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*Scripture verses covered in this section's commentary are noted in italics

Exodus 35:10-19 meaning

Verses covered in this passage:

  • Exodus 35:10
  • Exodus 35:11
  • Exodus 35:12
  • Exodus 35:13
  • Exodus 35:14
  • Exodus 35:15
  • Exodus 35:16
  • Exodus 35:17
  • Exodus 35:18
  • Exodus 35:19

The LORD calls for craftsmen, artisans, and other skilled workers to come forward for the building of the tabernacle. They were needed to build the tabernacle itself as well as the furniture, utensils, and other items that were going to be used in the worship of the LORD.

Moses then told the people to let every skillful man among you come. The phrase skillful man is literally “wisdom of heart,” meaning one with artistic skill. These artists and craftsmen were needed to make all that the Lord has commanded.

The items that these craftsmen were to make are listed in verses 11 – 19. The first item mentioned was the tabernacle along with all the components—its tent and its covering, its hooks and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets.

tabernacle-1Exodus 35:10-19

Next, the ark and its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain of the screen, were items that would be placed in the Holy of Holies, the most sacred part of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:33f). The poles were for carrying the ark and the mercy seat during their journey to the Promised Land, and the curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place inside the tabernacle.

The items listed next are the furniture and fixtures that would be in the Holy Place:

  • The table and its poles, and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence (v. 13). The “poles” were used to carry the Table of Shewbread.
  • The lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light (v. 14).
  • The altar of incense and its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense (v. 15).
  • The screen for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle (v. 15).

Then the items associated with the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle were listed:

  • The altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand (v. 16).
  • The hangings of the court, its pillars and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court (v. 17).
  • The pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords (v. 18).

Finally, the garments worn by the priests were listed:

  • The woven garments for ministering in the holy place (v. 19).
  • The holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests (v. 19).

All these instructions Moses gives the people are consistent with the instructions Moses received from God relating to how to build the tabernacle in chapters 25-31.

Biblical Text

10 ‘Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain of the screen; 13 the table and its poles, and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense and its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords; 19 the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’”



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