Exodus 36:2

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

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:

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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 36:2 marks the pivotal transition from divine instruction and communal offering to the active construction of the Tabernacle. Moses, acting under God's direction, summons Bezaleel and Aholiab, along with every "wise hearted" individual—those divinely gifted with skill and wisdom, and whose spirits were willingly moved—to commence the sacred work. This verse powerfully illustrates the essential synergy between supernatural endowment and human willingness in fulfilling God's purposes, establishing a foundational model for collaborative, Spirit-empowered service within the community of faith.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 36:2 is strategically positioned as the commencement of the Tabernacle's construction phase, immediately following the detailed divine blueprints and the people's enthusiastic response. Chapters [Exodus 25-31](/exodus/25-31 "Tabernacle Instructions") meticulously record God's precise instructions for the sanctuary, its furnishings, and the priestly garments, delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. After the profound disruption of the golden calf incident and the subsequent renewal of the covenant, Moses descends from the mountain to relay these divine commands to the Israelite congregation. [Exodus 35](/exodus/35 "Exodus 35 - Call for Offerings and Workers") then details the call for freewill offerings of materials ([Exodus 35:4-29](/exodus/35-4-29 "Exodus 35:4-29 - Call for Offerings")) and the specific divine anointing of Bezaleel and Aholiab with wisdom and skill ([Exodus 35:30-35](/exodus/35-30-35 "Exodus 35:30-35 - Bezaleel and Aholiab Called")). Thus, Exodus 36:2 serves as the direct operational follow-up, initiating the practical building process after all necessary resources and divinely appointed personnel have been identified and prepared. It signifies the moment the divine vision begins to take tangible form through human hands.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The construction of the Tabernacle unfolded during Israel's formative wilderness wandering, a period crucial for establishing their identity as God's covenant people. The Tabernacle was more than a mere structure; it was a portable, tangible manifestation of God's presence among them, designed to accompany them on their journey to the Promised Land. While ancient Near Eastern cultures often featured grand temples built by skilled artisans under powerful rulers, the Israelite Tabernacle distinguished itself through its divine origin, meticulous specifications, and unique emphasis on communal participation. The call for "wise hearted" individuals reflects the recognition of specialized craftsmanship, common in ancient societies, but here, it is explicitly attributed to divine empowerment rather than solely human training or inherited skill. The collective willingness of the people to contribute both their resources and their skills, as vividly described in [Exodus 35:20-29](/exodus/35-20-29 "Exodus 35:20-29 - The People's Generous Offerings"), underscores a profound communal commitment to God's dwelling place. Moses' role as the convener highlights the indispensable nature of divinely appointed leadership in mobilizing and directing the community for sacred tasks, ensuring the work adhered precisely to God's instructions.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 36:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Initiative and Human Cooperation**. God initiates the plan for the Tabernacle, provides the resources (through the people's offerings), and even equips the workers with supernatural abilities, yet He calls for and values human participation. Secondly, the verse highlights **Spirit-Empowered Service**, demonstrating that true sacred work is not merely a matter of human talent but of divine enablement, as God "put wisdom" in their hearts. This divine gifting is then complemented by **Human Willingness and Devotion**, emphasizing that God desires service rendered not out of compulsion but from a "stirred" heart, eager to participate. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **God's Dwelling Among His People**, as the verse marks the beginning of the physical manifestation of the Tabernacle, the very place where God's glory would reside, signifying His covenant faithfulness and desire for intimate communion with Israel, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative, culminating in the person of Christ and the New Jerusalem ([Revelation 21:3](/revelation/21-3 "God's Dwelling with Man")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wise Hearted (Hebrew, _châkâm lêb_):** This phrase, literally "wise of heart," combines the concepts of skill and inner disposition. **_Châkâm_ (H2450)** signifies wisdom, intelligence, and skill, particularly in craftsmanship and artistic endeavors. **_Lêb_ (H3820)**, "heart," in biblical thought, is not merely the seat of emotion but the core of one's being—encompassing intellect, will, and moral character. Thus, "wise hearted" denotes practical skill, discernment, ingenuity, and understanding, implying an innate or divinely imparted ability to execute complex tasks with excellence and insight. It points to a supernatural endowment for the specific, intricate work of the Tabernacle, going beyond mere acquired human training.
* **Stirred Him Up (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ lêb_):** This idiom, literally "lifted his heart" or "his heart carried him," uses **_nâsâʼ_ (H5375)**, meaning "to lift" or "to bear," in conjunction with **_lêb_ (H3820)**, "heart." It powerfully conveys a sense of internal motivation, eager willingness, and enthusiastic inclination. It speaks to a spirit of voluntary service, where individuals are not coerced or compelled but are genuinely moved from within to participate in the work. This highlights that divine gifting is always complemented by human responsiveness and a joyful, uncoerced desire to serve God, making the service truly pleasing to Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab":** This opening clause establishes Moses' crucial role as the divinely appointed leader, responsible for gathering and commissioning the chief artisans. Bezaleel and Aholiab were not self-appointed but were specifically named by God in [Exodus 31:2-6](/exodus/31-2-6 "God Calls Bezaleel and Aholiab") as those uniquely filled with the Spirit of God for this work, indicating their pre-eminence and divine selection for leadership in the complex craftsmanship of the Tabernacle.
* **"and every wise hearted man":** This phrase expands the scope beyond the two named leaders to include all others in the community who possessed the requisite skill, discernment, and understanding for the Tabernacle's construction. It emphasizes that the project was a collaborative, communal effort, requiring a multitude of gifted individuals, each contributing their specialized abilities to the larger divine design.
* **"in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom":** This crucial declaration explicitly attributes the source of their skill and understanding to God Himself. It underscores the divine origin of their abilities, making it unequivocally clear that their craftsmanship was not merely natural talent or acquired human skill, but a supernatural endowment specifically for the sacred task of building God's dwelling place. This "wisdom" (Hebrew: _chokmâh_, H2451) is practical and enabling, allowing them to design, execute, and instruct others with divine insight.
* **"[even] every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it":** This final clause emphasizes the second essential component for effective and pleasing service: a willing and eager spirit. Beyond divine gifting, God values and requires a voluntary, enthusiastic response from His people. It indicates that those who came forward were not coerced but were internally motivated by a deep desire to participate in God's work, echoing the principle of freewill offerings established earlier in [Exodus 35:5](/exodus/35-5 "Willing Offerings"). This powerful combination of divine empowerment and human willingness is foundational for all true and acceptable service to God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. **Divine Empowerment** is central, explicitly stating that "the LORD had put wisdom" in their hearts, underscoring that the abilities required for sacred service are supernaturally bestowed. This contrasts with purely human skill, elevating the work to a divine enterprise and highlighting God's active involvement. There is also a clear use of **Synecdoche**, where "heart" (Hebrew: _lêb_) represents the whole person's intellect, will, and inner disposition. When the text speaks of the "wise hearted man" or "whose heart stirred him up," it refers to the entire individual's capacity for understanding, skill, and willing participation. Furthermore, the verse demonstrates **Parallelism** by juxtaposing divine gifting ("the LORD had put wisdom") with human responsiveness ("whose heart stirred him up"), highlighting the complementary and interdependent nature of God's initiative and humanity's willing participation in His redemptive work.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 36:2 profoundly illustrates the theological principle that God not only calls His people to specific tasks but also supernaturally equips them with the necessary gifts and empowers them with a willing spirit. The Tabernacle's construction was a divine initiative, yet it required human hands and hearts. This verse teaches that all true service for God's kingdom flows from a divine source of wisdom and ability, coupled with a responsive, eager human will. It underscores the value God places on both competence and devotion, demonstrating that His work is best accomplished when His people offer their Spirit-empowered gifts with joyful readiness, recognizing that their abilities are not solely their own but are divine endowments for His glory.

