Exodus — Chapter 35

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1Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:

2For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death.

3Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

4Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:

5Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;

6blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;

7ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

12the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

13the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

20Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses.

21And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

22So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

23Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.

24And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.

26And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.

27The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,

28as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

32to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,

33to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.

34And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

1And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These

2Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

3Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

4And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This

5Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever

6And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’

7And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,

8And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

9And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

10And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

11The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,

12The ark, and the staves thereof,

13The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,

14The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,

15And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,

16The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,

17The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,

18The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,

19The cloths of service, to do service in the holy

20And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing,

22And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted,

23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’

24Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought

25And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun,

26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’

27And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

28And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

29The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

30And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

31And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

32And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

33And in the cutting of stones, to set

34And he hath put in his heart that he may teach,

35Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver,

1And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them, These are the words which Jehovah hath commanded, that ye should do them.

2Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.

3Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

4And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded, saying,

5Take ye from among you an offering unto Jehovah; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Jehovah`s offering: gold, and silver, and brass,

6and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair],

7and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood,

8and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

9and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

10And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded:

11the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

12the ark, and the staves thereof, the mercy-seat, and the veil of the screen;

13the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread;

14the candlestick also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light;

15and the altar of incense, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, it staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base;

17the hangings of the court, the pillars thereof, and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;

18the pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords;

19the finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office.

20And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, [and] brought Jehovah`s offering, for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all the service thereof, and for the holy garments.

22And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, [and] brought brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold unto Jehovah.

23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair], and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, brought them.

24Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought Jehovah`s offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.

25And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.

26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats` [hair].

27And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

28and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

29The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto Jehovah; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Jehovah had commanded to be made by Moses.

30And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, Jehovah hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31And he hath filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

32and to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

33and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship.

34And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, and of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any workmanship, and of those that devise skilful works.

1Moses assembled the whole community of the Israelites and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do.

2In six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on it will be put to death.

3You must not kindle a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.”

4Moses spoke to the whole community of the Israelites, “This is the word that the Lord has commanded:

5‘Take an offering for the Lord. Let everyone who has a willing heart bring an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, bronze;

6blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen; goats’ hair;

7ram skins dyed red; fine leather; acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9onyx stones, and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece.

10Every skilled person among you is to come and make all that the Lord has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent, its covering, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, its posts, and its bases;

12the ark, with its poles, the atonement lid, and the special curtain that conceals it;

13the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand for the light and its accessories, its lamps, and oil for the light;

15and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense; the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle;

16the altar for the burnt offering with its bronze grating that is on it, its poles, and all its utensils; the large basin and its pedestal;

17the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and its bases, and the curtain for the gateway to the courtyard;

18tent pegs for the tabernacle and tent pegs for the courtyard and their ropes;

19the woven garments for serving in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to minister as priests.’”

20So the whole community of the Israelites went out from the presence of Moses.

21Everyone whose heart stirred him to action and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought the offering for the Lord for the work of the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

22They came, men and women alike, all who had willing hearts. They brought brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments, all kinds of gold jewelry, and everyone came who waved a wave offering of gold to the Lord.

23Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, ram skins dyed red, or fine leather brought them.

24Everyone making an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any work of the service brought it.

25Every woman who was skilled spun with her hands and brought what she had spun, blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen,

26and all the women whose heart stirred them to action and who were skilled spun goats’ hair.

27The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted for the ephod and the breastpiece,

28and spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

29The Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, every man and woman whose heart was willing to bring materials for all the work that the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

30Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31He has filled him with the Spirit of God—with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and in all kinds of work—

32to design artistic designs, to work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,

33and in cutting stones for their setting, and in cutting wood, to do work in every artistic craft.

34And he has put it in his heart to teach, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, as designers, as embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and in fine linen, and as weavers. They are craftsmen in all the work and artistic designers.

1Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them.

2‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death.

3You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’”

4Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh commanded, saying,

5‘Take from among you an offering to Yahweh. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Yahweh’s offering: gold, silver, brass,

6blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,

7rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,

8oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,

9onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.

10“‘Let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Yahweh has commanded:

11the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;

12the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen;

13the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread;

14the lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;

15and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;

17the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;

18the pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords;

19the finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.’”

20All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s offering, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments.

22They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to Yahweh.

23Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.

24Everyone who offered an offering of silver and brass brought Yahweh’s offering; and everyone, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.

25All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.

26All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.

27The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate;

28with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

29The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Yahweh had commanded to be made by Moses.

30Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

31He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship;

32and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass,

33in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship.

34He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Moses reminds the people to keep the Sabbath, then relays God's instructions for the Tabernacle, calling for freewill offerings of gold, silver, fine fabrics, and skins from anyone whose heart moves them (vv. 1-19). The people respond with remarkable generosity, men and women alike bringing materials and offering their skills willingly (vv. 20-29). Moses again identifies Bezalel and Oholiab as the Spirit-filled craftsmen chosen to lead the work and teach others their skills (vv. 30-35).

