Bible Strands
Exodus 35:25
Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative records the Israelites contributing raw materials for the tabernacle after Moses relays divine instructions. The text notes this contribution moment alongside offerings of silver, bronze, and acacia wood.
The words — חַכְמַת לֵב (chakhmat lev) literally means “skillful of heart,” describing the women’s divine enablement for textile work. The verb טָו֑וּ (ta.Vu) translates as “they spun,” emphasizing the manual labor involved.
The thread — The motif of skilled women appears in Proverbs 14:1, where wisdom or folly is tied to a woman’s hands. The New Testament echoes women’s active service in Luke 8:2 and Romans 16:12.
Why it lands — The text records women voluntarily contributing hand-spun yarn and linen for sacred construction. It asks readers to recognize skilled labor as a concrete offering rather than an abstract devotion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
- Luke 8:2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
- Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
- Exodus 28:3 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.
- Exodus 31:6 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:
- Exodus 36:1 “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.”
- Proverbs 31:19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
- Acts 9:39 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.
- Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
- Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.