* [Exodus 31:3-6](/exodus/31-3-6 "God Fills Bezaleel with the Spirit")
* [Romans 12:6-8](/romans/12-6-8 "Spiritual Gifts for Service")
* [2 Corinthians 9:7](/2-corinthians/9-7 "Cheerful Giving and Service")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 36:2 offers enduring and transformative lessons for every believer today. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is the ultimate source of all true wisdom, skill, and motivation for service within His kingdom. Just as He sovereignly equipped Bezaleel and Aholiab for the intricate work of the Tabernacle, He continues to gift each of us for His unique purposes, whether in the local church, our families, our workplaces, or the wider world. Our calling is not merely to identify our natural talents but to discern how God has supernaturally endowed us, by His Spirit, for His kingdom work. Furthermore, the verse challenges us to cultivate a "stirred heart"—a spirit of genuine willingness, eager anticipation, and profound joy in our service, rather than acting out of mere obligation, duty, or compulsion. When divine gifting meets human willingness and a joyful spirit, the potential for God's glory to be manifested through our lives is limitless. We are invited to offer our whole selves—our intellect, our skills, our passions, and our desires—to the sacred work of building up His kingdom, knowing that every act of service, however seemingly small, when done with a wise heart and a willing spirit, contributes to His grand and eternal design.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life or ministry do you recognize God's wisdom or particular gifting at work through you?**
* **What does it truly mean for your "heart to be stirred up" for God's work, and what practical steps can you take to cultivate such willingness and eagerness?**
* **How does the combination of divine empowerment and human willingness reshape your understanding and approach to spiritual service in your daily life?**
* **What "Tabernacle" (i.e., what aspect of God's kingdom or community) is God calling you to help build or contribute to in your sphere of influence today, and what gifts are needed for that work?**

