The Fallible · Synthetic · Study Bible

Exodus35:20–29

The People Offer Gifts

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Exodus 35:20–29 — The People Offer Gifts. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

20“Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence…”+

20Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kāl- ‘ă·ḏaṯ bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl way·yê·ṣə·’ū mil·lip̄·nê mō·šeh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-went-out all the congregation of the sons of Israel from before the face of Moses.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּ BSB's tame "withdrew" softens way·yê·ṣə·’ū (H3318, yâtsâʼ), the plain verb "to go out" — the same word used for Israel "going out" of Egypt. They do not retreat; they go forth, sent on an errand.
  • מִלִּפְנֵ֥י "From the presence" flattens the idiom mil·lip̄·nê — literally "from before the face" (H6440, pānîym). The congregation departs the face of Moses precisely to begin building a house where God's face will dwell among them.
  • עֲדַ֥ת "Congregation" renders ‘ă·ḏaṯ (H5712, ‘êdâh), the technical word for the covenant assembly summoned by appointment — not a casual crowd but the gathered people as a constituted body.
Word by word7 · parsed+
כָּל־kāl-Then the wholeH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
kāl- (H3605) — "the whole," emphatic: no faction stays behind; the entire assembly moves as one.
עֲדַ֥ת‘ă·ḏaṯcongregationH5712
√ ʻêdâh — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)Nounfeminine singular construct
‘ă·ḏaṯ is the assembly viewed as a worshipping body. The verse opens the long obedience-narrative (35:20–29) that answers Moses' summons in 35:4–9.
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-. . .H1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êlof IsraelH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּway·yê·ṣə·’ūwithdrewH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
The Qal consecutive imperfect way·yê·ṣə·’ū carries the narrative forward; the same root yâtsâʼ that brought them out of bondage now sends them out to give. Keil notes they went "away to their tents" to fetch what they would offer.
מִלִּפְנֵ֥יmil·lip̄·nêfrom the presenceH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-m, Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
מֹשֶֽׁה׃mō·šehof MosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
Moses (H4872) stands as mediator; the people leave his face to return with gifts. The chapter frames every offering as flowing through, not around, the appointed lawgiver (cf. v. 29, "by the hand of Moses").
The Voices✦ public domain+
all the congregation of Israel departed from the presence of Moses—No exciting harangues were made, nor had the people Bibles at home in which they could compare the requirements of their leader and see if these things were so. But they had no doubt as to his bearing to them the will of God, and they were impressed with so strong a sense of its being their duty, that they made a spontaneous offer of the best and most valuable treasures they possessed.
they immediately went to their tents, and fetched what they had with them, or were willing to part with, and brought it directly as a freewill offering to the Lord
Gill, with Aben Ezra, reads the going-out as orderly — "company after company" came to the tabernacle.
Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred; with it, the smallest will be accepted.
Henry's note governs the whole paragraph 35:20–29.
The people went from Moses, i.e., from the place where they were assembled round Moses, away to their tents, and willingly offered the things required as a heave-offering for Jehovah; every one "whom his heart lifted up," i.e., who felt himself inclined and stirred up in his heart to do this.
Keil reads the going-out as a dispersal to the tents to fetch the gifts.
An ideal picture of a community ready and eager to contribute liberally to the sanctuary and service of its God.
Cambridge's heading for the whole section, 35:20–29.
21“And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted h…”+

21And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kāl- ’îš ’ă·šer- lib·bōw nə·śā·’ōw wə·ḵōl ’ă·šer rū·ḥōw nā·ḏə·ḇāh ’ō·ṯōw way·yā·ḇō·’ū hê·ḇî·’ū ’eṯ- tə·rū·maṯ Yah·weh lim·le·ḵeṯ ’ō·hel mō·w·‘êḏ ū·lə·ḵāl- ‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯōw haq·qō·ḏeš ū·lə·ḇiḡ·ḏê

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-came every man whose heart lifted him, and all whose spirit made-him-willing, they-brought the contribution-of YHWH for the work-of the Tent-of Meeting, and for all its service, and for the garments-of holiness.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נְשָׂא֣וֹ "Stirred him" is too gentle for nə·śā·’ōw (H5375, nâsâʼ, "to lift, carry, raise"). The heart is lifted up — the same verb later raises the priest's hands and bears Israel's names on the breastplate. Maclaren seizes this: the spirit is "buoyant, lifted, raised above the low, flat levels."
  • נָדְבָ֨ה "Prompted" underplays nā·ḏə·ḇāh (H5068, nâdab, "to impel, to volunteer freely") — the root of the freewill-offering (nĕdâbâh, v. 29). It denotes self-moved generosity, not external nudging.
  • תְּרוּמַ֨ת "An offering" obscures the precise tə·rū·maṯ (H8641, tᵉrûwmâh), the heave-offering — a gift "lifted off" one's own property and set apart to the LORD. Keil ties it directly to the lifting verb: what is heaved up is consecrated.
  • הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ BSB's "holy garments" reads bigdê haq·qō·ḏeš as adjective + noun, but the Hebrew is a construct chain — "garments of holiness" (H6944), the very term for the sanctuary itself. The clothing shares the sanctity of the place.
Word by word22 · parsed+
כָּל־kāl-And everyoneH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
אִ֖ישׁ’îš. . .H376
√ ʼîysh — a man as an individual or a male personNounmasculine singular
אֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-whoseH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
לִבּ֑וֹlib·bōwheartH3820
√ lêb — the heartNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine singular
lib·bōw (H3820, lêb) — "his heart," seat of will and resolve, not mere emotion. The heart is named four times across this paragraph (vv. 21, 22, 26, 29): the organ of willing offering.
נְשָׂא֣וֹnə·śā·’ōwstirred himH5375
√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativeVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singularthird person masculine singular
The pairing of a lifted heart (v. 21a) with a willing spirit (v. 21b) is the theological hinge of the unit. Benson: "It was from a principle of love to God... and faith in his promises."
וְכֹ֡לwə·ḵōlandH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
אֲשֶׁר֩’ă·šerwhoseH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
רוּח֜וֹrū·ḥōwspiritH7307
√ rûwach — windNouncommon singular constructthird person masculine singular
rū·ḥōw (H7307, rûwach) — "his spirit/breath." Heart and spirit together name the whole inner person; the offering is judged by its inward source.
נָדְבָ֨הnā·ḏə·ḇāhpromptedH5068
√ nâdab — to impelVerbQalPerfectthird person feminine singular
nā·ḏə·ḇāh is feminine perfect agreeing with rûwach: the spirit "impelled" the giver. JFB sees recent transgression with the golden calf as one motive that made them "zealous of good works."
אֹת֗וֹ’ō·ṯōwhimH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine singular
וַיָּבֹ֕אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūcameH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
הֵ֠בִיאוּhê·ḇî·’ūand broughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
תְּרוּמַ֨תtə·rū·maṯan offeringH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular construct
tᵉrûwmâh, the heave-offering, here = the whole class of gifts for the sanctuary. Cambridge: "contribution."
יְהוָ֜הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
לִמְלֶ֨אכֶתlim·le·ḵeṯfor the workH4399
√ mᵉlâʼkâh — properly, deputyship, iPreposition-lNounfeminine singular construct
אֹ֤הֶל’ō·helon the TentH168
√ ʼôhel — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)Nounmasculine singular construct
’ō·hel mō·w·‘êḏ — "Tent of Meeting," the appointed place of encounter; the work serves the meeting of God with His people.
מוֹעֵד֙mō·w·‘êḏof MeetingH4150
√ môwʻêd — properly, an appointment, iNounmasculine singular
וּלְכָל־ū·lə·ḵāl-for allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯōwits servicesH5656
√ ʻăbôdâh — work of any kindNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine singular
הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃haq·qō·ḏešand for the holyH6944
√ qôdesh — a sacred place or thingArticleNounmasculine singular
וּלְבִגְדֵ֖יū·lə·ḇiḡ·ḏêgarmentsH899
√ beged — a covering, iConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine plural construct
bigdê (H899) the priestly vestments; Barnes and Keil cross to Exodus 31:10, "garments of office to do service in the sanctuary."
The Voices✦ public domain+
Wherever the spirit is touched with the sweet influences of God’s love, and loves and gives back again, that spirit is buoyant, lifted, raised above the low, flat levels where selfishness feeds fat and then rots.
Maclaren's whole sermon on this verse, "An Old Subscription List," is the keynote of the unit.
It was from a principle of love to God and his service; a desire of his presence with them by his ordinances, gratitude for the great things he had done for them, and faith in his promises of what he would do further.
Whose heart stirred him up , i.e. whose heart being desirous and ready to serve God, engaged his hand to offer what he had to his service.
One powerful element doubtless of this extraordinary open-hearted liberality was the remembrance of their recent transgression, which made them "zealous of good works"
JFB reads the giving against the backdrop of the golden calf (ch. 32).
22“So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brou…”+

