Exodus 31

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet, and lawgiver], word study 2 “See [behold, look], I have called [chosen, summoned] by name [identity, character] Bezalel [in the shadow of God] son [descendant, offspring] of Uri [fiery, fiery one], the son [descendant] of Hur [personal name, noble], of the tribe [family, nation] of Judah [praise, worship]. word study 3 And I have filled [completely empowered, made full] him with the Spirit [the breath of life] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God], with skill [wisdom, expertise], ability [creativity, know-how], and knowledge [understanding] in all [every kind of] kinds of craftsmanship [work or employment, skilled labor], word study 4 to design [devise cunningly, produce skillful] artistic works [curious, delicate designs] in gold [a valuable, brilliant metal], silver [a precious, shining material], and bronze [copper, a base or common metal], word study 5 to cut [precious] gemstones for settings [to set them, for framing], and to carve [in graving of, to work with] wood, so that he may be a master [skilled craftsman, to work in all manner of workmanship] of every [all kinds of, all manner of] craft [work, employment, skilled work]. word study 6 Moreover, I [the Lord, as the ultimate authority] have selected Oholiab [a skilled craftsman] son of Ahisamach, of the tribe [a family group, descendants] of Dan, as his assistant [helper, partner]. I have also given [bestowed, granted] skill [wisdom, expertise] to all the craftsmen [skilled workers, artisans], that they may fashion [create, make] all that I have commanded [instructed, ordered] you [according to my will, as I have directed]: word study 7 the Tent [Tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [assembly, gathering], the ark [box, chest] of the Testimony [witness, covenant] and the mercy seat [atonement cover, lid] upon it, and all [everything, every item] the other furnishings [articles, utensils] of the tent [nomad’s home, sacred space]— word study 8 the table [with its vessels, furniture, or equipment] with its utensils [articles or tools], the pure [clean, or ceremonially pure] gold lampstand [candlestick, or chandelier] with all [everything, or every part] its utensils [vessels, or furniture], the altar [place of sacrifice, or table of incense] of incense [sweet smoke, or perfume], word study 9 the altar [place of sacrifice] of burnt offering [a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar] with all [everything, the entirety] its utensils [articles or tools], and the basin [a round container, like a pan] with its stand [a base or pedestal]— word study 10 as well as the woven [finely wrought, braided] garments, both the holy [sacred, set-apart] garments for Aaron [the first high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and the garments for his sons [descendants, spiritual heirs] to serve [to minister, perform sacred duties] as priests [spiritual leaders, intermediaries between God and people], word study 11 in addition to the anointing [holy, consecrated] oil and fragrant [sweet, pleasing] incense [perfume of sweet spices] for the Holy Place [sacred, set-apart area]. They are to make them according to all [everything, the entirety] that I have commanded [given orders, appointed] you [as a leader, with authority].” word study 12 And the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] said [to speak, to command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant], word study 13 “Tell the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob], ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths [rest days, days of worship], for this will be a sign [miraculous token, beacon] between Me and you for the generations [periods of time, groups of people] to come, so that you may know [understand, perceive] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] who sanctifies [sets apart, consecrates] you. word study 14 Keep the Sabbath [a day of rest, holy to the Lord], for it is holy [set apart, sacred] to you. Anyone who profanes [treats irreverently, desecrates] it must surely be put to death [executed, die the death]. Whoever does any work [labor, employment] on that day must be cut off [separated, destroyed] from among his people [nation, community]. word study 15 For six [a period of six days, sixfold] days work [labor, employment, task] may be done, but the seventh [the Hebrew word ‘shabbat’, a day of rest] day is a Sabbath [a day of solemn rest, holy observance] of complete rest [cessation from work, stillness], holy [set apart, consecrated] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. Whoever does any work [labor, task] on the Sabbath [the day of rest] day must surely be put to death [die, suffer the penalty of death, perish]. word study 16 The Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] must keep [obey, protect, attend to] the Sabbath [day of rest, worship], celebrating [observing, honoring] it as a permanent [everlasting, perpetual] covenant [agreement, promise] for the generations [descendants, people] to come [throughout their generations, forever]. word study 17 It is a sign [a miraculous token, a beacon] between Me and the Israelites [the children of Israel, God’s chosen people] forever [for all eternity, always]; for in six [a period of completion] days the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] made [created, brought into being] the heavens [the sky, the celestial realm] and the earth [the land, the terrestrial sphere], but on the seventh day He rested [ceased from work, stopped creating] and was refreshed [renewed, rejuvenated, breathed anew].’” word study 18 When the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] had finished [completed, ended] speaking [communicating, conversing] with Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] on Mount [a high mountain] Sinai [the mountain of God’s revelation], He gave [bestowed, presented] him the two [a pair, dual] tablets [polished stones, written records] of the Testimony [God’s witness, covenant instructions], tablets [stone, wooden, or metal records] of stone [rock, weight, or precious gem] inscribed [written, engraved] by the finger [a toe] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study