Exodus 36:4 kjv
And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
Exodus 36:4 nkjv
Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing,
Exodus 36:4 niv
So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing
Exodus 36:4 esv
so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,
Exodus 36:4 nlt
Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work.
Exodus 36 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 31:3-6 | ...I have filled him with the Spirit of God... and skill for every work. | Divine enablement for work. |
| Exod 35:10 | “Let every skillful person among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded…” | Call to skilled individuals. |
| Exod 35:21 | Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came… | Willingness to contribute. |
| Exod 35:29 | The sons of Israel, all the men and women whose heart moved them to bring… | Freewill offering from all. |
| Exod 35:30-35 | The LORD has filled him with the Spirit of God… to do all work… | God equipping specific individuals. |
| Exod 36:5-7 | "The people are bringing much more than is enough…" | The direct result of their gathering. |
| Neh 4:6 | ...for the people had a heart to work. | Diligence in building God's house. |
| Prov 10:4 | Lazy hands make a person poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. | Contrast to idleness; value of diligent work. |
| Prov 22:29 | Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings… | Recognition of skilled labor. |
| Hag 1:8 | "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. | God desires building of His house. |
| 1 Chr 29:6-9 | Then the heads of the fathers’ households and the leaders… offered willingly… | Joyful and voluntary giving for God's work. |
| 1 Cor 12:7-11 | But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. | Spiritual gifts for service. |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | And God has appointed in the church first apostles… then teachers… helpers… | God appoints various roles in His church. |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works… | Created to do good works for God. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets… for the equipping of the saints for the work of service… | God gifting individuals for building up the body. |
| Rom 12:6-8 | Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us… | Diverse gifts for various forms of service. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Principle of cheerful and willing giving. |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. | God's enabling work within believers. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men… | Working with dedication for the Lord. |
| Heb 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please Him… | Faith required in obeying God's commands. |
| Jas 2:18 | Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. | Faith demonstrated through action. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 4 Meaning
Exodus 36:4 describes the response of the divinely gifted and skilled craftsmen working on the Tabernacle. It signifies their immediate action to cease their individual tasks and assemble upon recognizing an unusual circumstance concerning the abundant offerings from the people, foreshadowing the message they were about to deliver in the following verses regarding the excessive generosity of Israel. It highlights their dedication, preparedness, and discernment in the service of God's sanctuary.
Exodus 36 4 Context
Exodus 36:4 occurs in the midst of the Tabernacle's construction phase. Immediately prior, Moses had communicated God's instructions to the Israelites for bringing their freewill offerings, emphasizing a spirit of willingness (Exod 35:4-29). The response of the people was overwhelmingly generous, even beyond expectation. Chapter 36 opens with Moses gathering Bezalel, Oholiab, and all other divinely gifted craftsmen, reminding them of God's commission and their anointing for the sacred work (Exod 36:1-3).
The historical context is critical: Israel had just been delivered from Egyptian bondage and received the Law at Sinai. The Tabernacle symbolized God's presence among His redeemed people, a dwelling place for the holy God in the midst of a sinful nation, thus allowing worship and covenant fellowship. This verse highlights the practical aspect of this divine endeavor – the coordination of skilled labor and resources for a monumental, sacred project that stood as a stark contrast to the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, where human effort constructed lifeless idols rather than a dwelling for the living God. The craftsmen's immediate attention to the overflow of gifts underscores the gravity and sacredness of their work.
Exodus 36 4 Word analysis
- So: This word connects the verse to the preceding narrative, particularly the abundance of contributions. It indicates a consequential action; because the people gave excessively (as will be revealed in subsequent verses), the craftsmen were prompted to act.
- all the skillful men: (Heb. kol-haḥăḵāmim - כָּל-הַֽחֲכָמִ֔ים). "Skillful" here implies more than mere craftsmanship. It refers to those specifically gifted with "wisdom" (
ḥokhmah), "understanding" (tevunah), and "knowledge" (da‘at) by God's Spirit for the work of the Tabernacle (Exod 31:3-6; 35:31-35). These are not common laborers, but individuals divinely endowed for a sacred task, emphasizing God's role in equipping His servants. - who were doing any work: Denotes that they were already actively engaged in their commissioned tasks. They were diligent and about their specific assigned portions of the Tabernacle's construction. This highlights their dedication to the project before being interrupted by the unexpected.
- on the sanctuary: (Heb. melekhet ha-kodesh - מְלֶ֨אכֶת הַקֹּ֤דֶשׁ). Refers to the "work of the holy place/thing." This phrase underscores the sacred nature of their labor. It was not mere construction but service for the dwelling place of God, set apart for divine purposes. This detail reinforces the spiritual significance over the mundane.
- came: Implies a collective, immediate, and responsive movement. They did not ignore the situation or continue their work as usual. They paused their labor to address the developing circumstance concerning the offerings. This quick assembly suggests unity and a shared awareness of the project's spiritual gravity.
- each from the work: Emphasizes individual responsibility and the specialized nature of their tasks. Though part of a collective effort, each person was dedicated to their particular craft or role within the overall building process. It also indicates that they halted their specific, individual duties.
- which he was doing: Reiteration for emphasis that they left their active, ongoing work. This signifies a departure from the established routine due to an unprecedented event (the excessive contributions). Their ability to recognize and respond to this unexpected situation indicates their attentiveness and responsibility.
Exodus 36 4 Bonus section
The spontaneous nature of the craftsmen's gathering points to their close collaboration and effective leadership under Moses, Bezalel, and Oholiab. This was not a pre-scheduled meeting but an immediate response to an unfolding situation. It serves as a reminder that divine work often requires flexibility and prompt action in unexpected circumstances, whether it is abundance or scarcity. The event also underlines the importance of honest reporting in handling consecrated goods; the craftsmen quickly conveyed the people's over-giving rather than retaining it, embodying integrity in stewardship for the Lord's treasury.
Exodus 36 4 Commentary
Exodus 36:4 provides a snapshot of efficient, divinely-guided, and Spirit-enabled work. The "skillful men" were not self-proclaimed experts but those supernaturally empowered by God for His sacred commission (Exod 31:3-5). Their response—pausing their work and assembling—highlights a commendable promptness and attentiveness to the needs of the sanctuary project. This was a unique situation: instead of scarcity, there was overwhelming abundance. This unexpected surplus necessitated their collective consultation, demonstrating both humility and wise stewardship in managing the dedicated resources for God's glory. The verse implicitly testifies to the remarkable generosity of the Israelite people, which exceeded even the immense requirements for the Tabernacle's construction, challenging the workers to manage not too little, but too much. This spirit of eager giving, combined with skilled and Spirit-led labor, forms a beautiful illustration of God's people collaborating effectively to achieve His purposes.