See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
Parallel translations
- WEB “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
- BSB “See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
- NKJV “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
- NASB “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
- NLT “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God names Bezalel of Judah as the chief craftsman, calling him by name. God personally appoints and gifts those who serve Him.
Overview
God's calling Bezalel 'by name' highlights His personal, sovereign choice of workers for sacred service. That he is of the tribe of Judah, the royal and messianic line, is notable. It shows God raises up and equips individuals for His purposes, a pattern fulfilled in Christ from Judah and in the gifts He gives His church (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 36:1Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
- Exod 35:30And 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;
- John 3:27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
- Mark 3:16–19And Simon he surnamed Peter;
- Isa 45:3–4And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
- Exod 33:17And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
- 1 Chr 2:19–20And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
- Exod 33:12And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
- Exod 37:1And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 31:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.