Art and craftsmanship

Art and craftsmanship are skills God gives, and he filled Bezaleel and other workers with wisdom to make the tabernacle and its furnishings. This page lists verses on skill as a gift from God, the craftsmen of the tabernacle and temple, skilled musicians, trades, God as maker, and craftsmen who made idols.

Skill as a gift from God

• Exodus 31:1-6
  ¹And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,Then the LORD said to Moses, ²See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:“See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, ⁴To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ⁵And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft. ⁶And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:
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• Exodus 35:30-35
  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;Then 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 hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, ³²And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, ³³And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft. ³⁴And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 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, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.He 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.
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• Exodus 36:1-2
  ¹Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded.“So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.” ²And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted—everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work.
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• Exodus 28:3
  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.
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Making the tabernacle

• Exodus 25:8-9
  ⁸And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. ⁹According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.
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• Exodus 35:10
  And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded;Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:
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• Exodus 35:25-26
  ²⁵And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.Every skilled woman 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 up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.
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• Exodus 39:42-43
  ⁴²According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. ⁴³And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
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Building the temple

• 1 Kings 7:13-14
  ¹³And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.Now King Solomon sent to bring Huram from Tyre. ¹⁴He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.
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• 2 Chronicles 2:7
  Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.
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• 2 Chronicles 2:13-14
  ¹³And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity. ¹⁴The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.
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• 1 Chronicles 22:15-16
  ¹⁵Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work— ¹⁶Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee.in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”
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Skilled musicians

• Psalm 33:3
  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
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• 1 Samuel 16:16-18
  ¹⁶Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.” ¹⁷And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.” ¹⁸Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth–lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
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• 1 Chronicles 15:22
  And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
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Trades and makers

• Genesis 4:21-22
  ²¹And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. ²²And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah.And Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
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• Mark 6:3
  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
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• Acts 18:3
  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
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• Acts 9:39
  Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
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• Proverbs 31:19-22
  ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet. ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
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God the maker

• Jeremiah 18:3-6
  ³Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel. ⁴And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do. ⁵Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁶O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.“O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
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• Isaiah 64:8
  But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
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• Ephesians 2:10
  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
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• Hebrews 11:10
  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
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• Psalm 8:3
  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—
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Craftsmen who made idols

• Isaiah 40:19-20
  ¹⁹The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? ²⁰He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple?
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• Isaiah 44:12-17
  ¹²The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. ¹³The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. ¹⁴He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow. ¹⁵Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. ¹⁶He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” ¹⁷And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
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• Habakkuk 2:18
  What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
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• Acts 19:24-27
  ²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. ²⁵Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. ²⁶Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ²⁷So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”
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See also

• Work
• Creation
• Beauty
• Music
• Idolatry

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.