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Exodus 31:4

in Exodus 31

to 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,

This verse in Exodus 31

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

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

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God

on Exodus 31:3-5

Bezalel is the first person in Scripture of whom God says I have filled him with the Spirit of God. The next verses name its purpose: work in gold, silver and bronze, the cutting of gemstones and the carving of wood.

This site's exposition

to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze

Adam Clarke gives the Hebrew behind artistic works as machashaboth, works of invention or genius. Gold covers the ark and the furniture inside the tent, and silver forms the bases of the frames at 26:19. Bronze covers the altar of burnt offering at 27:2.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

To devise cunning works,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Cunning works - מחשבת machashaboth, works of invention or genius, in the goldsmith and silversmith line.

The words behind it

6 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • 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 stops

Each 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.

  • Through

    2 Chronicles 2:7

    Send 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—

Where this verse is studied

About Exodus

The Israelites Leaving Egypt, David Roberts, 1829. Public domain.
The Israelites Leaving Egypt, David Roberts, 1829. Public domain.

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.