Exodus 39:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The artisans flattened gold into sheets and drew it into fine threads to be woven among the colored fabrics.
The Context of Exodus 39:3
The technical process of making the ephod's gold components is described.
What Does Exodus 39:3 Mean?
Creating gold wires required skilled metalwork—pounding solid gold until thin enough to cut into threads. This painstaking process transformed precious metal into a medium that could be integrated throughout the fabric, making the entire ephod shimmer and catch the light.
The phrase 'cunning work' reflects the sophisticated weaving technique required to blend gold threads with textile fibers without breaking either. This integration of metal and cloth represented the melding of two different crafts into a single, unified sacred garment.
Exodus 39:3 in the Original Language
cunning work (חשׁבן mishbetzet) — skillfully patterned work, intricate and deliberately designed
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 39:3
What does Exodus 39:3 mean?
The artisans flattened gold into sheets and drew it into fine threads to be woven among the colored fabrics.
What is the context of Exodus 39:3?
The technical process of making the ephod's gold components is described.