Exodus 36:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, [even] every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe summoned B'tzal'el, Oholi'av and every craftsman to whom ADONAI had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come and take part in the work.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted—everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work.

American Standard Version:

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses{H4872} called{H7121} Bezaleel{H1212} and Aholiab{H171}, and every wise{H2450} hearted{H3820} man{H376}, in whose heart{H3820} the LORD{H3068} had put{H5414} wisdom{H2451}, even every one whose heart{H3820} stirred him up{H5375} to come{H7126} unto the work{H4399} to do{H6213} it:

Cross-References (KJV):

Hebrews 5:4

  • And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.

Colossians 4:17

  • And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Exodus 31:6

  • And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Acts 14:23

  • And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Exodus 35:10

  • And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

1 Chronicles 29:5

  • The gold for [things] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and for all manner of work [to be made] by the hands of artificers. And who [then] is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

Acts 6:3

  • Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Exodus 36:2

1. **Themes**:
- **Divine Gift of Skill and Wisdom**: The verse emphasizes that the skills and wisdom required for the construction of the Tabernacle were not merely human talents but gifts divinely bestowed by God.
- **Volunteering for Sacred Work**: It highlights the willingness and eagerness of the craftsmen to contribute to the sacred task of building the Tabernacle, indicating devotion and a sense of holy calling.
- **Community Collaboration**: The verse reflects a communal effort where individuals with various skills worked together towards a common, divinely ordained goal.

2. **Historical Context**:
- **Post-Exodus Period**: Exodus 36:2 is set after the Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt and are in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.
- **Tabernacle Construction**: The Israelites are at the stage of constructing the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, as commanded by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. This structure would serve as the center of worship and the dwelling place of God among His people.
- **Bezaleel and Aholiab**: These are key figures appointed by Moses to oversee the Tabernacle's construction. Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah, and Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, were specially chosen and filled with the Spirit of God to carry out the artistic and technical work required.
- **Wise-Hearted Craftsmen**: The term refers to the skilled workers who were inspired and guided by God to perform their tasks with precision and devotion.

In summary, Exodus 36:2 reflects the theme of God-given talents being used for a sacred communal purpose, set within the historical context of the Israelites' post-Egypt journey and the construction of the Tabernacle, with Bezaleel and Aholiab leading the effort under Moses' direction.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H4872
    There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
    Transliteration: Môsheh
    Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
    Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
  2. Strong's Number: H7121
    There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרָא
    Transliteration: qârâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
  3. Strong's Number: H1212
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּצַלְאֵל
    Transliteration: Bᵉtsalʼêl
    Pronunciation: bets-al-ale'
    Description: probably from צֵל and אֵל with a prepositional prefix; in (the) shadow (i.e. protection) of God; Betsalel, the name of two Israelites; Bezaleel.
  4. Strong's Number: H171
    There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אׇהֳלִיאָב
    Transliteration: ʼOhŏlîyʼâb
    Pronunciation: o''-hol-e-awb'
    Description: from אֹהֶל and אָב; tent of (his) father; Oholiab, an Israelite; Aholiab.
  5. Strong's Number: H2450
    There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָכָם
    Transliteration: châkâm
    Pronunciation: khaw-kawm'
    Description: from חָכַם; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful); cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).
  6. Strong's Number: H3820
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֵב
    Transliteration: lêb
    Pronunciation: labe
    Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
  7. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
  8. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  9. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  10. Strong's Number: H2451
    There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חׇכְמָה
    Transliteration: chokmâh
    Pronunciation: khok-maw'
    Description: from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
  11. Strong's Number: H5375
    There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָשָׂא
    Transliteration: nâsâʼ
    Pronunciation: naw-saw'
    Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
  12. Strong's Number: H7126
    There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרַב
    Transliteration: qârab
    Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
    Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
  13. Strong's Number: H4399
    There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְלָאכָה
    Transliteration: mᵉlâʼkâh
    Pronunciation: mel-aw-kaw'
    Description: from the same as מֲלְאָךְ; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor); business, [phrase] cattle, [phrase] industrious, occupation, ([phrase] -pied), [phrase] officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).
  14. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.