to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Parallel translations
- KJV To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
- BSB to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
- NKJV to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
- NASB to create artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,
- NLT He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze.
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
Bezalel was gifted to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze. God-given skill served to beautify His dwelling place.
Overview
The ability to devise and craft fine metalwork was given by God for the sanctuary's adornment. This dignifies skilled labor as a means of glorifying God. It reminds us that all our gifts are from God and are to be used in His service and for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Chr 2:13–14Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
- 2 Chr 2:7“Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, in silver, in brass, in iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave engravings, to be with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
- Exod 26:1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
- Exod 28:15“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it.
- 1 Kgs 7:14He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work.
- Exod 25:32–35There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side;
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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 31:4 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.