22So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kōl nə·ḏîḇ lêḇ hā·’ă·nā·šîm ‘al- han·nā·šîm way·yā·ḇō·’ū hê·ḇî·’ū ḥāḥ wā·ne·zem wə·ṭab·ba·‘aṯ wə·ḵū·māz kāl- zā·hāḇ kə·lî wə·ḵāl ’îš hê·nîp̄ zā·hāḇ ’ă·šer tə·nū·p̄aṯ Yah·weh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-came, the men over and above the women — all willing of heart — they-brought clasp and nose-ring and signet-ring and bead-necklace, every article-of gold; and every man who waved a wave-offering of gold to YHWH.

Where the English smooths the original

  • עַל־ BSB's smooth "both men and women" hides hā·’ă·nā·šîm ‘al- han·nā·šîm — literally "the men upon / over and above the women" (H5921, ‘al). JFB and Keil read the syntax as putting the women first: the men came in addition to the women, who "acted a prominent part."
  • הֵנִ֛יף "Presented" loses the vivid ritual gesture hê·nîp̄ (H5130, nûwph, "to wave, swing to and fro"). The gold is literally brandished before the LORD — a consecrating motion. Cambridge notes it is used here in a "weakened and later sense of present, presentation."
  • תְּנוּפַ֥ת "A wave offering" is right, but the cognate force of tə·nū·p̄aṯ (H8573, tᵉnûwphâh) with hê·nîp̄ — "waved a waving" — vanishes in English. Keil: it does not really differ from tᵉrûwmâh; both name what is lifted off and dedicated.
  • חָ֣ח "Brooches" is a guess for the rare ḥāḥ (H2397), elsewhere a "hook" for the jaw or nose (Ezekiel 29:4; 2 Kings 19:28). The early ornaments are uncertain; Cambridge and Barnes hedge between brooch, clasp, and nose-ring.
Word by word22 · parsed+
כֹּ֣ל׀kōlSo allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular
נְדִ֣יבnə·ḏîḇwho had willingH5081
√ nâdîyb — properly, voluntary, iAdjectivemasculine singular construct
nə·ḏîḇ lêḇ (H5081 + H3820) — "willing of heart," lit. "noble/voluntary of heart"; the adjective shares the root nâdab of v. 21's verb.
לֵ֗בlêḇheartsH3820
√ lêb — the heartNounmasculine singular
הָאֲנָשִׁ֖יםhā·’ă·nā·šîmboth menH582
√ ʼĕnôwsh — a man in general (singly or collectively)ArticleNounmasculine plural
עַל־‘al-andH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
הַנָּשִׁ֑יםhan·nā·šîmwomenH802
√ ʼishshâh — a womanArticleNounfeminine plural
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūcameH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
הֵ֠בִיאוּhê·ḇî·’ū[and] broughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
חָ֣חḥāḥbroochesH2397
√ châch — a ring for the nose (or lips)Nounmasculine singular
וָנֶ֜זֶםwā·ne·zemand earringsH5141
√ nezem — a nose-ringConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
וְטַבַּ֤עַתwə·ṭab·ba·‘aṯringsH2885
√ ṭabbaʻath — properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular
וְכוּמָז֙wə·ḵū·māzand necklacesH3558
√ kûwmâz — a jewel (probably gold beads)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
kūmāz (H3558) — a hapax-level rarity, found only here and Numbers 31:50. Keil: globulus aureus, "probably little golden balls strung together like beads." Its scarcity makes the Numbers link a genuine verbal tie.
כָּל־kāl-and all kindsH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
זָהָ֔בzā·hāḇof goldH2091
√ zâhâb — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (iNounmasculine singular
כְּלִ֣יkə·lîjewelryH3627
√ kᵉlîy — something prepared, iNounmasculine singular construct
וְכָל־wə·ḵālAnd they allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
אִ֕ישׁ’îš. . .H376
√ ʼîysh — a man as an individual or a male personNounmasculine singular
הֵנִ֛יףhê·nîp̄presentedH5130
√ nûwph — to quiver (iVerbHifilPerfectthird person masculine singular
hê·nîp̄ (H5130) the technical waving gesture. Cambridge cautions it is not here the full priestly ceremony but a general term for presentation.
זָהָ֖בzā·hāḇtheir goldH2091
√ zâhâb — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (iNounmasculine singular
zā·hāḇ (H2091) gold — the same gold that days earlier became the calf (32:2–4) is now waved to the LORD. The reversal is deliberate; Poole and Gill both note many had withheld earrings from the idol.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
תְּנוּפַ֥תtə·nū·p̄aṯas a wave offeringH8573
√ tᵉnûwphâh — a brandishing (in threat)Nounfeminine singular construct
tᵉnûwphâh the wave-offering (freq. 28 vv); Keil links its later, wider sense to the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 38:24, 29.
לַיהוָֽה׃Yah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
literally, "the men over and above the women"; a phraseology which implies that the women acted a prominent part, presented their offerings first, and then were followed by as many of their male companions as were similarly disposed.
Though the generality of the people did then part with their earrings, yet there was a considerable number who did not, as being unsatisfied with that idolatrous design; and it may seem that the women would not part with theirs, being more fond of their ornaments than of their idols.
Poole answers the objection that all the earrings had gone into the golden calf (32:3).
The last word of the four, kumâz, cannot possibly mean “tablets.” It comes from a root signifying “rounded,” and designates probably a bead necklace, such as was often worn by the Egyptians.
‘Wave’ and ‘wave-offering’ are used here, not in their proper sense (see on Exodus 29:24 ) of a ceremony implying that the object ‘waved’ is given ultimately to the priests, but in a weakened and later sense of present, presentation
It is most likely that all the articles mentioned in this verse were of gold. The indulgence of private luxury was thus given up for the honor of the Lord.
Barnes catches the moral reversal: personal ornament is stripped off and consecrated.
it does not really differ from terumah, a lift of heave-offering, as every gift intended for the erection and maintenance of the sanctuary was called, inasmuch as the offerer lifted it off from his own property, to dedicate it to the Lord
Keil equates the wave-offering (tᵉnûphâh) and heave-offering (tᵉrûmâh): both name what is lifted off one's own goods for God.
23“Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, g…”+

23Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḵāl ’îš ’ă·šer- nim·ṣā ’it·tōw tə·ḵê·leṯ wə·’ar·gā·mān wə·ṯō·w·la·‘aṯ šā·nî wə·šêš wə·‘iz·zîm ’ê·lim wə·‘ō·rōṯ mə·’ād·dā·mîm tə·ḥā·šîm wə·‘ō·rōṯ hê·ḇî·’ū

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-every man with whom was found blue and purple and worm-of scarlet and white-linen and goat-hair, and ram-skins reddened and skins-of taḥash, they-brought them.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נִמְצָ֣א "Who had" tames the passive nim·ṣā (H4672, Niphal, "was found with him"). The idiom is impersonal — the materials were found in a man's possession — quietly suggesting providence: each gives what God had already placed in his hand.
  • תּוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י "Scarlet yarn" hides the gruesome literalism of tō·w·la·‘aṯ šā·nî (H8438 + H8144) — "the worm of crimson." The dye is named for the crushed coccus insect from which it bleeds; Scripture's royal scarlet comes from a dying grub.
  • תְּחָשִׁ֖ים "Articles of fine leather" papers over the famously obscure tə·ḥā·šîm (H8476). Strong's guesses an antelope; Ellicott reads "badgers' skins"; Pulpit prefers "seal skins." The translators do not know the animal — the honest gloss is uncertainty.
Word by word17 · parsed+
וְכָל־wə·ḵālEveryoneH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
אִ֞ישׁ’îš. . .H376
√ ʼîysh — a man as an individual or a male personNounmasculine singular
אֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-whoH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
נִמְצָ֣אnim·ṣā. . .H4672
√ mâtsâʼ — properly, to come forth to, iVerbNifalPerfectthird person masculine singular
nim·ṣā (H4672, Niphal perfect) — "was found"; the recurring formula (vv. 23, 24) measures duty by possession: capacity is the measure of the gift (Maclaren).
אִתּ֗וֹ’it·tōwhadH854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionthird person masculine singular
תְּכֵ֧לֶתtə·ḵê·leṯblueH8504
√ tᵉkêleth — the cerulean mussel, iNounfeminine singular
tᵉkêleth (H8504), ’argāmān (H713), and tôlaʻ šānî (H8438/H8144) are the three sacred colors of the tabernacle, repeated from the original command (25:4); their reappearance here is the obedient echo of the blueprint.
וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ןwə·’ar·gā·mānpurpleH713
√ ʼargâmân — purple (the color or the dyed stuff)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
וְתוֹלַ֥עַתwə·ṯō·w·la·‘aṯor scarlet yarnH8438
√ tôwlâʻ — the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed therewithConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular construct
שָׁנִ֖יšā·nî. . .H8144
√ shânîy — crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with itNounmasculine singular
וְשֵׁ֣שׁwə·šêšor fine linenH8336
√ shêsh — bleached stuff, iConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
וְעִזִּ֑יםwə·‘iz·zîmgoat hairH5795
√ ʻêz — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)Conjunctive wawNounfeminine plural
אֵילִ֧ם’ê·limramH352
√ ʼayil — properly, strengthNounmasculine plural
וְעֹרֹ֨תwə·‘ō·rōṯskinsH5785
√ ʻôwr — skin (as naked)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine plural construct
מְאָדָּמִ֛יםmə·’ād·dā·mîmdyed redH119
√ ʼâdam — flush or turn rosyVerbPualParticiplemasculine plural
mə·’ād·dā·mîm (H119, Pual participle) — "reddened," cognate to ’ādām/blood; the rams' skins are dyed the color of life poured out.
תְּחָשִׁ֖יםtə·ḥā·šîmor articles of fine leatherH8476
√ tachash — a (clean) animal with fur, probably a species of antelopeNounmasculine plural
tᵉḥāšîm (H8476) the disputed covering-hide. Pulpit: "seal skins"; the lexicon: a fur-bearing animal "probably a species of antelope."
וְעֹרֹ֥תwə·‘ō·rōṯ. . .H5785
√ ʻôwr — skin (as naked)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine plural construct
הֵבִֽיאוּ׃hê·ḇî·’ūbrought themH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
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And every man with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet,.... Wool or yarn of either of the colours; unless it can be supposed there might be with some of them the ingredients with which colours were made, brought with them out of Egypt
Red skins of rams. —Rather, rams’ skins dyed red, as the same words are translated in Exodus 25:5 ; Exodus 35:7 .
Badger skins . Rather, "seal skins." See the comment on Exodus 25:5.
The identity of the taḥash hide is contested across the tradition.
24“And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brough…”+

24And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kāl- mê·rîm tə·rū·maṯ ke·sep̄ ū·nə·ḥō·šeṯ hê·ḇî·’ū ’êṯ tə·rū·maṯ Yah·weh wə·ḵōl ’ă·šer nim·ṣā ’it·tōw šiṭ·ṭîm ‘ă·ṣê lə·ḵāl mə·le·ḵeṯ hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh hê·ḇî·’ū

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Every-one lifting up a heave-offering-of silver and bronze brought the heave-offering-of YHWH; and every man with whom was found acacia wood for any work-of the service brought it.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מֵרִ֗ים "Who could present" loses the picture in mê·rîm (H7311, Hiphil of rûwm, "to make high, to raise / lift up"). The giver lifts up his contribution — the same raising motion that names the heave-offering (tᵉrûwmâh) it produces. Cambridge: "lift or take up."
  • תְּר֤וּמַת BSB renders the one word tᵉrûwmaṯ (H8641) twice and differently — "an offering" then "a contribution" — for the same Hebrew term in one verse. The repetition in Hebrew is emphatic: a heave-offering, the LORD's heave-offering.
  • שִׁטִּ֛ים "Acacia" correctly names šiṭ·ṭîm (H7848), but the root sense "the acacia from its scourging thorns" is lost — a hardy desert wood, the one durable timber of the wilderness, given for the frame of God's house.
Word by word19 · parsed+
כָּל־kāl-And allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
מֵרִ֗יםmê·rîmwho could presentH7311
√ rûwm — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)VerbHifilParticiplemasculine singular
mê·rîm (H7311) the Hiphil participle, "one lifting up"; the verb of elevation that defines the tᵉrûwmâh. The willing act is literally an upward motion of dedication.
תְּר֤וּמַתtə·rū·maṯan offeringH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular construct
כֶּ֙סֶף֙ke·sep̄of silverH3701
√ keçeph — silver (from its pale color)Nounmasculine singular
ke·sep̄ (H3701) silver. Ellicott and Pulpit both puzzle that the freewill silver is hard to trace; the sanctuary silver in 38:25 came from the census half-shekels. Honest tension the text does not resolve.
וּנְחֹ֔שֶׁתū·nə·ḥō·šeṯor bronzeH5178
√ nᵉchôsheth — copper, hence, something made of that metal, iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular
הֵבִ֕יאוּhê·ḇî·’ūbroughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
אֵ֖ת’êṯitH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
תְּרוּמַ֣תtə·rū·maṯas a contributionH8641
√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular construct
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
וְכֹ֡לwə·ḵōlAlso, everyoneH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
אֲשֶׁר֩’ă·šerwhoH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
נִמְצָ֨אnim·ṣāhadH4672
√ mâtsâʼ — properly, to come forth to, iVerbNifalPerfectthird person masculine singular
אִתּ֜וֹ’it·tōw. . .H854
√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPrepositionthird person masculine singular
שִׁטִּ֛יםšiṭ·ṭîmacaciaH7848
√ shiṭṭâh — the acacia (from its scourging thorns)Nounfeminine plural
šiṭ·ṭîm (H7848) acacia, the structural wood of the tabernacle (25:10ff.); only those who possessed it could give it.
עֲצֵ֥י‘ă·ṣêwoodH6086
√ ʻêts — a tree (from its firmness)Nounmasculine plural construct
לְכָל־lə·ḵālfor anyH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholePreposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
מְלֶ֥אכֶתmə·le·ḵeṯpartH4399
√ mᵉlâʼkâh — properly, deputyship, iNounfeminine singular construct
הָעֲבֹדָ֖הhā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāhof the serviceH5656
√ ʻăbôdâh — work of any kindArticleNounfeminine singular
hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh (H5656) — "the service"; Cambridge: "the business of constructing the sanctuary" (so 36:1, 3), the labor itself dignified as service to God.
הֵבִֽיאוּ׃hê·ḇî·’ūbrought itH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
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Silver had been enumerated among the offerings which would be accepted ( Exodus 25:3 ; Exodus 35:5 ), and it was therefore brought; but it is difficult to say what was done with it.
Ellicott registers an unresolved difficulty about the silver freewill gifts.
The verb ‘offer’ is cognate: lit. lift or take up (see ibid. ). the service ] the business of constructing the sanctuary; so Exodus 36:1 ; Exodus 36:3 .
Every one that had any quantity of either of these, whose heart was inclined freely to part therewith, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord
25“Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had…”+

25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḵāl ḥaḵ·maṯ- lêḇ ’iš·šāh ṭā·wū bə·yā·ḏe·hā way·yā·ḇî·’ū maṭ·weh ’eṯ- hat·tə·ḵê·leṯ wə·’eṯ- hā·’ar·gā·mān ’eṯ- tō·w·la·‘aṯ haš·šā·nî wə·’eṯ- haš·šêš

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-every woman wise of heart with her hands spun, and they-brought what-was-spun — the blue and the purple, the worm-of scarlet and the white-linen.

Where the English smooths the original

  • חַכְמַת־לֵ֖ב "Skilled" thins the rich idiom ḥaḵ·maṯ lêḇ (H2450 + H3820) — "wise of heart." The same word names Bezalel's Spirit-given wisdom (31:3). The spinning woman and the master-craftsman share one Hebrew honorific: chokmah, here meaning consecrated competence.
  • טָו֑וּ "Spun" is exact for ṭā·wū (H2901, ṭâvâh), but the verse twice stresses the bodily labor — "spun with her hands" — which BSB keeps but easily reads past. Keil: the colored cloth was "dyed in the yarn," so the women's hands held the sanctuary's very hues.
  • מַטְוֶ֗ה "What she had spun" expands the single noun maṭ·weh (H4299, "something spun"), a rare term that names the finished thread itself — the labor become a tangible offering she can carry and lay down.
Word by word17 · parsed+
וְכָל־wə·ḵālEveryH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
חַכְמַת־ḥaḵ·maṯ-skilledH2450
√ châkâm — wise, (iAdjectivefeminine singular construct
ḥaḵ·maṯ lêḇ (H2450) — "wise-hearted," the OT term for God-given craft-skill (28:3; 31:6). Cambridge: "of technical skill." Henry: the women "were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord."
לֵ֖בlêḇ. . .H3820
√ lêb — the heartNounmasculine singular
אִשָּׁ֥ה’iš·šāhwomanH802
√ ʼishshâh — a womanNounfeminine singular
טָו֑וּṭā·wūspunH2901
√ ṭâvâh — to spinVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
ṭā·wū (H2901) Qal perfect, "they spun." Spinning was women's work across the ancient Near East; Keil marshals Egyptian, Sinai, and Nubian parallels.
בְּיָדֶ֣יהָbə·yā·ḏe·hāwith her handsH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine dual constructthird person feminine singular
וַיָּבִ֣יאוּway·yā·ḇî·’ūand broughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbHifilConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
מַטְוֶ֗הmaṭ·wehwhat she had spunH4299
√ maṭveh — something spunNounmasculine singular
אֶֽת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙hat·tə·ḵê·leṯblueH8504
√ tᵉkêleth — the cerulean mussel, iArticleNounfeminine singular
The blue (tᵉkêleth), purple (’argāmān), and crimson (tôlaʻ šānî) reappear from the command (25:4); the women supply the dyed yarn for the curtains the wise-hearted men will weave.
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֔ןhā·’ar·gā·mānpurpleH713
√ ʼargâmân — purple (the color or the dyed stuff)ArticleNounmasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
תּוֹלַ֥עַתtō·w·la·‘aṯor scarlet yarnH8438
√ tôwlâʻ — the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the colorfrom it, and cloths dyed therewithNounfeminine singular construct
הַשָּׁנִ֖יhaš·šā·nî. . .H8144
√ shânîy — crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with itArticleNounmasculine singular
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
הַשֵּֽׁשׁ׃haš·šêšor fine linenH8336
√ shêsh — bleached stuff, iArticleNounmasculine singular
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Spinning was probably a very general accomplishment of the Hebrew women. It was effected in early times by means of a wheel and spindle, with or without a distaff.
All the women who understood it (were wise-hearted, as in Exodus 28:3 ) spun with their hands, and presented what they spun, viz., the yarn required for the blue and red purple cloth, the crimson and the byssus; from which it is evident that the coloured cloths were dyed in the yarn or in the wool
Who were witty and expert.
Geneva's gloss on "wise hearted."
26“And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goa…”+

