Exodus 31:3-6

Context
31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God¹ in skill,² in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds³ of craftsmanship, 31:4 to make artistic designs⁴ for work with gold, with silver, and with bronze, 31:5 and with cutting and setting stone, and with cutting wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 31:6 Moreover,⁵ I have also given him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and I have given ability to all the specially skilled,⁶ that they may make⁷ everything I have commanded you:

[31:3] ¹sn The expression in the Bible means that the individual was given special, supernatural enablement to do what God wanted done. It usually is said of someone with exceptional power or ability. The image of “filling” usually means under the control of the Spirit, so that the Spirit is the dominant force in the life.

[31:3] ²sn The following qualities are the ways in which the Spirit’s enablement will be displayed. “Skill” is the ability to produce something valuable to God and the community, “understanding” is the ability to distinguish between things, to perceive the best way to follow, and “knowledge” is the experiential awareness of how things are done.

[31:3] ³tn Heb “and in all work”; “all” means “all kinds of” here.

[31:4] ⁴tn The expression is לַחְשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבֹת (lakhshov makhashavot, “to devise devices”). The infinitive emphasizes that Bezalel will be able to design or plan works that are artistic or skillful. He will think thoughts or devise the plans, and then he will execute them in silver or stone or whatever other material he uses.

[31:6] ⁵tn The expression uses the independent personal pronoun (“and I”) with the deictic particle (“behold”) to enforce the subject of the verb – “and I, indeed I have given.”

[31:6] ⁶tn Heb “and in the heart of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom.”

[31:6] ⁷tn The form is a perfect with vav (ו) consecutive. The form at this place shows the purpose or the result of what has gone before, and so it is rendered “that they may make.”