Exodus 39:32 kjv
Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
Exodus 39:32 nkjv
Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did.
Exodus 39:32 niv
So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:32 esv
Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did.
Exodus 39:32 nlt
And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 39 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Obedience to God's Commands | ||
| Deut 4:5-6 | "See, I have taught you statutes... that you may observe them in the land... observe them carefully, for this will be your wisdom..." | Observing God's commands brings wisdom. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you." | Adherence to the law ensures prosperity. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings... as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." | Obedience is preferred over mere ritual. |
| Ps 119:4 | "You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently." | God expects diligence in keeping commands. |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God... and walk in all the way that I command you...'" | Obedience as basis of covenant relationship. |
| Lk 11:28 | "But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" | Blessing found in hearing and obeying God's Word. |
| Jn 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Obedience as an expression of love for Christ. |
| Rom 6:16 | "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey... to obedience leading to righteousness?" | Obedience defines one's master, leading to righteousness. |
| Heb 5:9 | "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him." | Christ's salvation for those who obey Him. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | "chosen and destined by God the Father... for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood." | Predestined for obedience. |
| Divine Blueprint & Meticulous Execution | ||
| Exo 25:9 | "According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle... so you shall make it." | God provides precise patterns. |
| Exo 40:16 | "Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him." | Moses's perfect execution of God's commands. |
| Lev 8:36 | "Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord commanded through Moses." | Priestly consecration also followed exact orders. |
| Num 1:54 | "Thus the people of Israel did; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did." | Reiteration of Israel's obedience. |
| 1 Chr 28:19 | "All this he made clear to me in writing, by the hand of the Lord, all the workings of this plan." | David received written plans for the Temple from God. |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern...'" | Earthly sanctuary as a copy of heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:23-24 | "Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified... for Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, copies of the true things, but into heaven itself..." | Earthly Tabernacle as type for heavenly reality. |
| Completion and Perfection of God's Work | ||
| Gen 2:1-2 | "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished... And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done." | Divine completion of creation. |
| Ezra 6:14 | "They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes..." | Temple rebuilt by divine decree. |
| Jn 17:4 | "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." | Jesus' perfect completion of His Father's will. |
| Phil 1:6 | "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." | God brings His work to completion. |
| Rev 21:5-6 | "And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new'... 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega...'" | God's ultimate completion in the New Creation. |
Exodus 39 verses
Exodus 39 32 Meaning
Exodus 39:32 signifies the complete and perfect execution of the construction of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting by the Israelites. It highlights their precise obedience to every single command that the Lord had given to Moses concerning this sacred dwelling, marking the successful conclusion of a monumental, divinely-ordained task. The verse underscores God's meticulous instructions and the people's faithful response, affirming that the work was finished exactly as prescribed.
Exodus 39 32 Context
Exodus chapter 39 is part of a lengthy section in Exodus (chapters 25-31 and 35-40) that details the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as the priestly garments. This verse marks the culminating point in the description of the fabrication process, following the meticulous enumeration of each item (the ephod, breastpiece, robes, tunics, turbans, etc.) in previous verses of this chapter. The broader context is the establishment of Israel's unique covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai, where God provided specific instructions for a dwelling place among His people. This Tabernacle was to be the focal point of their worship, sacrifice, and divine communication, signifying God's presence in their midst as they journeyed through the wilderness. It serves as a physical representation of the theological truth that God desires to dwell with His people.
Exodus 39 32 Word analysis
Thus (וַתֵּ֕כֶל - vatēchel): This is a Hebrew waw-consecutive verb form from the root כָּלָה (kalah), meaning "to complete, finish, bring to an end." Its placement at the beginning emphatically declares the work's absolute termination and perfection. This word strongly echoes Genesis 2:1-2, where it states "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished" (וַיְכֻלּוּ - vayekhullu) concerning creation. This parallelism intentionally draws a link between the completion of creation by God and the completion of the Tabernacle by His people, implying the Tabernacle as a "new creation" or sacred space representing God's renewed order.
all the work (כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת - kol-melakhet): "All" (kol) indicates totality, encompassing every single aspect, detail, and component of the Tabernacle. "Work" (melakhet) refers to the skilled labor and craftsmanship involved in constructing the holy dwelling and its associated elements. This emphasizes that nothing was omitted, and every instruction was meticulously followed.
