And behold, I have appointed, literally “And I, behold, I gave,” uses the emphatic pronoun I, even before the word behold. New Revised Standard Version and others use “Moreover” for behold, but Good News Translation omits it entirely. (See the comment at 1.9.) I have appointed uses the common word for “give” or “place.” Here the meaning may also be “selected” (Good News Translation). With him Oholiab means, as Good News Translation puts it, “to work with him,” that is, with Bezalel. New International Version has “to help him,” and Revised English Bible has “to be his assistant.” The name Oholiab means “my father’s tent,” which seems appropriate for one who will help to build the Tent. (New English Bible and Revised English Bible transliterate it as “Aholiab,” but most translations have Oholiab.) He was the son of Ahisamach, who belonged to the tribe of Dan. (See the comment at verse 2.)

And I have given to all able men ability is literally “and in the heart of every skilled-of-heart I have given skill.” The word for given is the same word for appointed, and the word for able and ability is the same word for “ability” in verse 3. New Revised Standard Version has “I have given skill to all the skillful.” This may be understood as “special skill” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “the necessary skill” (New American Bible), in addition to the natural ability with which these men were born, but it may also refer simply to their natural ability. So Revised English Bible has “I have endowed every skilled craftsman with the skill which he has.” But the following phrase must also be considered.

That they may make, literally “and they will make,” is generally understood as “so that they will be able to make” (Translator’s Old Testament). Revised English Bible makes it a separate sentence, “They are to make.” Either interpretation is possible, but it should be clear that the ability of these men has been given by Yahweh. All that I have commanded you uses the singular you. This means, as Good News Translation puts it, “everything I have commanded to be made,” or “make everything exactly as I have commanded you” (Contemporary English Version). Note that the colon or dash is generally used at the end of this verse to introduce the list that follows in verses 7-9.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .