The Meaning of Exodus 31:18 Explained

Exodus 31:18

KJV: And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

YLT: And He giveth unto Moses, when He finisheth speaking with him in mount Sinai, two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written by the finger of God.

Darby: And he gave to Moses, when he had ended speaking with him on mount Sinai, the two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

ASV: And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he gave  unto Moses,  when he had made an end  of communing  with him upon mount  Sinai,  two  tables  of testimony,  tables  of stone,  written  with the finger  of God. 

What does Exodus 31:18 Mean?

Study Notes

tables of stone
.
shalt not make
There is a threefold giving of the law. First, orally, in Exodus 20:1-17 . This was pure law, with no provision of priesthood and sacrifice for failure, and was accompanied by the "judgments"; Exodus 21:1 to Exodus 23:13 ; relating to the relations of Hebrew with Hebrew; to which were added Exodus 23:14-19 directions for keeping three annual feasts, and Exodus 23:20-33 instructions for the conquest of Canaan. These words Moses communicated to the people. Exodus 24:3-8 . Immediately, in the persons of their elders, they were admitted to the fellowship of God. Exodus 24:9-11 .
Second, Moses was then called up to receive the tables of stone. Exodus 24:12-18 . The story then divides. Moses, in the mount, receives the gracious instructions concerning the tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrifice (Exodus 25-31.) Meantime (Exodus 32.), the people, led by Aaron, break the first commandment. Moses, returning, breaks the tables "written with the finger of God."; Exodus 31:18 ; Exodus 32:16-19 .
Third, the second tables were made by Moses, and the law again written by the hand of Jehovah Exodus 34:1 ; Exodus 34:28 ; Exodus 34:29 ; Deuteronomy 10:4 .

Context Summary

Exodus 31:1-18 - Wise Workmen For The Tabernacle
Whenever there is special work to be done God will find and endow the men who are to do it. "I have called,"¦ I have filled,"¦ I have appointed," etc. There is a niche for each of us in God's service, to each a special work is given; and for each those talents are imparted, which are requisite and adequate. "Created unto good works," says the Apostle, "which God has before prepared that we should walk in them," Ephesians 2:10. The talent for the sphere and the sphere for the talent-God's call binding the two with golden clasps.
But amid all our work for God there should be Sabbath-keeping-i.e., the inner rest of the soul. We are by nature full of our own works and schemes and plans; but when the spirit of rest enters us, all this is altered. Then we are not agents, but instruments; we do not work for God, but God works through us; we enter into His rest, and cease from ourselves. See Hebrews 4:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 31

1  Bezaleel and Aholiah are appointed for the work of the tabernacle
12  The observation of the Sabbath is again commanded
18  Moses receives the two tablets

What do the individual words in Exodus 31:18 mean?

And He gave unto Moses when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai two tablets of the Testimony of stone written with the finger of God
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֗ה כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְדַבֵּ֤ר אִתּוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י שְׁנֵ֖י לֻחֹ֣ת הָעֵדֻ֑ת אֶ֔בֶן כְּתֻבִ֖ים בְּאֶצְבַּ֥ע אֱלֹהִֽים

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן  And  He  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מֹשֶׁ֗ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙  when  He  had  made  an  end 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
לְדַבֵּ֤ר  of  speaking 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אִתּוֹ֙  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בְּהַ֣ר  on  Mount 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
סִינַ֔י  Sinai 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: סִינַי  
Sense: the mountain where Moses received the Law from Jehovah; located at the southern end of the Sinai peninsula between the horns of the Red Sea; exact site unknown.
שְׁנֵ֖י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
לֻחֹ֣ת  tablets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לוּחַ  
Sense: board, slab, tablet, plank.
הָעֵדֻ֑ת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
אֶ֔בֶן  of  stone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
כְּתֻבִ֖ים  written 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בְּאֶצְבַּ֥ע  with  the  finger 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶצְבַּע  
Sense: finger, toe.
אֱלֹהִֽים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).