of the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן - ha-mishkan): From the root שָׁכַן (shakhan), meaning "to dwell, abide." Mishkan refers to the dwelling place or residence of God, specifically the portable sanctuary. It highlights God's imminent presence among His people, reinforcing the covenantal promise.
of the tent of meeting (אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד - ohel mo'ed): "Tent" (ohel) signifies its portable, temporary nature, reflecting Israel's journey in the wilderness. "Meeting" (mo'ed) refers to an appointed time or place of encounter. This term emphasizes the Tabernacle's function as the designated place where God would meet with Moses and the Israelites. The use of both "Tabernacle" (mishkan) and "Tent of Meeting" (ohel mo'ed) for the same structure highlights its dual nature: God's dwelling and His appointed place for covenantal communion.
was finished (וַתֵּ֕כֶל - vatēchel): Repetition of the initial verb "thus... was finished," creating an emphatic literary bracket or inclusio. This reinforces the idea of complete and unreserved finality, stressing that the construction was truly brought to its end.
and the children of Israel (בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל - b'nei Yisra'el): This emphasizes the collective responsibility and unified action of the entire community, not just the artisans. It demonstrates corporate obedience.
did (עָשׂוּ - asu): From the verb עָשָׂה (asah), meaning "to do, make, accomplish." It indicates active compliance and the carrying out of the divine commands.
according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses (כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה - k'chol asher-tzivvah YHWH et-Moshe): This phrase is a critical theological assertion, appearing frequently throughout the Tabernacle narrative (at least 7 times in chapters 39-40 alone). "According to all" (k'chol asher) reiterates comprehensive adherence. "Commanded" (tzivvah) signifies direct, divine imperative from YHWH, the covenant God. This precise obedience is fundamental to biblical theology: God provides the exact blueprint for His worship, and human responsibility is faithful execution. It stands in contrast to the spontaneous or humanly devised worship practices of pagan cultures or later Israelite disobedience. This constant repetition reinforces the divine origin and perfect human execution of the Tabernacle work, implicitly affirming its sanctity and legitimacy.
so did they (כֵּ֤ן עָשׂוּ - ken asu): A final confirming phrase. "So" (ken) is an adverb of affirmation, meaning "thus" or "exactly so." It emphatically seals the truth of their precise and perfect obedience. This literary device emphasizes divine approval and the fulfillment of God's will.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Thus all the work... was finished": This highlights the completeness and thoroughness of the task, paralleling divine acts of completion.
- "of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting": Shows the structure's dual identity as God's dwelling and the site of His covenantal appointments.
- "and the children of Israel did... according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so did they.": This is the core declaration of the Israelites' perfect and willing obedience, a vital theological concept throughout scripture. It confirms the work's divine authorization and the people's faithful execution, underscoring that the worship established was entirely God's design. This stands as a foundational principle of Old Covenant worship, emphasizing adherence to revelation.
Exodus 39 32 Bonus Section
The insistent repetition of the phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses" or "according to all that the Lord commanded Moses" (appearing roughly 7-8 times in Exodus 39, and numerous times throughout the Tabernacle chapters and into Exodus 40) is not mere redundancy. It's a key literary and theological motif. It functions as an omnipresent affirmation of the divine origin of the Tabernacle's design, reinforcing that its every detail was revealed, not conceived by human ingenuity. This repetitive affirmation establishes the Tabernacle's perfect conformity to the divine will, setting it apart from any human-made religious edifice. This divine blueprint ensured that the sanctuary was a pure vessel for God's glory and a true "pattern" of heavenly realities (Heb 8:5), contrasting with humanistic religious traditions. It teaches a vital lesson about discerning God's will and adhering to it precisely in matters of faith and practice.
Exodus 39 32 Commentary
Exodus 39:32 is a powerful statement about divine authority and human obedience in the context of sacred worship. It serves as a comprehensive summary of the preceding chapters' detailed accounts, emphatically declaring that the monumental task of constructing the Tabernacle was completed perfectly, precisely as commanded by God. The repeated phrase "according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses" underscores the absolute importance of following God's specific instructions without deviation. This meticulous adherence was not merely a matter of technical proficiency but a profound act of faithfulness and trust in God's divine wisdom. The Tabernacle was God's chosen means for His dwelling presence to be among His people; thus, its construction according to His exact specifications ensured its legitimacy, sanctity, and efficacy as a point of contact between a holy God and His redeemed people. This verse implicitly sets a standard for all future worship: it must be on God's terms, not man's.