Exodus 36:4

so that all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrative describes the skilled craftsmen pausing their sanctuary construction after Moses distributes the Israelites' contributions and the people continue bringing freewill offerings. They halt their labor because the accumulated materials already exceed what is required.

The words — כּל (kol) translates to "all," and חֲכָמִים (cha.kha.Mim) translates to "skillful people," identifying the specific group authorized to execute the divine instructions.

The thread — The intersection of skilled labor, resource oversight, and delegated authority appears in Luke 12:42, 1 Corinthians 3:10, and 2 Chronicles 24:13.

Why it lands — The text states that the craftsmen stopped their work because the people's contributions surpassed the commanded requirement. It asks the reader to recognize that obedience to specific instructions can legitimately halt productive effort when the prescribed threshold is met.

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

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙va/i.ya.Vo.'uand/ they came כָּל־kol-all הַ֣חֲכָמִ֔יםha./cha.kha.Mimthe/ skillful [people]הָעֹשִׂ֕יםha./'o.Simwho/ were doing אֵ֖ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-all מְלֶ֣אכֶתme.Le.khet[the] work of הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁha./Ko.deshthe/ holy place אִֽישׁ־'ish-person אִ֥ישׁ'ishperson מִמְּלַאכְתּ֖וֹmi./me.lakh.T/ofrom/ work/ his אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which הֵ֥מָּהHe.mahthey עֹשִֽׂים׃'o.Sim[were] doing

King James Version

And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;

Cross-references

Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen labored, and in their hands the repair work progressed. They restored the house of God according to its specifications, and they reinforced it.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?