Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 31:3
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
3. the spirit of God ] Regarded in the OT. as the source of any exceptional power or activity of man, as well as of supernatural spiritual gifts: see e.g. (in different connexions) Gen 41:38, Num 11:17, Deu 34:9 (of administrative capacity), Jdg 3:10, 1Sa 11:6 ; 1Sa 16:13, Mic 3:8, Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1; and cf. the writer’s Genesis, p. 4; DB. ii. 403 a : here, of exceptional artistic capacity.
in ] i.e. displaying itself in.
wisdom ] of artistic skill, as v. 6, Exo 28:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. I have filled him with the spirit of God] See Clarke on Ex 28:3.
In wisdom] , chochmah, from chacham, to be wise, skilful, or prudent, denoting the compass of mind and strength of capacity necessary to form a wise man: hence our word wisdom, the power of judging what is wise or best to be done; from the Saxon, [Anglo-Saxon], to teach, to advise, and [Anglo-Saxon], to judge; hence [Anglo-Saxon], the doom or judgment of the well taught, wise, or prudent man.
Understanding] tebunah, from ban or bun, to separate, distinguish, discern; capacity to comprehend the different parts of a work, how to connect, arrange, c., in order to make a complete whole.
Knowledge] daath, denoting particular acquaintance with a person or thing practical, experimental knowledge.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have filled him with the spirit of God, which was now necessary, because the Israelites in Egypt wanted ingenious education to learn these things, and therefore needed inspiration.
In wisdom, or, with wisdom, the following clauses being explicatory of the former, showing what gifts of the Spirit God had filled him with, to wit, wisdom, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3-5. I have filled him with thespirit of GodIt is probable that he was naturally endowed witha mechanical genius, and had acquired in Egypt great knowledge andskill in the useful, as well as liberal, arts so as to be afirst-class artisan, competent to take charge of both the plain andornamental work, which the building of the sacred edifice required.When God has any special work to be accomplished, He always raises upinstruments capable of doing it; and it is likely that He had givento the son of Uri that strong natural aptitude and thoseopportunities of gaining mechanical skill, with an ultimate view tothis responsible office. Notwithstanding that his grand duty was toconform with scrupulous fidelity to the pattern furnished, there wasstill plenty of room for inventive talent and tasteful exactness inthe execution; and his natural and acquired gifts were enlarged andinvigorated for the important work.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God,…. Not with the special graces of the Spirit, or with spiritual gifts fitting for spiritual service in the knowledge of spiritual things, and the instruction of men in them, though, no doubt, he might have them; but with the gifts of ingenuity and skill in manual arts, and mechanical operations, as follows:
in wisdom, and in understanding, and in all manner of workmanship; these explain what is meant by the Spirit of God he was filled with; namely, with a sufficient measure of natural wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in all sorts of workmanship hereafter mentioned, to qualify him for his office as a director therein; that is, he had such a share of knowledge of what was to be wrought, such wisdom and understanding in the ingenious and curious manner of working them, that though he did not work with his own hands, yet could teach, guide, and direct others how to do them: and this was not an ordinary but an extraordinary gift of knowledge of these things; nor was it owing to a fruitful invention, nor to long study and contrivance; but it was by the immediate inspiration of the Spirit of God, which was necessary at this time, the Israelites being now in a general state of ignorance of all ingenious arts and sciences, having lived so many years in a state of servitude, and scarce knew anything but making of bricks: and it may be observed, that God never calls any to any work or service of his but he qualifies for it: in all this Bezaleel was a type of Christ, who was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure; and on whom rested the spirit of wisdom and of counsel, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and who, as God’s righteous and faithful servant as Mediator, dealt wisely and prudently in all his administrations.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3-4) I have filled him with the spirit of God . . . to devise cunning works.Every good gift and every perfect gift (intellectual power no less than others) is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17). Artistic ability is a Divine gift, a very precious gift, best employed in Gods direct service, and always to be employed in subordination to His will, as an improving, elevating, and refiningnot as a corruptinginfluence.
In wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge.By wisdom is probably meant the power to invent and originate artistic forms; by understanding, the ability to appreciate artistic suggestions received from others; by knowledge, acquaintance with the methods and processes of art. Bezaleel was to possess all these gifts.
In all manner of workmanship.He was also to possess that wonderful dexterity of hand on which the power of artistic execution mainly depends.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Filled him with the spirit of God There is no need of explaining this as equivalent merely to the phrase “a divine spirit,” or translating “a spirit of God.” The Holy Spirit of God is intended, which quickened all Bezaleel’s mental faculties, and enriched him with such a degree of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge that he was recognized as divinely gifted with the required qualifications for all manner of workmanship which the construction and erection of the tabernacle called for.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Ver. 3. And I have filled him. ] God gifts whomsoever he calls to any employment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the gifts of the Holy Spirit
God. Hebrew. Elohim.the Creator. App-4.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in verses Exo 31:3-5, emphasising the four particulars and details.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
filled: Exo 35:31, 1Ki 3:9, 1Ki 7:14, Isa 28:6, Isa 28:26, 1Co 12:4-11
the spirit of God: Ruach Elohim, rather, “a spirit of God;” which is a usual Hebraism, signifying “an excellent spirit;” or, as we should now say, “a distinguished genius for the work he had to perform.” No man, by course of reading or study, ever acquired a genius of any kind: we call it natural, and say it was born with the man: Moses teaches us to consider it divine. The prophet Isaiah – Isa 28:24-29, pointedly refers to this sort of teaching as coming from God, even in the most common and less difficult arts of life. Dark as the heathens were, yet they acknowledged that all talents and the seeds of all arts came from God.
Reciprocal: Exo 28:3 – wise hearted Exo 35:35 – he filled Deu 34:9 – full of the spirit 1Ch 22:15 – all manner 1Ch 28:21 – all manner 2Ch 2:7 – cunning 2Ch 2:14 – skilful Job 38:36 – who hath given Pro 2:6 – the Lord Pro 8:12 – knowledge Dan 2:21 – he giveth 1Co 12:8 – is given Jam 1:5 – any Jam 1:17 – good 2Pe 3:15 – according
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 31:3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God And, Exo 31:6, In the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom. Skill in common employments is the gift of God; it is he that puts even this wisdom into the inward parts, Job 38:36. He teacheth the husbandman discretion, Isa 28:26; and the tradesman too, and he must have the praise of it. Although it is probable that the arts were carried to a great height at this period in Egypt; yet, considering the state of slavery in which the Israelites had been held there, and the hard labour to which they had been compelled, it is not to be supposed that many of them had made any proficiency therein, or were qualified for such curious workmanship as had been prescribed. But that God who often chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise; who took the apostles from their fishing-boats, and from other low occupations, and enabled them to speak fluently and correctly in the languages of all nations to which they were sent to preach; endued the persons here mentioned with the skill requisite for the work to which they were appointed. A late commentator remarks here, Neither Moses nor Aaron, nor any of Aarons sons, were appointed to this service; the honour already conferred must suffice for them, and if they attended to their proper work, they would find that also sufficient. Nor were Mosess sons appointed; for it was the Lords will that his disinterestedness and divine legation should appear illustrious in the obscurity of his posterity.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of {b} workmanship,
(b) This shows that handicrafts are the gifts of God’s spirit, and therefore ought to be esteemed.