Skill

A trade or craft acquired by training or practice, or a special ability or expertise that may be an endowment of the Holy Spirit. Scripture lists many skills and abilities, particularly used in the building of the tabernacle and temple.

Skill offered in God's service

Exodus 35:10; 1 Chronicles 22:15–16 See also 1 Chronicles 28:21

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

You also have many workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work — in gold and silver, bronze and iron— craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”

Skill in particular crafts

In working metal

2 Chronicles 2:7 Judges 17:4; Acts 19:24; 1 Kings 7:14–15, 1 Kings 7:41–45 parallel 2 Chronicles 4:12–16; 2 Chronicles 3:5–7; Isaiah 46:6; 2 Timothy 4:14

Send me, therefore, a craftsman skilled in engraving to work with gold and silver, with bronze and iron, and with purple, crimson, and blue yarn. He will work with my craftsmen in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.

In working stone

1 Chronicles 22:2 See also 1 Kings 5:15–18 parallel 2 Chronicles 2:2; 1 Kings 6:36, 1 Kings 7:9–12

So David gave orders to gather the foreigners in the land of Israel, from whom he appointed stonecutters to prepare finished stones for building the house of God.

With timber

1 Kings 5:6 parallel 2 Chronicles 2:8–9 See also 1 Kings 6:14–36

Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”

With fabrics

Exodus 38:23 Exodus 26:1, Exodus 26:36, Exodus 28:39; Exodus 29:5, Exodus 39:1–5; Exodus 35:25 skill in spinning

With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

With music

1 Chronicles 15:22; 2 Chronicles 34:12–13; Psalm 33:3

Other skills

Genesis 25:27 hunting; 1 Kings 9:27; Ezekiel 27:8; Job 32:22 flattery; Psalm 45:1 writing; Psalm 58:5; Isaiah 3:3; Psalm 78:72 leadership; Jeremiah 2:33 love; Jeremiah 9:17 Mourning: professional mourners were a feature of life in Bible times; Jeremiah 50:9 fighting; Ezekiel 28:5 trading

Undesirable skills

In constructing idols

Isaiah 44:13 See also Isaiah 40:19–20, Isaiah 41:7; Jeremiah 10:9; Hosea 13:2; Acts 17:29

The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

Doing evil

Jeremiah 4:22 See also Isaiah 25:11; Ezekiel 21:31; Micah 7:3

“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

Acquiring skill

Through training

1 Chronicles 5:18; 2 Chronicles 2:13–14 Genesis 14:14; 2 Chronicles 26:11; 1 Chronicles 25:7 musical skill; Luke 6:40 teaching abilities; 1 Corinthians 9:25 Athletic prowess requires strict training; Hebrews 5:14 distinguishing good from evil through proper training

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors— valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle.

So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity. He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.

Skills given by God

Exodus 31:1–6 parallel Exodus 35:30–35 These skills may well have been developed through training, but they are recognised as gifts from God. See also Exodus 36:1–2; Deuteronomy 33:11 Moses prays for Levi's skills to be blessed by God; Isaiah 50:4 Skill in the right use of words comes from God; Romans 12:6–8 Special abilities are given by God to believers.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft. Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you: