Bible Glide

Exodus 35 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Exodus 35 gathers the commands for Sabbath rest, willing gifts, and Spirit-given skill. Moses calls the people to respond with both obedience and generosity as the tabernacle work begins. The chapter shows that worship involves rest, giving, and serving with the abilities God supplies.

What happens in Exodus 35?

Moses assembles Israel and restates the Sabbath as a holy day set apart for the LORD. He then calls for freewill offerings from anyone whose heart is willing, listing the materials needed for the tabernacle and its ministry. The people respond with generous gifts, and skilled men and women bring their work and resources. The chapter closes with Bezalel and Oholiab named and filled with God-given skill, wisdom, and the ability to teach others.

Exodus 35 follows the renewal of the covenant after Israel's failure with the golden calf and Moses' time on the mountain. The tabernacle instructions now move from command to action. This chapter begins the communal response that leads into the actual construction in the next chapter.

  • Sabbath RestGod sets apart the seventh day as holy rest, marking trust and obedience before work.
  • Willing GivingThe people are invited to bring offerings freely, showing that God's dwelling is built through generous hearts.
  • Spirit-Given SkillBezalel, Oholiab, and the craftsmen receive wisdom and ability from God for practical service.
  • What does the Sabbath command in this chapter teach about trust and obedience?
  • Why is the people s willing response important to the building of the tabernacle?
  • How does God use skill and teaching ability in Bezalel and Oholiab for his work?

Read the full text of Exodus 35 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Exodus 35

The Sabbath

1Then Moses assembled the whole congregation of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:2For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death.3Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Offerings for the Tabernacle

4Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:

5Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD:

gold, silver, and bronze;

6blue, purple, and scarlet yarn;

fine linen and goat hair;

7ram skins dyed red and fine leather;

acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light;

spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

The Skilled Craftsmen

10Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

12the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

13the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles;

the anointing oil and fragrant incense;

the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils;

the basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

The People Offer Gifts

20Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses.21And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.22So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.23Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.24And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.26And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.27The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,28as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.29So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab

30Then 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 has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,32to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,33to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.34And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.35He 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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