Exodus Chapter 31 verse 4 Holy Bible
to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
read chapter 31 in ASV
To do all sorts of delicate work in gold and silver and brass;
read chapter 31 in BBE
to devise artistic work -- to work in gold, and in silver, and in copper,
read chapter 31 in DARBY
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
read chapter 31 in KJV
To devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
read chapter 31 in WBT
to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
read chapter 31 in WEB
to devise devices to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
read chapter 31 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 4, 5. - The result of these gifts would be to enable him - 1. To devise cunning works - i.e., to design everything excellently; and 2. To work in all manner of workmanship - i.e., to carry out his designs with success. It has been said that "as everything that had to be done was prescribed in strict and precise detail, there was to be no exercise of original powers of invention nor of taste" (Cook); but this was scarcely so. The forms of the cherubim, the patterns to be woven into the stuffs, or embroidered on them, the shapes of the vessels, of the capitals of the pillars, and of the laver were not prescribed in the directions. Bezaleel and Aholiab would have had to design them after such a description as Moses could give of the "pattern" which he had seen in the mount. In doing this, there would be much room for the exercise of inventive power and taste.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4-5) Cunning works . . . in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones. . .--It is a characteristic of early art that it eschews specialism, and it is as nearly universal as possible. Theodore of Samos (ab. B.C. 600-560) was an architect, a worker in bronze, and an engraver of hard stones. Michael Angelo was an architect, painter, and sculptor. Giotto was the same, and also a worker in mosaic. It is some time before, in each particular people or country, the imitative arts become separated, and each artist aspires to eminence in one branch only. (Comp. the multiform artistic powers ascribed to Hiram of Tyre in chap. 214.)In cutting of stones, to set them--i.e., in gem-engraving. This branch of art was needed for engraving the names of the tribes upon the two onyxes of the ephod (Exodus 28:9), and upon the twelve precious stones of the breastplate (Exodus 28:17-18). It was an art very early practised both in Chaldaea and in Egypt. (See Note 2 on Exodus 28:8.)In carving of timber.--Rather, cutting of timber. The woodwork of the sanctuary was not "carved," but plain.