Description
The turban was a headpiece formed by winding a long piece of cloth many times around the top of the head. It may have been wound permanently and put on and taken off like a hat. See the illustration at Headdress, turban, hat.
Translation
In some languages there may be a very general word for anything worn on the head. If such a term must be used to describe the High Priest’s headdress, it may be necessary to include a footnote explaining that such a headpiece symbolized the authority of the High Priest.
The Hebrew words migba‘ah and p’er (literally “beauty” or “decoration”) refer to the headgear of the normal priests. In form their headgear was like the headdress worn by the High Priest, although slightly less elaborate. It will usually be possible to use the same word for both.
In EXO 39:28 the words migba‘ah and p’er are combined to describe the caps of the ordinary priests. Since both words are used elsewhere to describe a single piece of headwear, different approaches have been tried here in translation. Most translations have a single word, such as “caps” (RSV, GNT) or “headbands” (NIV, NCV). Others take the word p’er to be a modifier of migba‘ah, saying “decorated turbans” (NJPSV), “decorated caps” (NASB), “beautiful turbans” (GW), or “fancy caps” (CEV). REB treats the two words (in reverse order) as two different items, saying “the tall headdresses and their bands.”