Exodus Chapter 31
Showing all 18 verses for Exodus Chapter 31.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "
"The LORD said to Moses,"
God speaks again, this time to introduce His plan for gifting craftsmen for holy work, showing you He cares about every practical detail of building His dwelling place. Jesus calls you to trust that God is just as intentional about equipping you for the work He's set before you.
"See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: "
"Look, I have specifically chosen and named Bezalel, son of Uri, grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah."
God calling Bezaleel by name shows that His purposes are never generic - He knows exactly who you are and chooses you personally for the work He has in mind. Jesus calls you to believe that you, too, are known and chosen by name, not just one face in a crowd.
"And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, "
"I have filled him with divine spirit - giving him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill in every kind of craft."
Skill in craftsmanship here is described as being filled with the Spirit of God, showing you that talent and ability aren't separate from spiritual life - they can be gifts from God Himself. Jesus calls you to see your own skills, whatever they are, as Spirit-given and valuable for His purposes.
"To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, "
"To design ingenious, skilful work, and to work with gold, silver, and bronze."
The specific mention of gold, silver, and brass shows God's interest in beautiful, skilled craftsmanship - He isn't indifferent to excellence and creativity. Jesus calls you to bring your creativity and craft, whatever form it takes, as a genuine offering of worship.
"And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. "
"And in cutting gemstones and setting them, and carving wood - skilled in every kind of craft."
Cutting stones and carving timber were counted as sacred work here, teaching you that hands-on, physical labour can be just as holy as prayer or teaching. Jesus calls you to bring dignity and devotion to whatever work your hands are given, seeing it as service to Him.
"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; "
"And I have also given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And I have put wisdom into the hearts of everyone who is naturally skilled, so they can make everything I have commanded you."
God didn't call Bezaleel to work alone - He gave him Aholiab and filled many others with wisdom too, showing that His work is usually accomplished through teams, not lone heroes. Jesus calls you to value the people working alongside you, trusting that God distributes His gifts across a whole community.
"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, "
"They will make the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat on top of it, and all the tabernacle's furnishings,"
The list of sacred items these craftsmen would build - the ark, the mercy seat, the furniture - shows that even the objects of worship required skilled human hands to bring them into being. Jesus calls you to see your practical contributions as part of something much larger than yourself, connected to eternal purposes.
"And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, "
"The table and its equipment, the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories, and the altar of incense,"
The table, the candlestick, and the altar of incense were each entrusted to these skilled workers, showing how God involves people intimately in the making of what is holy. Jesus calls you to embrace the privilege of being invited to participate in His work, not just observe it from a distance.
"And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, "
"The altar for burnt offerings with all its equipment, and the bronze basin with its stand,"
Even everyday functional items like the altar of burnt offering and the laver required careful, skilled construction, teaching you that God cares about function as much as beauty. Jesus calls you to bring excellence to the practical, unglamorous parts of your service too, not just the parts that get noticed.
"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, "
"The finely woven garments used in the service, the sacred clothing for Aaron the priest, and the clothing for his sons to wear while serving as priests,"
The priestly garments, too, needed skilled hands to make, showing that even the clothing of worship mattered to God. Jesus calls you to bring care and thoughtfulness even to how you present yourself before Him, not out of vanity, but out of honour.
"And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do. "
"And the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the holy place. They are to do everything exactly as I have commanded you."
The instructions end with obedience - everything to be made exactly as God commanded - showing that even the most gifted craftsmen still worked within God's design, not their own. Jesus calls you to bring your gifts under His guidance, trusting His plan over your own preferences.
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "
"The LORD spoke to Moses again, saying,"
Once more God speaks directly to Moses, this time turning from craftsmanship to rest, showing you that building and resting are both part of a life devoted to Him. Jesus calls you to trust that God's instructions for your life include permission, even command, to stop and rest.
"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. "
"Tell the Israelites this: You must keep my Sabbaths. This is a sign between me and you, generation after generation, so you'll know that I am the one who makes you holy."
The sabbath was given as a sign between God and His people, a regular reminder that He is the One who sets you apart and makes you holy. Jesus calls you to let regular rest remind you that your worth isn't in your productivity but in your relationship with Him.
"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. "
"So you must keep the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who treats it as ordinary will be put to death. Anyone who works on it will be cut off from their people."
The severity of this warning shows how seriously God took rest as essential, not optional, for His people's wellbeing and witness. Jesus calls you to take rest seriously in your own life too, resisting the pressure to treat busyness as a badge of honour.
"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. "
"Work may be done for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Anyone who works on the Sabbath day will be put to death."
Six days of work followed by a day of holy rest gives you a rhythm to live by - work matters, but it was never meant to be endless. Jesus calls you to build regular rest into your life, trusting that stopping is itself an act of faith in God's provision.
"Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. "
"So the Israelites are to keep the Sabbath, observing it generation after generation, as a lasting agreement."
Calling the sabbath a perpetual covenant shows that rest was meant to be a lasting, defining feature of life with God, not a temporary rule for one generation. Jesus calls you to see regular rest as a permanent gift woven into how He wants you to live, not something you outgrow.
"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. "
"It is a permanent sign between me and the Israelites: because in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he stopped and was refreshed."
This sign points back to creation itself - God rested and was refreshed, showing you that even God models the rhythm He asks of you. Jesus calls you to trust that rest isn't weakness or laziness, but something built into the very fabric of how God designed life to work.
"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. "
"When God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him two stone tablets, inscribed by the finger of God."
These tables of stone, written by the very finger of God, show you how personally and directly God communicates His will - not distant or vague, but clear and given with His own hand. Jesus calls you to trust that God still speaks clearly into your life, longing for you to know His heart, not just His rules.