What does Exodus 35:25 mean?
ESV: And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.
NIV: Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen.
NASB: And all the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun, in violet, purple, and scarlet material, and in fine linen.
CSB: Every skilled woman spun yarn with her hands and brought it: blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
NLT: All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth.
KJV: 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.
NKJV: All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Exodus 35; verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Exodus 35:20–29 records Israel's response to a call for donations (Exodus 35:4–9). God has asked the people to contribute, voluntarily, to construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). They bring so much material that Moses asks them to stop donating (Exodus 36:4–5).
Chapter Summary:
The tabernacle-building project begins with a reminder about Sabbath-keeping. The subtext is that even temple-building work is still "work," and cannot be done on the Sabbath. Using nearly the exact same words from prior passages, Scripture records the people donating materials. Moses assigns Bezalel and Oholiab as project managers, training and overseeing as Israelites create sacred objects.
Chapter Context:
The Lord gave Moses extensive designs for the tabernacle (Exodus 25—31). He has just renewed the covenant (Exodus 34) broken by Israelite sin (Exodus 32). Now, Moses begins repeating these instructions to the people. The next several chapters will record Israel following God's directions closely, completing the sanctuary.
Book Summary:
The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.
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