26And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḵāl han·nā·šîm bə·ḥā·ḵə·māh ’ă·šer lib·bān ’ō·ṯā·nāh nā·śā ṭā·wū ’eṯ- hā·‘iz·zîm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-all the women whose heart lifted them in wisdom spun the goat-hair.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נָשָׂ֥א "Were stirred" again weakens nā·śā (H5375, nâsâʼ, "lifted") — the very verb of v. 21. The same elevation of heart that moved the gold-givers moves the goat-hair spinners; the text refuses to rank them. Pulpit: the "strong expression" implies real skill was required.
  • בְּחָכְמָ֑ה BSB attaches "skilled" to the women, but the accents and Hebrew word bə·ḥā·ḵə·māh (H2451, "in wisdom") can modify the spinning itself. Poole: "they spun with wisdom, i.e. with skill and art" — the humble craft is named a work of chokmah.
  • הָעִזִּֽים "The goat hair" renders hā·‘iz·zîm (H5795), literally "the she-goats" — the coarse, dark hair for the tent's outer covering (26:7). Ellicott: harder to spin than flax, so "only the most skilful undertook the more difficult task."
Word by word10 · parsed+
וְכָל־wə·ḵālAnd allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
wə·ḵāl (H3605) — "and all"; the inclusiveness is relentless across the paragraph: no willing hand is excluded.
הַ֨נָּשִׁ֔יםhan·nā·šîmthe skilled womenH802
√ ʼishshâh — a womanArticleNounfeminine plural
בְּחָכְמָ֑הbə·ḥā·ḵə·māh. . .H2451
√ chokmâh — wisdom (in a good sense)Preposition-bNounfeminine singular
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerwhoseH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
לִבָּ֛ןlib·bānheartsH3820
√ lêb — the heartNounmasculine singular constructthird person feminine plural
lib·bān (H3820 + 3fp suffix) — "their heart"; the lifted heart now belongs to women working the meanest fiber, given equal honor with the rulers' gemstones.
אֹתָ֖נָה’ō·ṯā·nāhH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person feminine plural
נָשָׂ֥אnā·śāwere stirredH5375
√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativeVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
nā·śā (H5375) Qal perfect, masculine singular with feminine subject — the same lifting verb as v. 21, binding the two halves of the offering-list into one motion of will.
טָו֖וּṭā·wūspunH2901
√ ṭâvâh — to spinVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
ṭā·wū (H2901) — "spun." Henry: the goat-hair spinners "did it heartily to the Lord," and so were as accepted "as the most useful minister."
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הָעִזִּֽים׃hā·‘iz·zîmthe goat hairH5795
√ ʻêz — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)ArticleNounfeminine plural
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All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom . This strong expression seems to imply that peculiar skill was required for spinning goats' hair.
In wisdom : this word seems better to agree with the following than with the foregoing word, they spun with wisdom, i.e. with skill and art.
It would seem to have been more difficult to produce a thread from goats’ hair than from flax. Only the most skilful undertook the more difficult task.
The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord.
27“The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ep…”+

27The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·han·nə·śi·’im hê·ḇî·’ū ’êṯ haš·šō·ham ’aḇ·nê wə·’êṯ ’aḇ·nê ham·mil·lu·’îm lā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏ wə·la·ḥō·šen

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-the lifted-ones brought the onyx stones and the stones-of fillings for the ephod and for the breastpiece,

Where the English smooths the original

  • וְהַנְּשִׂאִ֣ם "The leaders" renders han·nə·śi·’im (H5387, nâsîyʼ), literally "the lifted-up / exalted ones" — from the same root nâsâʼ that lifts the people's hearts (vv. 21, 26). The chiefs are "exalted ones" who bring gifts only the exalted possessed; Pulpit identifies them with the "elders/princes" (sarey).
  • הַמִּלֻּאִ֑ים "To mount" flattens ham·mil·lu·’îm (H4394), "stones of fillings" — gems set to fill the sockets. Gill: "stones of fillings, to be set in ouches, and fill them up." The same root names the priest's "filling of the hands" (consecration).
  • וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן "Breastpiece" renders ḥō·šen (H2833), a word the lexicon admits is uncertain — "perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems)." Even the name of the high priest's most sacred ornament carries an honest question mark.
Word by word10 · parsed+
וְהַנְּשִׂאִ֣םwə·han·nə·śi·’imThe leadersH5387
√ nâsîyʼ — properly, an exalted one, iConjunctive waw, ArticleNounmasculine plural
han·nə·śi·’im (H5387) the tribal princes; Ellicott: likely the twelve chiefs who fittingly supplied the twelve breastplate stones bearing the tribes' names (28:21). The largest givers come last in the list — Maclaren: "the smaller ones are in the place of honour."
הֵבִ֔יאוּhê·ḇî·’ūbroughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
אֵ֚ת’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַשֹּׁ֔הַםhaš·šō·hamonyxH7718
√ shôham — a gem, probably the beryl (from its pale green color)ArticleNounmasculine singular
haš·šō·ham (H7718) onyx (or beryl) for the ephod's two shoulder-stones, engraved with Israel's names as a memorial (28:9–12).
אַבְנֵ֣י’aḇ·nêstonesH68
√ ʼeben — a stoneNounfeminine plural construct
וְאֵ֖תwə·’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
אַבְנֵ֣י’aḇ·nêand gemstonesH68
√ ʼeben — a stoneNounfeminine plural construct
הַמִּלֻּאִ֑יםham·mil·lu·’îmto mountH4394
√ milluʼ — a fulfilling (only in plural), iArticleNounmasculine plural
ham·mil·lu·’îm (H4394) "settings/fillings"; Gill cites the rabbinic note of a missing letter in nĕsi’im, read by some as a hint the rulers were slow — a tradition, not the text's claim.
לָאֵפ֖וֹדlā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏon the ephodH646
√ ʼêphôwd — a girdlePreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
’ê·p̄ō·wḏ (H646) the priestly ephod; the rulers' gems clothe the mediator who bears the people before God.
וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן׃wə·la·ḥō·šenand breastpieceH2833
√ chôshen — perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems), used only of the gorget of the highpriestConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
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The twelve stones required for the breastplate would naturally be contributed by the twelve chiefs of the tribes whose names they were to bear ( Exodus 28:21 ).
the rulers are mentioned last, as bringing their offerings: the reason of which may not be, because they were backward to it, for they might offer earlier, though recorded last; or if they offered last, it might be because they brought things that others could not
Gill weighs and largely rejects the rabbinic charge that the rulers were slow.
The rulers are, no doubt, the "elders" of Exodus 3:16 ; Exodus 4:29 ; Exodus 24:9 , etc. Moses had made them "rulers," or rather, "princes" (sarey), according to the advice of Jethro ( Exodus 18:25 ).
28“as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing…”+

28as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’eṯ- hab·bō·śem wə·’eṯ- haš·šā·men lə·mā·’ō·wr ham·miš·ḥāh ū·lə·še·men has·sam·mîm wə·liq·ṭō·reṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

and the fragrance and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the incense of spices.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַבֹּ֖שֶׂם "Spices" renders hab·bō·śem (H1314), whose root meaning is simply "fragrance" — the gift named not by substance but by what it does: it perfumes. The rulers give scent itself, the ascending sweetness of worship.
  • הַשָּׁ֑מֶן "Olive oil" expands haš·šā·men (H8081), literally just "the oil / fatness" — the lexicon: "grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)." One oil serves three holy ends: light, anointing, and (with spice) incense.
  • וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת "Fragrant incense" splits across two words; qᵉṭōreṯ (H7004) is "a fumigation" — smoke offered up — and the preceding has·sam·mîm (H5561) "the aromatics." The literal pairing is "the smoke-offering of the aromatics," prayer figured as rising vapor.
Word by word9 · parsed+
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
הַבֹּ֖שֶׂםhab·bō·śemas well as spicesH1314
√ besem — fragranceArticleNounmasculine singular
hab·bō·śem (H1314) — "the fragrance/balsam"; cross to the recipe of 30:23–34 (Ellicott). The costliest, most volatile of gifts: it exists only to be consumed and ascend.
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
הַשָּׁ֑מֶןhaš·šā·menand olive oilH8081
√ shemen — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)ArticleNounmasculine singular
haš·šā·men (H8081) oil for the lampstand's light (27:20), the anointing of priests and furniture (30:25), and the perfumed incense — one substance, three consecrating uses.
לְמָא֕וֹרlə·mā·’ō·wrfor the lightH3974
√ mâʼôwr — properly, a luminous body or luminary, iPreposition-lNounmasculine singular
הַמִּשְׁחָ֔הham·miš·ḥāhfor the anointingH4888
√ mishchâh — unction (the act)ArticleNounfeminine singular
ham·miš·ḥāh (H4888) — "the anointing," the act of unction; the oil that makes a thing holy by being poured upon it.
וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ū·lə·še·menoilH8081
√ shemen — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
הַסַּמִּֽים׃has·sam·mîmand for the fragrantH5561
√ çam — an aromaArticleNounmasculine plural
has·sam·mîm (H5561) the sweet spices; with qᵉṭōreṯ (H7004), the incense of the inner altar — Gill lists "stacte, onycha, galbanum, with pure frankincense" (30:34).
וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶתwə·liq·ṭō·reṯincenseH7004
√ qᵉṭôreth — a fumigationConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounfeminine singular construct
The Voices✦ public domain+
Such excellent spices and precious oil, pure oil olive, as the common people had not, and which they brought out of Egypt
The precious stones Exodus 28:9 and spices were contributed by the rulers, who were more wealthy than the other Israelites.
Spice.-See Exodus 30:23-24 ; Exodus 30:34 .
Ellicott points to the compounding recipe for the anointing oil and incense.
29“So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted…”+

29So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kāl- ’îš wə·’iš·šāh ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ’ă·šer lib·bām nā·ḏaḇ ’ō·ṯām lə·hā·ḇî nə·ḏā·ḇāh Yah·weh hê·ḇî·’ū lə·ḵāl ham·mə·lā·ḵāh ’ă·šer Yah·weh bə·yaḏ- mō·šeh ṣiw·wāh la·‘ă·śō·wṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Every man and woman whose heart made-them-willing to bring for all the work that YHWH had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses — the sons of Israel brought a freewill-offering to YHWH.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נָדַ֣ב "Prompted" recurs for nā·ḏaḇ (H5068, nâdab, "to impel oneself, volunteer"), the unit's signature verb, now in its summary statement. The whole paragraph is bracketed by this root (v. 21, v. 29): the offering is from start to finish self-moved.
  • נְדָבָ֖ה "A freewill offering" names the noun nə·ḏā·ḇāh (H5071) — "spontaneity" itself made into a gift. Cambridge: "Whatever the Israelites offered was offered by them freely." The same root that opened the giving (v. 21) now defines it.
  • בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֑ה "Through Moses" renders the idiom bə·yaḏ mō·šeh — literally "by the hand of Moses" (H3027). Geneva: "Using Moses as a minister of it." The command comes from the LORD; Moses is the instrumental hand, not the author.
Word by word21 · parsed+
כָּל־kāl-So allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
אִ֣ישׁ’îšthe menH376
√ ʼîysh — a man as an individual or a male personNounmasculine singular
וְאִשָּׁ֗הwə·’iš·šāhand womenH802
√ ʼishshâh — a womanConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular
בְנֵי־ḇə·nê-vvvH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לyiś·rā·’êlof the IsraelitesH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerwhoseH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
לִבָּם֮lib·bāmheartsH3820
√ lêb — the heartNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural
lib·bām (H3820 + 3mp) — "their heart"; the willing heart, named at the unit's start, returns to seal it. Heart and freewill are the inclusio of 35:20–29.
נָדַ֣בnā·ḏaḇpromptedH5068
√ nâdab — to impelVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
nā·ḏaḇ (H5068) — the root impelling the whole paragraph; freq. 15 vv, prominent in David's temple-offering (1 Chronicles 29:9) — a deliberate canonical echo.
אֹתָם֒’ō·ṯāmthemH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural
לְהָבִיא֙lə·hā·ḇîbroughtH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Preposition-lVerbHifilInfinitive construct
נְדָבָ֖הnə·ḏā·ḇāha freewill offeringH5071
√ nᵉdâbâh — properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneousNounfeminine singular
nə·ḏā·ḇāh (H5071) the freewill-offering, voluntary by definition. Gill: such a willing heart is had "from the efficacious grace of God, which makes them a willing people in the day of his power" (Ps. 110:3).
לַיהוָֽה׃פYah·wehto the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular
הֵבִ֧יאוּhê·ḇî·’ūH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbHifilPerfectthird person common plural
לְכָל־lə·ḵālfor allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholePreposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
הַמְּלָאכָ֔הham·mə·lā·ḵāhthe workH4399
√ mᵉlâʼkâh — properly, deputyship, iArticleNounfeminine singular
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerthatH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
יְהוָ֛הYah·wehthe LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
בְּיַד־bə·yaḏ-throughH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular construct
bə·yaḏ mō·šeh (H3027) — "by the hand of Moses"; the chapter closes by re-anchoring all the giving in the mediated command of God (cf. v. 1, v. 4).
מֹשֶׁ֑הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
צִוָּ֧הṣiw·wāhhad commanded themH6680
√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
לַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯto doH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
The Voices✦ public domain+
those who have such a willing heart and spirit, have it not by nature or of themselves, but from the efficacious grace of God, which makes them a willing people in the day of his power; and from the free Spirit of God, who works in them, both to will and to do of his good pleasure
Gill grounds the people's willingness in grace, echoing Psalm 110:3 and Philippians 2:13.
Using Moses as a minister of it.
Geneva's gloss on "by the hand of Moses."
Whatever the Israelites offered was offered by them freely.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read wholesynthesis · verify+

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. The lifted heart, the willing spirit — 35:20–21

The unit turns on two Hebrew clauses that the English smooths into devotion-language: the man whose heart lifted him (nə·śā·’ōw, H5375) and the one whose spirit made him willing (nā·ḏə·ḇāh, H5068). Alexander Maclaren builds his whole exposition on the first: "that spirit is buoyant, lifted, raised above the low, flat levels where selfishness feeds fat and then rots" — naming this passage "an old subscription list" in which the only acceptable giving is the kind "it would be pain to keep back." Matthew Poole reads the heart as the engine of the hand: it "being desirous and ready to serve God, engaged his hand to offer." Joseph Benson traces the willingness to its source — "a principle of love to God... and faith in his promises." Jamieson, Fausset & Brown add the shadow that makes the light brighter: the "remembrance of their recent transgression" with the golden calf (ch. 32) "made them zealous of good works." The gold that became an idol is now waved to the LORD — Albert Barnes sees the precise moral inversion: "The indulgence of private luxury was thus given up for the honor of the Lord." And the spontaneity is total: Maclaren presses that under the gospel this voluntary principle becomes the only acceptable kind — "There are no pressed men on board Christ's ship. None but volunteers make up His army."

ii. Capacity is the measure: every gift, no rank — 35:22–28

The long catalogue refuses to rank its givers. Twice the formula falls — every man with whom was found (nim·ṣā, H4672, "was found with him") — measuring duty by possession alone. Maclaren draws the law out plainly: "capacity is the measure of duty... the engine must be worked up to the last ounce of pressure that it will stand." The same honorific covers them all: the gem-bringing rulers are "exalted ones" (nĕsi’im, H5387), and the goat-hair spinners are wise of heart (ḥaḵ·maṯ lêḇ, H2450 + H3820) — the very phrase used of Bezalel's Spirit-given skill (31:3). Matthew Henry presses the equality: "The women who spun the goats' hair were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord... the labourer, mechanic, or servant... may be as wise, for his place, as the most useful minister." Keil & Delitzsch grounds the women's craft in the ancient world — the colored cloths "dyed in the yarn or in the wool" — while Ellicott notes goat-hair was harder than flax, so "only the most skilful undertook the more difficult task." The very ordering of the list preaches the equality: Maclaren observes that "The large subscriptions are at the bottom of the list, and the smaller ones are in the place of honour," and that "Wood is wanted for the Temple quite as much as gold and silver and precious stones." Even the translators' uncertainty is honest: the taḥash hide (v. 23) the Pulpit Commentary renders "seal skins," the lexicon "a species of antelope" — nobody knows the animal.

iii. By the hand of Moses: freewill under command — 35:29

The paragraph closes where it opened, on the willing heart, and adds its theological frame. The people brought a freewill-offering (nə·ḏā·ḇāh, H5071) — Cambridge: "Whatever the Israelites offered was offered by them freely" — yet for "all the work that the LORD had commanded... by the hand of Moses" (bə·yaḏ mō·šeh). Geneva glosses the idiom: "Using Moses as a minister of it." Spontaneity and command are not at war: the gift is free, but the pattern is given. John Gill dissolves any boast — the willing heart is had "not by nature or of themselves, but from the efficacious grace of God, which makes them a willing people in the day of his power; and from the free Spirit of God, who works in them, both to will and to do." The free offering is itself God's gift back to Him.

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Read under Sola Scriptura, this paragraph is the Bible's first portrait of joyful, abundant giving — and it is the mirror image of the golden calf. In chapter 32 the people tore off their gold for an idol of their own making; here they wave the same gold (H2091, zāhāb) to the God who made them. The diagnostic is never the size of the gift but the lift of the heart: nâsâʼ (lifted) and nâdab (willing) bracket the whole account (vv. 21, 29). And the one Hebrew word — chokmah, "wisdom" — is laid identically on the master-craftsman Bezalel (31:3) and on the woman spinning coarse goat-hair (v. 26), so that Scripture flatly denies any hierarchy of holy work. What the New Testament will universalize, this text shows in seed: "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7), and "it is God who works in you to will and to act" (Phil. 2:13) — the willing is itself grace, as Gill saw. The fallible synthesis here: the contrast with the calf is so exact (same gold, same act of removal, opposite object) that the editor takes it as deliberate authorial design, though the text does not name it.

The gold that built the calf now builds the house — the difference is not the gift but the lifted heart. (an editorial reading, not Scripture)

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripturecross-refs · verify+

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

The bead-necklace given twice: gold for the LORD, gold from Midian verbal / quotation — confirmed

The rare ornament kūmāz (H3558) — "probably little golden balls strung together like beads" (Keil) — occurs in only two verses in the whole Hebrew Bible: here, where Israel freely gives it for the tabernacle, and Numbers 31:50, where the soldiers bring Midianite kūmāz as atonement-money after the war. Both passages also share ṭabbaʻath (signet-ring), kᵉlî (article), and zāhāb (gold). Because kūmāz is so rare, the Verifier rates this a genuine verbal tie: the same distinctive jewelry, both times surrendered to the LORD.

Exodus 35:22 · Numbers 31:50

basis: shared rare lexeme H3558 kûwmâz (bead-necklace), found in only 2 verses of the OT; plus H2885 ṭabbaʻath, H3627 kᵉlîy, H2091 zâhâb (Verifier-computed)

The blueprint obeyed: the colors of the command return verbal / quotation — confirmed

The offering-list of vv. 23–25 is the obedient echo of the original instructions to build (Exodus 25:4) and of their fulfilment in the ephod's making (Exodus 39:2). Four sacred materials cluster together in all three places — shêsh (fine linen, H8336, only 37 vv), ’argāmān (purple, H713, 38 vv), shānî (scarlet, H8144, 42 vv), and tôlaʻ (the crimson-worm, H8438, 43 vv) — each a genuinely uncommon term, and the Verifier rates the resulting four-lexeme overlap a confirmed verbal tie. The honest qualification: this is not a quotation but a repeated material-formula within one composition. The same stock list is recited by the lawgiver (command), the people (gift), and the artisans (fulfilment), so the rare-word overlap is real but functions as obedient repetition, not citation — the narrative showing the people supply exactly what was specified.

Exodus 35:23 · Exodus 25:4 · Exodus 39:2

basis: Verifier-confirmed: four rare shared lexemes H8336 shêsh (37 vv), H713 ʼargâmân (38 vv), H8144 shânîy (42 vv), H8438 tôwlâʻ (43 vv) across command (25:4), gift (35:23), fulfilment (39:2). Editorial caveat: the link is a repeated material-formula within Exodus, not a citation — verbal at the lexeme level, structural in function

The command this unit fulfills: "from every man whose heart makes him willing" structural / thematic — confirmed

This whole paragraph is the narrated obedience to a single earlier command. At Sinai the LORD told Moses to take a contribution (tᵉrûwmâh, H8641) "from every man whose heart prompts him" — nâdab, H5068 (Exodus 25:2). Verses 21 and 29 here discharge that order word for word: the same rare verb of self-moved giving (nâdab, found in only 15 verses of the OT), the same heave-offering (tᵉrûwmâh), the same willing heart (lêb). Keil ties the wave-offering back to "heaving and the heave-offering, see at Exodus 25:2." The Verifier confirms the lexeme-cluster, so command and fulfilment are bound by shared vocabulary; tiered structural because it is the same author recapitulating his own instruction, not a quotation.

Exodus 35:21 · Exodus 35:29 · Exodus 25:2

basis: Verifier-computed shared lexemes H5068 nâdab (rare, 15 vv) + H8641 tᵉrûwmâh (63 vv) + H3820 lêb, binding the command (25:2) to its fulfilment (35:21, 29); recapitulation of a command within one book, not a citation

Wise-hearted: the craftsman and the spinner share one word structural / thematic — confirmed

The phrase ḥaḵ·maṯ lêḇ / chokmah ("wise of heart," H2450 + H3820) ties the spinning women of vv. 25–26 to the master-artisans Bezalel and Oholiab, who are "filled with wisdom of heart" by the Spirit of God (Exodus 28:3; 31:3). The shared châkâm + lêb cluster (Verifier-confirmed) marks technical skill as a spiritual endowment — and lays the same honorific on coarse goat-hair as on the high-priestly vestments. Henry: the spinners "were wise-hearted, because they did it heartily to the Lord."

Exodus 35:25 · Exodus 35:26 · Exodus 28:3

basis: shared lexemes H2450 châkâm + H3820 lêb ("wise-hearted") linking the spinners to Bezalel's Spirit-given craft (28:3; 31:3); a shared idiom/motif, not a quotation (Verifier-computed)

The willing heart of David's offering structural / thematic — confirmed

The unit's signature verb nâdab ("to impel oneself, offer freely," H5068, freq. 15 vv) reappears at the other great voluntary building-campaign of the OT: David and the leaders giving willingly for the temple (1 Chronicles 29:9), where "the people rejoiced... because with a perfect heart (lêb) they offered willingly (nâdab) to the LORD." Both passages pair nâdab with lêb. The Chronicler consciously frames David's temple-offering on the model of Moses' tabernacle-offering; the shared, relatively uncommon root makes the echo deliberate. Structural/thematic, since no citation is claimed.

Exodus 35:21 · Exodus 35:29 · 1 Chronicles 29:9

basis: shared lexemes H5068 nâdab (freewill-giving, 15 vv) + H3820 lêb, linking the tabernacle-offering to David's temple-offering (1 Chr 29:9); a sanctuary-building motif, not a quotation (Verifier-computed)

God loves a cheerful giver flagged — verify source

Paul's charter of Christian generosity — "each one as he has decided in his heart... for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7) — is the New Testament's fullest commentary on this scene, and Maclaren explicitly reads Exodus 35 as its Old-Covenant seed: voluntary giving that "fills the whole sphere of Christianity." But because this is a Greek↔Hebrew link, it cannot rest on shared Strong's numbers — the Verifier finds no shared original-language lexeme. The connection is real but must be argued thematically, not asserted as verbal, so it is flagged.

Exodus 35:29 · 2 Corinthians 9:7

basis: cross-Testament (Greek↔Hebrew): no shared original-language lexeme; the willing-cheerful-giving link is thematic and editorial, not a verbal or citation tie (Verifier returned no shared lexeme) — argued, not asserted

Christ in the Unittypology · verify+

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The willing heart fulfilled in the willing Son widely-held

The whole unit makes acceptable offering a matter of the lifted, willing heart (nâsâʼ, nâdab) rather than constraint. The NT applies this language of voluntary self-giving supremely to Christ, who "loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2) — note the very fragrance-and-offering pairing of v. 28. Where Israel's freewill gifts built a tent for God to dwell among them, Christ offers Himself willingly so that God might dwell in His people. Gill's reading of v. 29 — the willing heart is the gift of "the free Spirit of God, who works in them, both to will and to do" — points the same direction.

Exodus 35:21 · Exodus 35:29

A house for God built by Spirit-gifted people widely-held

The tabernacle is built by people God has filled with wisdom of heart (v. 25–26; cf. 31:3, the Spirit of God) and who give from willing hearts. The NT takes up exactly this figure: the church is "God's building" (1 Cor. 3:9), "a holy temple in the Lord... built together for a dwelling place for God by the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21–22), with every member's gift needed. Maclaren draws the line himself: "there is room for all sorts of work in Christ's great house, where there are not only 'vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth,'" and "'The more feeble are necessary.'" The voluntary, Spirit-enabled, all-ranks-equal building of the dwelling-place is the type; the church as Spirit-built temple is the antitype. This is a widely-held reading; the editor's only added claim is that the equality is theological, not incidental.

Exodus 35:25 · Exodus 35:26

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

This is a narrative material-list, so several gifts rest on uncertain identifications the tradition does not settle: ḥāḥ (v. 22, "brooch"? "clasp"? "nose-ring"?), kūmāz (v. 22, "necklace" / "bead-string" — a word found in only two OT verses), and especially taḥash (v. 23), rendered variously "badgers' skins," "seal skins" (Pulpit), or "fine leather," with the lexicon guessing an antelope. These divergence-notes report the doubt rather than resolving it. The dominant printed voice for this paragraph is Matthew Henry's single Concise note on 35:20–29, which biblehub repeats under every verse; it is cited once (v. 20/26) and not re-quoted. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown likewise carries its verse-22 note forward onto vv. 23–29 in the source; that material is therefore quoted only at its proper verse (22). On the silver of v. 24, Ellicott and the Pulpit Commentary both flag a genuine unresolved difficulty (its fate is not accounted for in 38:24–29) — preserved here rather than smoothed over. The 2 Corinthians 9:7 thread is deliberately flagged because, as a Greek↔Hebrew link, it can rest on no shared Strong's lexeme; its connection is thematic and editorial. Two intra-Exodus threads carry rare-lexeme overlaps the Verifier rates "verbal": the color-cluster (25:4 / 35:23 / 39:2) and the willing-heart command (25:2 / 35:21, 29). Both are honestly labeled as repeated formula or recapitulation within a single composition, not as one text quoting another — verbal at the lexeme level, structural in function. No Joshua 1:5 / Hebrews 13:5 thread applies to this Exodus unit.

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)