Exodus 31

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 31

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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

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

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

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

6And 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;

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

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

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

10And 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,

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

12¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

13Speak 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.

14Ye 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.

15Six 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.

16Wherefore 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 for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

18And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 31 details God's divine appointment of Bezaleel and Aholiab, empowering them with wisdom and skill to construct the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings according to His precise instructions. The chapter also reiterates the solemn command to observe the Sabbath, emphasizing its perpetual significance as a sign between God and the children of Israel. Finally, Moses receives the two tables of testimony, written by the finger of God, on Mount Sinai.

Medium Summary

The LORD specifically names Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah, filling him with the Spirit of God, granting him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill in all manner of workmanship for the Tabernacle. Aholiab of the tribe of Dan is appointed to assist him, and God also imparts wisdom to all other wise-hearted individuals for this sacred task. Their work includes crafting the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Testimony, the mercy seat, all its furniture, the priestly garments, and the anointing oil. Following this, God strongly emphasizes the keeping of the Sabbath, declaring it a perpetual sign and covenant for generations, signifying His sanctifying power. Defiling the Sabbath by working is explicitly stated as an offense punishable by death, underscoring its holiness. The chapter concludes with Moses receiving the two tables of stone, inscribed by God Himself, upon Mount Sinai.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter 31 begins with the LORD speaking to Moses, specifically designating Bezaleel, son of Uri, from the tribe of Judah, as the chief craftsman for the Tabernacle. God declares that He has filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God, endowing him with exceptional wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill in all forms of workmanship. This divine empowerment enables Bezaleel to devise intricate designs and work expertly with gold, silver, brass, precious stones for setting, and timber for carving. The LORD further appoints Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan, to work alongside Bezaleel, and states that He has put wisdom into the hearts of all who are wise-hearted to assist in the construction. Their collective task is to make all that God has commanded, including the Tabernacle of the congregation, the Ark of the Testimony, the mercy seat, all the Tabernacle's furniture, the table and its vessels, the pure candlestick, the altars of incense and burnt offering, the laver, the cloths of service, the holy garments for Aaron and his sons, the anointing oil, and the sweet incense. The chapter then shifts focus to the Sabbath, with the LORD commanding Moses to instruct the children of Israel to diligently keep His Sabbaths. This observance is declared a perpetual sign between God and Israel throughout their generations, so they may know that He is the LORD who sanctifies them. The Sabbath is to be held holy, and any individual who defiles it by working is to be put to death, or cut off from among their people. The command reiterates that six days are for work, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD, with the same penalty for its violation. The children of Israel are to observe the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant, for it is a sign forever, commemorating that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. The chapter concludes by stating that when God finished communing with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tables of testimony, tables of stone written with the finger of God.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Appointment of CraftsmenGod specifically names Bezaleel and Aholiab, choosing them for the sacred task of constructing the Tabernacle. This highlights God's direct involvement in selecting and preparing individuals for His work.
  • Spirit-Filled SkillBezaleel is filled with the Spirit of God, granting him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all manner of workmanship. This emphasizes that the ability to perform sacred tasks comes from divine empowerment, not merely human talent.
  • Tabernacle ConstructionThe primary purpose of the divinely gifted craftsmen is to build the Tabernacle and its intricate furnishings, including the Ark, altars, lamps, and priestly garments. This underscores the importance of the sanctuary as the dwelling place of God among His people.
  • The Sabbath as a SignThe Sabbath is established as a perpetual sign between God and the children of Israel, signifying His sanctifying power. It serves as a visible reminder of their covenant relationship with the LORD.
  • Sabbath Holiness and PenaltyThe Sabbath is declared holy unto the LORD, and its defilement through work is a capital offense punishable by death. This emphasizes the gravity of the command and the sacredness of the day of rest.
  • Perpetual CovenantThe observance of the Sabbath is designated as a perpetual covenant for generations, forever binding Israel to this divine ordinance. It links their obedience to God's act of creation and His rest.
  • Tables of TestimonyMoses receives two tables of stone, inscribed by the 'finger of God,' containing the divine law. This signifies the direct, authoritative nature of God's commandments given to His people.