Exodus Chapter 35
Showing all 35 verses for Exodus Chapter 35.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. "
"Moses gathered the whole Israelite community together and said to them, 'These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do.'"
Moses gathers everyone together before any work begins, because obedience to God is never meant to be a private, isolated affair. Jesus calls you to hear His words alongside others, in community, so that what you build together reflects a shared commitment rather than scattered effort.
"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. "
"'Work is to be done for six days, but the seventh day is to be a holy day for you, a sabbath of complete rest dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on it is to be put to death.'"
The rhythm of six days' labour and one day of holy rest is God's gift to you, not a burden - a weekly reminder that your worth isn't measured only by output. Jesus calls you to receive rest as sacred, trusting that stopping to honour Him is itself an act of faith.
"Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. "
"'Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the sabbath day.'"
Even the everyday task of kindling a fire was to pause on the sabbath, showing how thoroughly God wanted His people to rest from ordinary labour. Jesus calls you to let go of even the small, habitual tasks that crowd out true rest, trusting that He sustains you even when your hands are still.
"And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, "
"Moses said to the whole Israelite community, 'This is what the LORD has commanded:'"
Moses faithfully relays exactly what the Lord commanded, adding nothing and leaving nothing out. Jesus calls you to be a trustworthy messenger of His word in your own life, passing on truth accurately rather than shaping it to your own preference.
"Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, "
"'Take a contribution from among yourselves for the LORD. Everyone who wants to give, from the heart, should bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver and bronze;'"
God asks only for what comes from a willing heart, never for grudging or forced giving. Jesus calls you to bring whatever you have to offer - your time, skill, or resources - freely and joyfully, knowing that the spirit behind your gift matters more than its size.
"And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, "
"'...blue, purple and scarlet yarn, fine linen, goat hair,'"
The rich variety of materials listed - blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair - shows that God delights in beauty and craftsmanship offered back to Him. Jesus calls you to bring whatever unique gifts you have, however ordinary they seem, and trust Him to weave them into something beautiful.
"And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, "
"'...ram skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood,'"
Even humble materials like rams' skins and wood had their place in God's dwelling place. Jesus calls you to see that nothing you offer Him is too plain or ordinary to be used for something holy.
"And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, "
"'...oil for the lamp, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,'"
Oil for light and spices for fragrant incense point to worship that engages every sense - sight and smell alike lifted towards God. Jesus calls you to worship Him not only with words but with your whole self, offering the fullness of your life as a pleasing gift.
"And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. "
"'...and onyx stones and other gems to be set in the priest's ephod and breastplate.'"
Precious stones set for the ephod and breastplate would carry the names of Israel's tribes close to the priest's heart before God. Jesus calls you to remember that you, too, are carried close to His heart, precious and known by name.
"And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded; "
"'Let everyone among you who is skilled come and make everything the LORD has commanded:'"
Everyone with a skilled and willing heart is invited to take part in building something sacred - there's no work too small to matter. Jesus calls you to bring your particular skills into His service, confident that He has a purpose for the abilities He gave you.
"The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets, "
"'...the tabernacle, with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts and bases,'"
Every structural piece of the tabernacle - its coverings, boards, and bars - had to be made with care, because even the unseen framework mattered to God. Jesus calls you to bring diligence to the hidden, structural parts of your own life, not just what others can see.
"The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering, "
"'...the ark with its poles, the atonement cover, and the curtain that shields it,'"
The ark and the mercy seat, hidden behind the vail, were the most sacred objects of all - reminding you that God's presence isn't always visible or public. Jesus calls you to nurture your relationship with Him in hidden, quiet places, not just where others can see.
"The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread, "
"'...the table with its poles and all its articles, and the bread of the Presence,'"
The table and the shewbread represented God's continual provision for His people, set out faithfully before Him. Jesus calls you to trust that He provides for you daily, and to bring your own offering of thanks in return.
"The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light, "
"'...the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps, and the oil for the light,'"
The candlestick was crafted to give continual light within the sanctuary, a picture of God's presence pushing back darkness. Jesus calls you to let your own life shine with that same steady light, reflecting His presence into the spaces around you.
"And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle, "
"'...the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tabernacle,'"
The incense altar, with its sweet fragrance rising continually, pictures prayer ascending to God. Jesus calls you to make prayer a constant, fragrant offering in your life, not an occasional afterthought.
"The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, "
"'...the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils, the basin with its stand,'"
The altar of burnt offering and the laver for washing stood at the entrance, showing that approaching God always begins with sacrifice and cleansing. Jesus calls you to come to Him honestly, letting Him deal with what needs to be surrendered and washed clean in your life.
"The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, "
"'...the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,'"
Even the surrounding court, with its hangings and pillars, marked out a space set apart for meeting God. Jesus calls you to guard boundaries in your own life that keep space sacred for Him, protected from the clutter of the everyday.
