Exodus 25:2 kjv

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

Exodus 25:2 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

Exodus 25:2 niv

"Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.

Exodus 25:2 esv

"Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

Exodus 25:2 nlt

"Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

Exodus 25 verses

Exodus 25 2 Meaning

This verse initiates God's detailed instructions to Moses for constructing the Tabernacle, His earthly dwelling among the Israelites. It mandates that offerings for this sacred project are to be gathered from individuals whose hearts freely and willingly prompt them to give. This highlights the principle of voluntary, joyful, and heartfelt contribution as the foundation for participating in God's work.

Exodus 25 2 Context

Exodus 25:2 marks a pivotal shift in the book of Exodus. Following the Israelites' miraculous deliverance from Egypt, their reception of the Ten Commandments, and the sealing of the covenant at Mount Sinai (Ex 19-24), God now instructs Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle. This sacred tent would serve as His tangible dwelling place amidst His newly formed covenant people. The detailed commands for the Tabernacle's design, furnishings, and priestly vestments begin here, following the covenant relationship. This immediate context underscores that the offering is not for a distant deity, but for the intimate presence of the God who has redeemed them, enabling their communal worship and drawing them into deeper relationship. Historically, the nomadic desert setting necessitates a portable sanctuary, contrasting with future fixed Temples, but establishing a continuous theme of God's presence.

Exodus 25 2 Word analysis

• Speak (דַּבֵּר - dabbēr): A strong imperative, indicating a divine command that is to be clearly and authoritatively conveyed. It highlights God's initiative in instructing His people.
• unto the children of Israel (אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - el bᵉnei Yisra'el): Identifies the specific recipients of God's instruction—the covenant people whom He has chosen and delivered. This underscores their unique relationship and responsibility.
• that they bring me an offering (וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְּרוּמָה - vᵉyiqqᵉḥû lî tᵉrûmâ):
  • bring/take (יִקְחוּ - yiqqᵉḥû): Lit. "let them take" or "receive." This implies that the people themselves are responsible for preparing and bringing the gift.
  • offering (תְּרוּמָה - tᵉrûmâ): A "heave offering" or "contribution." It denotes something lifted up, separated, or set apart for sacred use. This specific term implies a consecrated gift for divine service, marking the materials for the Tabernacle as sacred.
  • me (לִי - lî): The offering is directly for God's purposes, establishing His ownership and divine claim on what is contributed.
• of every man (מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ - me'et kol 'îsh): Signifies universality within the community. The call for contribution is for all, demonstrating that every individual, regardless of social status, is invited and expected to participate.
• that giveth it willingly (אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ - 'asher yiddᵉḇennû):
  • giveth willingly (יִדְּבֶנּוּ - yiddᵉḇennû): Derived from the root נָדַב (nadav), meaning "to offer freely, to volunteer, to prompt oneself." This is a crucial concept, emphasizing that the gift must not be coerced but arise from an internal motivation and free will.
• with his heart (לִבּוֹ - libbô):
  • heart (לִבּוֹ - libbô): In biblical Hebrew thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotion, but the center of one's being, including intellect, will, conscience, and inner motivation. A gift "with his heart" is genuine, sincere, and fully intended by the giver. It underscores inner disposition over mere outward action.
• ye shall take my offering (תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי - tiqḥû 'et tᵉrûmātî):
  • ye shall take (תִּקְחוּ - tiqḥû): A plural imperative directed to Moses and the appointed receivers (likely the tribal leaders or skilled craftsmen). They are authorized to receive what is freely given, indicating a system of collection for God's project.
  • my offering (תְּרוּמָתִי - tᵉrûmātî): Reiteration of "offering" with the suffix "my," reinforcing divine ownership and the sacred nature of the collected goods. It is God's entitlement, accepted through human mediation.

• "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering": This phrase highlights God's command as the origin of the act of giving. It is a response to divine initiative, not a human invention. The "bringing" (receiving/taking) implies an act of voluntary presentation to the divine.
• "of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart": This forms the core principle. It explicitly states the non-compulsory nature and the required internal motivation for the offering. It ensures authenticity, making the offering acceptable not just by its substance, but by its spiritual condition.
• "ye shall take my offering": This directs the recipients of the command (Moses and those collecting) on how to receive. They are to accept only what truly originates from a willing heart. This establishes a boundary and spiritual criteria for what constitutes a valid "offering for God."

Exodus 25 2 Bonus section

The concept of terumah (offering/heave offering) in this verse not only refers to material gifts but also implies something "elevated" or "set apart." It represents a sacred portion lifted out from the mundane. This suggests that the act of giving, when done willingly from the heart, transforms ordinary possessions into sacred instruments for God's glory. This principle ensures that participation in building God's dwelling place was not merely about materials, but about the sanctification of the people and their possessions through their devoted will. It teaches that true contribution involves personal consecration, where the gift reflects the inner posture of the giver towards God.

Exodus 25 2 Commentary

Exodus 25:2 is a foundational statement about the nature of acceptable giving to God. At the outset of the Tabernacle's construction, which would house the divine presence, God Himself defines the prerequisites for contribution. The command itself is paradoxical—God commands a "freewill offering." This is not a demand for forced servitude, but an invitation to partnership rooted in love and devotion. The essence lies in the individual's "heart"—the seat of intention, will, and affection. A true offering to God must spring from this inner willingness, a desire born out of gratitude for deliverance and a longing for divine fellowship.

This verse stands in contrast to common pagan practices of the time, where offerings might be coerced, made out of fear, or designed to manipulate deities. Here, God explicitly seeks gifts motivated by love, emphasizing an ethical relationship rather than transactional appeasement. It establishes a lasting principle that God values the motivation behind a gift more than its material value, yet also values participation from all, "every man." The spiritual integrity of the giver defines the acceptability of the gift, making giving a profound act of worship and trust in God's ownership of all resources. It prefigures later biblical teachings on generosity and cheerful giving in both the Old and New Testaments.