Exodus 31:5

5 and marble, and gems, and of (the) diversity of woods.

Exodus 31:5 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 31:5

And in cutting of stones to set them
Not of marble stones, or of any common stones used in building, and the cutting and hewing of them to be laid therein, for of those there was no use in the tabernacle; but of precious stones, and the cutting of them, and setting of them in their ouches or enclosures, as the onyx stones on the shoulders of the high priest, and the twelve precious stones in his breastplate: Bezaleel was taught by the Spirit of God the art of jewelling, and instructed others in it:

and in carving of timber;
or rather, "in cutting timber" F15; for it is the same word as before, for we have no account of any carved work in the tabernacle; and therefore this must design the work of carpenters and joiners in cutting the shittim wood, making planks and boards of it, and of them the sides of the tabernacle, jointed into sockets; the ark of the testimony, the shewbread table, and altar of incense, which were of timber, and the workmanship of such persons:

to work in all manner of workmanship;
in all other manufactories; as spinning, weaving, embroidery, dying various colours, compounding ointment, perfume


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (Ue tvrhb) "in fabrefactione ligni", Montanus; so Tigurine version.

Exodus 31:5 In-Context

3 and I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, and understanding, and knowing in all (manner of) work,
4 to find out, or cast, whatever thing may be made subtly of gold, and silver, and brass, (to design whatever things may be made out of gold, and silver, and bronze,)
5 and marble, and gems, and of (the) diversity of woods.
6 And I have given to him a fellow, Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the kindred of Dan; and I have put in their hearts the wisdom of each learned man, that they make all things which I have commanded to thee; (And I have given for fellowship to him, Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the family, or the tribe, of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the heart of other learned men, so that they know how to make all the things which I have commanded to thee;)
7 the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, and the ark of witnessing, and the propitiatory, or the table, that is thereon, and all the vessels of the tabernacle; (the Tabernacle of the Covenant, that is, the Tabernacle of the Witnessing, and the Ark of the Witnessing, and the propitiatory, that is the lid, that covereth the Ark, and all the vessels of the Tabernacle;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.