The Bible — World English Bible

Exodus 31

In brief

God chooses Bezalel and Oholiab and fills them with wisdom, understanding and knowledge to build the tabernacle: manual work becomes a service to God. The chapter then presents the Sabbath as a sign between God and Israel, pointing back to the rest of the seventh day of creation. Finally, God gives Moses the two tablets of the testimony, written by his finger.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-11Bezalel and Oholiab, craftsmen filled with the Spirit of God
  2. v. 12-17The Sabbath, sign of the covenant between God and Israel
  3. v. 18The two tablets of the testimony, written by the finger of God

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,

4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,

5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.

6Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,

8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,

9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,

10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—

11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

12Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

13“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.

14You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

15Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.

16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ ”

18When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

Key verses

Verse 2
“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

God calls Bezalel by name, from the tribe of Judah. God chooses and names those he entrusts with a work, even manual work.

Verse 3
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,

Bezalel is filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. The Spirit is given here for a craftsman's task, which shows that manual work can be spiritual.

Verse 6
Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

God gives Bezalel a helper and puts understanding in the hearts of all the skilled. A gift from God makes us able, and the mission is lived as a team.

Verse 18
When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

The two stone tablets are written by the finger of God. They are the testimony of the covenant, given to Moses at the end of his time with God on the mountain.

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What the sermons say

The Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11)In his reading of Isaiah 11, the preacher compares the Spirit resting on the promised King with that of Bezalel: in the Old Testament the Spirit came for a specific work, here he rests permanently.Read the summary →Keeping Your Hands Raised to Defeat AmalekThis message on Amalek cites Exodus 31:1-5 among its references: Bezalel, son of Hur, called to build the tabernacle.Read the summary →Earnestly Desire the Spiritual GiftsIn his series on spiritual gifts, David Pothier cites Exodus 31:1-6 and the case of Bezalel among the passages that show God giving his gifts to specific people.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Exodus 31

Who is Bezalel in Exodus 31?

Bezalel, son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, is the craftsman God chooses to build the tabernacle. He is filled with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and knowledge to work gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood. Oholiab, of the tribe of Dan, assists him.

What does the Sabbath as a sign mean in Exodus 31?

God says that the Sabbath is a sign between him and Israel throughout their generations, so that they may know that he is the one who sanctifies his people. It points back to the seventh day of creation, when God finished his work and rested. Christians understand it in different ways.

What is the main message of Exodus 31?

God himself equips those he calls, including for manual work, and he makes rest a sign of the covenant. The chapter links service, the Spirit and rest: we work for God with his gifts, and we stop in order to belong to him.

Articles quoting Exodus 31

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World English Bible translation — public domain.