"The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, "
"'...the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes,'"
Even the pins and cords, the smallest and least glamorous pieces, were necessary to hold the whole tabernacle firm. Jesus calls you to value the small, unnoticed contributions you make - they may be exactly what holds something bigger together.
"The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office. "
"'...the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.'"
The holy garments set Aaron and his sons apart for their ministry, a visible sign of a life devoted to serving God. Jesus calls you to let your own life be visibly marked by devotion to Him, so that your service points others towards His holiness.
"And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. "
"Then the whole Israelite community left Moses' presence."
The people didn't linger in complaint or hesitation - they departed from Moses ready to respond. Jesus calls you to move promptly when you sense His call, rather than delaying obedience with doubt or excuse.
"And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. "
"Everyone whose heart moved them and whose spirit made them willing came and brought the LORD's offering for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments."
It was those whose hearts were stirred and spirits made willing who brought their offerings - giving flowed from an inward movement, not outward pressure. Jesus calls you to let your generosity rise from a heart genuinely moved by love for Him, not from obligation.
"And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. "
"Both men and women came, everyone who was willing; they brought brooches, earrings, rings and necklaces - all kinds of gold jewellery. Everyone who could presented an offering of gold to the LORD."
Both men and women brought their treasured jewellery, holding nothing back from God's work. Jesus calls you to offer what you value most freely to Him, trusting that He is worthy of your very best.
"And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. "
"Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or fine leather brought it."
Everyone who had the needed materials brought them without being singled out or shamed into it. Jesus calls you to give simply because you are able, trusting that your quiet contribution matters even when it isn't dramatic.
"Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. "
"Everyone who could made an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought that too."
Silver, brass, and wood were all brought as each person had them to give - variety of resource, unity of purpose. Jesus calls you to contribute from what you actually have, not what you wish you had, trusting that it's enough.
"And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. "
"Every skilled woman spun with her own hands and brought what she had spun - blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."
The wise-hearted women used the practical skill of their hands - spinning thread - as their offering to God. Jesus calls you to honour Him through the ordinary skills you've developed, seeing even everyday competence as worship.
"And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. "
"And all the women who were skilled and eager spun goat hair."
Again it was a stirred heart that moved these women to use their wisdom and skill for God's dwelling place. Jesus calls you to let your inward devotion show itself in tangible, practical action, wherever your particular abilities lie.
"And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; "
"The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be set in the ephod and breastplate."
The rulers, too, brought their offering - leadership didn't exempt them from generous participation. Jesus calls you, whatever position of influence you hold, to lead by example in giving and serving rather than standing apart from it.
"And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. "
"They also brought spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense."
Spice and oil for anointing and incense were brought alongside everything else, no offering considered too fragrant or costly to give. Jesus calls you to bring your best to Him without holding back the things you treasure most.
"The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. "
"All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work the LORD, through Moses, had commanded to be done."
Every man and woman whose heart was made willing brought their gift - this was a movement of the whole community, not a select few. Jesus calls you to see yourself as part of that same 'whole community' - your willing heart matters and is welcomed, whoever you are.
"And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; "
"Moses said to the Israelites, 'Look - the LORD has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,'"
God calls Bezaleel by name for this work - a reminder that He knows and chooses individuals specifically for particular purposes. Jesus calls you by name too, with a purpose uniquely suited to who He made you to be.
"And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; "
"'...and has filled him with the spirit of God, giving him wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill in every kind of craft,'"
Bezaleel's skill wasn't self-made - God filled him with His Spirit, giving wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for the task. Jesus calls you to depend on the Spirit's enabling for whatever work is set before you, rather than relying only on your own resources.
"And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, "
"'...to design artistic works, to work in gold, silver and bronze,'"
Bezaleel's gift extended to devising skilled and creative works in gold, silver, and brass - craftsmanship itself was Spirit-given. Jesus calls you to see your creativity, whatever form it takes, as a gift from God worth offering back to Him.
"And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. "
"'...to cut and set stones, to carve wood, and to work in every kind of artistic craft.'"
The intricate work of cutting stones and carving wood required patient, careful skill - excellence mattered in what was offered to God. Jesus calls you to bring diligence and care to your work, honouring Him through the quality of what you do, not just the intention behind it.
"And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. "
"'And he has given him the ability to teach, both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.'"
God also gave Bezaleel the heart to teach others, sharing his skill rather than hoarding it. Jesus calls you to pass on whatever gifts you've received, investing in others rather than keeping your ability to yourself.
"Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. "
"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers - skilled at every kind of craft and design work."
A whole range of skills - engraving, embroidering, weaving, designing - were gathered together, each valued and needed. Jesus calls you to appreciate the different gifts of those around you, seeing every kind of skill as valuable in building something for Him.