in the Greek language logos; means verbum (word) or rationem (reason), since it is a term that can mean both, where our translators believed that logion meant verbum (word) translated it by eloquium (elocution, word), as they did in the psalm: The words (eloquia) of the Lord are sincere words (eloquia), in which eloquia (words) (Ps. 11,7) corresponds to logic. But here, in the priestly dress, which was to be made of gold, and hyacinth, and purple, and scarlet twine and fine twisted linen, of square and double shape, and which the priest should wear on his chest and which was called logical, is doubtful yes that word must be translated by rationem (reason) or by verbum (word). Our translators have thought that it comes rather from rationem (reason) and that is why they have translated it by rationale (rational). 117 (Exodus 28.26). On the Urim and the Thummim. - "You will place on the rational judgment: Doctrine and Truth. What does this passage mean? Were Doctrine and Truth placed above rational on a strip of cloth or on a metal plate? because, according to the text, they were really attached to the garment of the priest. It is a difficult question to solve. Many interpreters imagine that it was a stone, the color of which changed according to good or bad fortune, when the priest entered the sanctuary; from there, according to them, these words "Aaron will carry on his bosom the judgments of the children of Israel," God using the Urim and Thummim, to manifest to his people the expression of his wills. There is, however, some likelihood that these words, Doctrine and Truth, were engraved on the rational. — QUESTIONS ON EXODUS, Q. 115 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)