### FAQ

**Who were Bezaleel and Aholiab, and why were they specifically mentioned?**

Answer: Bezaleel and Aholiab were the chief artisans divinely chosen and specially gifted by God to oversee and execute the construction of the Tabernacle and its intricate furnishings. They are first mentioned by name in [Exodus 31:2-6](/exodus/31-2-6 "Bezaleel and Aholiab's Divine Calling"), where God explicitly states that He had "filled him [Bezaleel] with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." Aholiab was given a similar anointing and appointed as his assistant. Their specific mention in [Exodus 36:2](/exodus/36-2 "Moses Calls the Workers") highlights their pre-eminent leadership role and the divine origin of their extraordinary skills, making them exemplary models of Spirit-empowered craftsmanship for God's sacred work.

**What does "wise hearted man" truly signify in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "wise hearted man" (Hebrew: _chakham lev_) signifies far more than mere intellectual intelligence or natural talent. In biblical Hebrew, the "heart" (_lev_) is understood as the center of one's entire being—encompassing intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. Therefore, a "wise hearted man" is someone who possesses not just knowledge, but practical skill, discernment, ingenuity, and the ability to execute complex tasks with excellence and profound understanding. In the context of the Tabernacle, this wisdom was explicitly "put into their hearts by the LORD," signifying a divine endowment for the specific, intricate work of sacred craftsmanship, as also described in [Exodus 35:31](/exodus/35-31 "God Fills Bezaleel with Wisdom"), distinguishing it from purely human aptitude.

**Why was it important that their "heart stirred him up" to do the work?**

Answer: The phrase "whose heart stirred him up" (Hebrew: _nasa' libbo_) emphasizes the crucial element of willing, eager, and voluntary participation. While God provided the wisdom and skill, He also desired a genuine, uncoerced response from His people. This highlights that service to God is not to be done out of compulsion, obligation, or mere duty, but from a deep, internal desire and joy. This willingness complements divine gifting, ensuring that the work is performed not just competently, but also with devotion, passion, and a joyful spirit, echoing the principle of freewill offerings found throughout the Tabernacle narrative, such as in [Exodus 35:21](/exodus/35-21 "Everyone Whose Heart Stirred Him").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 36:2, with its profound emphasis on divine wisdom, willing hearts, and the construction of God's dwelling place, finds its ultimate and most glorious Christ-centered fulfillment. The Tabernacle, meticulously crafted by divinely gifted hands, served as a temporary, symbolic dwelling for God among His people, powerfully foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect dwelling of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true [Immanuel, "God with us"](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel"), the one in whom "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" bodily ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "All the Fullness of God in Christ"); [Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "The Fullness of Deity Dwells in Christ")). He is the very embodiment of divine wisdom, far surpassing the wisdom given to Bezaleel and Aholiab, for He *is* [the wisdom of God](/1-corinthians/1-24 "Christ the Power and Wisdom of God") personified, through whom all things were created and sustained ([John 1:3](/john/1-3 "All Things Made Through Him")). Furthermore, the willing hearts of the artisans who eagerly came forward to serve prefigure Christ's ultimate and perfect willing sacrifice, as He declared, "I have come to do your will, O God" ([Hebrews 10:7](/hebrews/10-7 "I Have Come to Do Your Will")). His heart was stirred up by unparalleled love to accomplish the Father's redemptive will, culminating in His self-giving on the cross ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "The Son of Man Came to Serve")). Now, through Christ, believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, becoming a "spiritual house" and "a dwelling place for God by the Spirit" ([Ephesians 2:22](/ephesians/2-22 "A Dwelling Place for God by the Spirit"); [1 Peter 2:5](/1-peter/2-5 "A Spiritual House")), called to offer our Spirit-empowered gifts with willing hearts for the building up of His body, the Church ([Ephesians 4:11-16](/ephesians/4-11-16 "Gifts for the Church's Building Up")). Thus, the ancient pattern of divine gifting and willing service for God's dwelling place culminates and continues in Christ and His redeemed people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.