Exodus 31:4
in Exodus 31to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
KJV
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
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This verse in Exodus 31
Commentary
4 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I have filled him with the spirit of God--It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required.
This site's exposition
I have filled him with the spirit of God
on Exodus 31:3-5
Bezaleel is the first person in Scripture said to be filled with the spirit of God. Genesis 1:2 has the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters, and no man before this verse is said to be filled with him. What the filling is for is spelled out in the two verses that follow, gold and silver and brass, the cutting of stones and the carving of timber, and the word wisdom first occurs at 28:3, where it is also given to craftsmen.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To devise cunning works,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Cunning works - מחשבת machashaboth, works of invention or genius, in the goldsmith and silversmith line.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לַחְשֹׁ֖ב | lachsho | to design | H2803 → | 124 times |
| מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת | machashavot | designs | H4284 → | 56 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת | laasot | to work | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| בַּזָּהָ֥ב | bazahav | in <the> gold | H2091 → | 389 times |
| וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף | uvakesef | and in <the> silver | H3701 → | 403 times |
| וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ | uvanechoshet | and in <the> bronze | H5178 → | 140 times |
לַחְשֹׁ֖בto design
lachshoH2803 →124 times
מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑תdesigns
machashavotH4284 →56 times
לַעֲשׂ֛וֹתto work
laasotH6213 →2628 times
בַּזָּהָ֥בin <the> gold
bazahavH2091 →389 times
וּבַכֶּ֖סֶףand in <the> silver
uvakesefH3701 →403 times
וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃and in <the> bronze
uvanechoshetH5178 →140 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 26:1“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.
it leads to
- Exodus 36:8–19
All the skilled craftsmen among the workmen made the ten curtains for the tabernacle. They were made of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim skillfully worked into…
- Exodus 26:36
For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.
- Exodus 36:35
Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Exodus 25:18
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
- Exodus 26:31
Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Exodus 36:8–19
Through
2 Chronicles 2:7Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and…
it leads to
- Exodus 31:3–5
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
- 2 Chronicles 2:13–14
So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity.
- 1 Chronicles 22:15–16
You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work—
- Exodus 31:3–5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Exodus

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
