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Exodus, 31

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

2. See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

2. "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

3. I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, skill, and ability for every kind of craft:

4. To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

4. for the art of designing and working in gold and silver and bronze;

5. And in cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

5. for cutting stones to be set, for carving in wood, for every kind of craft.

6. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

6. Here and now I give him a partner, Oholiab son of Ahisamach, one of the tribe of Dan; and to all the men that have skill I have given more, for them to carry out all that I have commanded you:

7. The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that [is] thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

7. the Tent of Meeting; the ark of Statement and the mercy Seat that is on top of the ark,

8. And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

8. and all the furniture of the Holy Tent; the table and its furnishings; the pure lampstand and all its accessories; the altar of incense;

9. And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

9. the altar of burnt offering with all its furnishings; the basin with its stand;

10. And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,

10. the beautiful priestly vestments, that is, the sacred vestment of Aaron the priest and the vestments of his sons, for the priestly functions;

11. And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy [place]: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

11. the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. In this they are to do exactly as I have directed you."

12. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12. Yahweh said to Moses,

13. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify you.

13. "Speak to the people of Israel and say: 'You shall keep my sabbaths carefully, because the sabbath is a sign between myself and you from generation to generation to show that it is I, Yahweh, who have made you my own people.

14. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

14. You must keep the sabbath, then; it is to be held sacred by you. Whoever does not keep it, but works on that day, must be put to death.

15. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

15. Work is to be done for six days, but the seventh day must be a day of complete rest, consecrated to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the sabbath day must be put to death.

16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant.

16. The people of Israel are to keep the sabbath, observing it from generation to generation: this is a lasting covenant.

17. It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

17. Between myself and the people of Israel the sabbath is a sign forever, since in six days Yahweh made the heavens and earth, but on the seventh day he rested and drew breath."

18. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

18. When Yahweh had finished speaking to Moses about all these things, he gave him the two slabs of the Statement, slabs of stone written with the finger of God.



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Footnotes:

31:1-6 - God chooses Bezalel and Oholiab and empowers them with the Holy Spirit to build the Tabernacle. This choice shows how God empowers His people with specific gifts to accomplish His work (see also 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 and Ephesians 4:11-12).

31:7-11 - The list of sacred items to be made by Bezalel and Oholiab reinforces the importance of detail in worship. Each piece of the Tabernacle has a specific purpose, symbolizing God's order and care in worship (see also Hebrews 9:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 28:19).

31:12-17 - The commandment to keep the Sabbath is reaffirmed as a perpetual sign between God and Israel. The Sabbath is a reminder of God's covenant and rest after creation, and its observance reflects the holiness of the people (see also Genesis 2:2-3 and Ezekiel 20:12).

31:18:00 - God gives Moses the tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments, written with the finger of God. These tablets are a symbol of God's Law and God's covenant with Israel (see also Deuteronomy 9:10 and 2 Corinthians 3:3).

Verses related to Exodus, 31:

Exodus chapter 31 focuses on the craftsmen of the Tabernacle and the Sabbath. How does God equip and guide His people for sacred service? This significant text presents Bezalel and Oholiab as chosen craftsmen, reaffirms the importance of the Sabbath and mentions the tables of the law. The chapter covers topics such as spiritual gifts, sacred rest, and the written word of God. Exodus 31 connects worship, work, and rest. Reflect with us on five biblical passages that correlate with the key principles of this instructive chapter.

Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord. It is Christ the Lord that you are serving." - This verse reflects the calling of Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus 31, emphasizing the importance of using skills for the Lord's service.

Mark 2:27-28: "And then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'" - Jesus comments on the purpose of the Sabbath, an important theme in Exodus 31:12-17.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6: "There are different types of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. There are different types of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There are different ways of acting, but it is the same God who effects everything in everyone." - This passage echoes the idea of Exodus 31:1-11, where God grants specific abilities for tabernacle service.

Hebrews 8:5: "They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of the one in heaven. That's why Moses, when he was about to build the tabernacle, was warned: 'Be careful to do everything according to the model shown to you on the mountain'." - This verse directly references the instructions given to Moses for building the tabernacle, mentioned in Exodus 31.

Isaiah 56:6-7: "And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath by not profaning it, and who hold fast to my covenant, these I will bring to the my holy mountain and I will give you joy in my house of prayer." - This passage expands on the concept of the Sabbath mentioned in Exodus 31:12-17, showing its continuing importance in the worship of God.

FAQ:

Who were the craftsmen chosen to build the tabernacle?

Bezalel and Oholiab were chosen by God and empowered to carry out the construction and artistic work on the tabernacle and its furnishings. (Exodus 31:1-6)

What is the importance of the Sabbath in Exodus 31?

The Sabbath is a perpetual sign between God and Israel, a day of rest and sanctification, remembering the creation and deliverance from Egypt. (Exodus 31:13-17)

What is the "everlasting covenant" mentioned in this chapter?

The "everlasting covenant" is the covenant between God and Israel, which includes the observance of the Sabbath and the consecration of the tabernacle as a place of worship. (Exodus 31:16-17)

How does God empower Bezalel and Oholiab for the work?

God gave Bezalel and Oholiab skill, intelligence, and knowledge to carry out all the work required to build the tabernacle. (Exodus 31:3-6)

What characterizes God's wisdom in creating the tabernacle?

God’s wisdom is reflected in the precise details and beauty of the tabernacle, which is built according to divine instructions to represent His presence. (Exodus 31:1-11)


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