A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Exodus 31
Exodus 31 is the thirty-first chapter of the book of Exodus and the closing chapter of the Sinai instructions. The 18-verse chapter names the chief craftsmen who will execute the work, reaffirms the Sabbath as the sign of the covenant, and ends with the LORD handing Moses the two stone tablets of the Testimony.
The chapter opens with the LORD calling Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, by name. "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft." Bezalel will design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, cut and set gemstones, and carve wood. The LORD has also appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant, and has given skill to every other gifted craftsman.
The chapter lists what they will make: the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the testimony and the mercy seat upon it, all the other furnishings, the table, the pure gold lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the basin with its stand, the woven garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense.
The chapter then turns to the Sabbath, which closes the giving of the instructions. The LORD tells Moses to tell the Israelites: "Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." Anyone who profanes it is to be put to death; anyone who works on it is to be cut off from his people. Six days work may be done; the seventh is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. The Israelites are to celebrate it as a permanent covenant. "It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."
The chapter closes with a single line: "When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God."
Verse 1. Then the LORD said to Moses,
Verse 2. “See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
Verse 3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
Verse 4. to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
Verse 5. to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.
Verse 6. Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:
Verse 7. the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat upon it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—
Verse 8. the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,
Verse 9. the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand—
Verse 10. as well as the woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,
Verse 11. in addition to the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”
Verse 12. And the LORD said to Moses,
Verse 13. “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Verse 14. Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from among his people.
Verse 15. For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.
Verse 16. The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come.
Verse 17. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”
Verse 18. When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
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