Exodus 31:3

Exodus 31:3

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

a. NLT: I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.

b. NIV: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

c. YLT: and I fill him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all work,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,

e. Septuagint: And I have filled him [with] a divine spirit of wisdom, and understanding, and knowledge, to invent in every work,

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: I have filled him with a Godly spirit, with wisdom, insight, and knowledge, and with every craft.

1. “And I have filled him with the spirit of God…”

a. I have filled [Strong: 4390 * male' maw-lay' or malae (Esth. 7:5) {maw-law'}; a primitive root, to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively):--accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, X draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-)flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-)full, + have wholly.]

b. him [Strong: 853 * 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

c. with the spirit [Strong: 7307 * ruwach roo'-akh from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).]

d. of God [Strong: 430 * 'elohiym el-o-heem' plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

1). This was not in the same as being filled with the spirit as in the New Testament. Under the Old Covenant the Holy Ghost merely came upon the person for a time. What is being spoken of here is God giving the person wisdom, talents and abilities in craftsmanship.

2. “…in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”

a. in wisdom [Strong: 2451 * chokmah khok-maw' from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.]

1). Ellicott’s Commentary: By “wisdom” is probably meant the power to invent and originate artistic forms; by “understanding,” the ability to appreciate artistic suggestions received from others; by “knowledge,” acquaintance with the methods and processes of art. Bezaleel was to possess all these gifts.

b. and in understanding [Strong: 8394 * tabuwn taw-boon' and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah {to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.]

c. and in knowledge [Strong: 1847 * da`ath dah'-ath from 3045; knowledge:--cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge), (un-)awares (wittingly).]

d. in all manner [Strong: 3605 * kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

e. of workmanship [Strong: 4399 * mla'kah mel-aw-kaw' from the same as4397; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor):--business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation, (+ -pied), + officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).

1). Ellicott Commentary:  Artistic ability is a Divine gift, a very precious gift, best employed in God’s direct service, and always to be employed in subordination to His will, as an improving, elevating, and refining—not as a corrupting—influence.

2). Jamison-Fausset-Brown Commentary: It is probable that he was naturally endowed with a mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge and skill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be a first-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain and ornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required. When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises up instruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had given to the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude and those opportunities of gaining mechanical skill, with an ultimate view to this responsible office. Notwithstanding that his grand duty was to conform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there was still plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness in the execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged and invigorated for the important work.

3). We must remember that while they were slaves in Egypt, they built at least two cities for the Egyptians.

a). Exodus 1:11  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

4). Bezaleel was the head contractor and his top assistant was Aholiab, and under him a whole group of talented men.

a). 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;

5). Gordon Lindsay, Through the Bible Series, Volume 10, p.23: Here we see the spirit of wisdom being given Bezaleel, as a gift of God. It might have been thought that natural gifts would be sufficient for this kind of task. But Bezaleel, though he undoubtly did possess certain natural talents, never had an apprenticeship in the kind of craftsmanship needed in the building of the tabernacle.

6). We must remember that the Tabernacle was no mere building, this Tabernacle was to be a mirror image of the true Tabernacle that was in heaven.

a). Hebrews 8:1-5 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

b). The Tabernacle was also to be the Temple that would house physical manifestation of the One True God on earth. How much greater holy effort should we in the New Covenant put forth because we are the Temple of God.

(1) 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.