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Classification: Law and Narrative — Tabernacle Construction
Key Themes: The Sabbath stated before the building begins, offerings taken only from willing hearts, skill named as a gift rather than a qualification, and craftsmen announced publicly to the people who will fund them
Historical Context: Exodus 35 marks the transition from instruction to execution. After the golden calf crisis (ch. 32), God's presence restored (ch. 33), and the covenant renewed (ch. 34), Moses now assembles the people to begin the actual construction of the tabernacle. Chapters 35-40 largely parallel chapters 25-31, but with a crucial difference: chapters 25-31 record God's commands; chapters 35-40 record Israel's obedience. The repetition is intentional — it demonstrates faithful execution of divine instruction. The chapter opens with the Sabbath command (vv.1-3), reinforcing the principle established in 31:12-17: even sacred construction work must honor God's rest. Then Moses calls for freewill offerings (vv.4-19), and the people respond with extraordinary generosity — "every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing" (v.21). The emphasis on willing hearts appears repeatedly (vv.5, 21, 22, 26, 29), establishing that God's house is built not by compulsion but by joyful, Spirit-prompted generosity. The chapter concludes with the formal announcement of Bezalel and Oholiab as the Spirit-filled craftsmen (vv.30-35), now presented publicly to the congregation. What God revealed privately to Moses in chapter 31 is now declared to all Israel. The people know who will lead the work and that God Himself has equipped them.
The Sabbath First (vv.1-3): Before a single instruction about building is repeated, the Sabbath is restated with one addition — kindle no fire in your dwellings on the sabbath day. Placing it here, at the head of the construction narrative rather than buried in it, repeats the guardrail of chapter 31. The work about to begin is holy and still does not override rest.
A Willing Heart (vv.4-19): The offering is defined by disposition rather than amount: whosoever is of a willing heart. Then the materials are itemised, gold through badgers' skins through oil and spices, followed by the list of everything to be made. Nothing is levied. A structure costing this much is funded entirely by people who choose to give.
The People Respond (vv.20-29): The response is described at unusual length, and its character matters: they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and brought bracelets, earrings, rings and tablets of gold. Women spun with their hands and brought what they had made. Verse 29 sums it up as a willing offering, and the emphasis on willingness across ten verses is the chapter's answer to the compulsion of the golden calf collection.
Bezalel and Oholiab Announced (vv.30-35): What God told Moses privately in chapter 31 is now announced publicly to the people who have just funded the work. The description of the gift is expansive — wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all manner of workmanship — and it ends by saying God has put it in their hearts to teach. The skill is not only to be used but transmitted.

Map & Geography

  • Israel remains encamped at Mount Sinai. Moses assembles the congregation and begins collecting materials for the Tabernacle construction.

Places on this map

  • Mount SinaiJebel Musa, Sinai Peninsula, EgyptTraditionally Jebel Musa in the granite mountains of the southern Sinai peninsula, about 7,500 feet high. The identification dates from Christian monastic tradition rather than from the text, and other candidates have been proposed, but this has been the pilgrimage site since the fourth century. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik highlights the contrast between the gold given for the calf (ch. 32) and the gold given for the tabernacle — same material, opposite purposes. He emphasizes that willing-hearted giving is the only kind God accepts.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

The Right Way to Receive an Offering - Exodus 35:4-5
David Guzik

Exodus 35-40 | Building the Tabernacle | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Exodus 35:1-36:7 - I AM God of Much More
David Guzik

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: the shape of the rescue from Egypt and where the story is going.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Exodus -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Rest Commanded Before the Work Begins (vv.1-3) — Moses reiterates the Sabbath command before ever calling for offerings or labor to start. Why do you think God insists on rest before productivity, even holy productivity, and how does that guard you against making an idol of busyness?
  • Giving That Flows From a Willing Heart (v.5) — God asks only for offerings from those whose hearts are willing, never from compulsion. Do you give out of joy and willingness, or mostly obligation?
  • The Same Gold, Redirected (v.22) — The gold jewelry the people once gave toward an idol is now given toward God's dwelling place, redeemed desires redirecting the same resources toward worship instead of sin. What resources in your own life need that kind of redirection?
  • Everyone Had Something to Contribute (vv.25-29) — Men and women alike gave materials, skill, and labor; no one was excluded from having a part. What has God given you — time, talent, or resources — that you could contribute to His work right now?
  • Gifted to Teach, Not Just to Build (v.34) — Bezalel wasn't only equipped to construct the tabernacle himself; God gave him the ability to teach others. How are you using what God has given you to invest in and equip others, not just to serve on your own?