Exodus 31:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 31:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exodus 31:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“To devise cunning works, etc.] To invent, contrive, and draw patterns, for the weavers particularly, for the making of the curtains of the tabernacle, the vail of the most holy place, the ephod, and the curious girdle of it, which were made of cunning work, curiously wrought by the weaver; and so Jarchi interprets this of the weaving of the work of Chosheb, or cunning work, of the devising of cunning works, or of the knowledge of witty inventions, by Wisdom or the Messiah, (see <200812> Proverbs 8:12) to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass; for it is not to be supposed there were either goldsmiths or brasiers among the Israelites; only masons and bricklayers, and brickmakers, and such…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Exodus 35:30-35. This solemn call of Bezaleel and Aholiab is full of instruction. Their work was to be only that of handicraftsmen. Still it was Yahweh Himself who called them by name to their tasks, and the powers which they were now called upon to exercise in their respective crafts, were declared to have been given them by the Holy Spirit. Thus is every effort of skill, every sort of well-ordered labor, when directed to a right end, brought into the very highest sphere of association. There appears to be sufficient reason for identifying Hur, the grandfather of Bezaleel, with the Hur who assisted Aaron in supporting the hands of Moses during the battle with Amalek at Rephidim Exodus…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 25:32-35, Exo 26:1, Exo 28:15; Kg1 7:14; Ch2 2:7, Ch2 2:13, Ch2 2:14 Exodus 31:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification