Exodus 30:13 kjv
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 nkjv
This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 niv
Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 esv
Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.
Exodus 30:13 nlt
Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the LORD. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)
Exodus 30 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 30:12 | "When you take the census... then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to the Lord..." | Establishes the purpose of the half-shekel as atonement. |
| Exod 30:14 | "Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord's offering." | Specifies the age range for the contributors. |
| Exod 30:15 | "The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel..." | Emphasizes the principle of equality in payment. |
| Exod 30:16 | "You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and give it for the service of the tent of meeting..." | Explains the practical use of the collected funds. |
| Lev 27:3 | "...your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver according to the shekel of the sanctuary." | Refers to the "shekel of the sanctuary" as a consistent standard. |
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel... from twenty years old and upward..." | Provides context for the census and age for service/payment. |
| Num 3:47 | "You shall take five shekels a head; by the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them, the shekel of twenty gerahs." | Reaffirms the standard shekel and gerah equivalence in another redemption context. |
| Num 18:16 | "...the redemption price... shall be five shekels of silver according to the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Mentions the standard shekel for priestly redemptions. |
| 2 Chr 24:6-9 | King Joash orders the collection of the Mosaic temple tax for repairs of the house of the Lord. | Historical instance of applying the Mosaic command for temple upkeep. |
| Neh 10:32 | "We also make a law for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God..." | Post-exilic re-establishment of a temple contribution, showing continuity. |
| Eze 45:12 | "The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels shall be your mina." | Prophetic reaffirmation of exact weights, including the gerah. |
| Psa 49:7-8 | "Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life... the ransom for their life is too costly." | Contrasts human inability to pay ultimate ransom with God's provision. |
| Matt 17:24-27 | Peter is asked about Jesus paying the "two-drachma tax," which was the annual Temple tax. | New Testament reference to the continuation of the half-shekel (temple tax). |
| Matt 20:28 | "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the ransom principle. |
| Mark 10:45 | (Similar to Matt 20:28) "...to give His life a ransom for many." | Emphasizes Christ's redemptive work as the supreme ransom. |
| 1 Tim 2:6 | "[Christ Jesus] gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." | Clearly states Christ's universal ransom, aligning with the "for all" aspect of the half-shekel. |
| Titus 2:14 | "Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness..." | Speaks of Christ's act of redemption. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "knowing that you were ransomed... not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ..." | Contrasts the limited efficacy of silver ransom with the eternal efficacy of Christ's blood. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Principle of spiritual equality reflected in the uniform half-shekel payment. |
| Col 3:11 | "...Christ is all, and in all." | Reinforces equality and unity in Christ, mirroring the communal aspect of the offering. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | New Covenant principle for giving, distinct from the old covenant's mandatory nature, but for supporting ministry. |
| Exod 25:9 | "According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle... so shall you make it." | Highlights divine authority behind specific instructions like this contribution. |
Exodus 30 verses
Exodus 30 13 Meaning
Exodus 30:13 mandates that every male Israelite, twenty years and older, who participated in the census, must pay "half a shekel" of silver, calculated by the standardized "shekel of the sanctuary" weight, where one shekel equals twenty gerahs. This fixed amount was designated as a ransom or atonement money for their souls, to be presented as an offering to the Lord. It served to underscore the spiritual equality of all individuals before God, highlighting their uniform need for divine atonement, and protecting the community from potential plague, while providing for the operational needs of the Tabernacle.
Exodus 30 13 Context
Exodus chapter 30 sets forth a series of precise divine commands concerning the Tabernacle's furnishing and rituals. Immediately preceding this verse, Exodus 30:12 introduces the concept of a census among the Israelites that necessitates a unique payment to avert divine judgment, implying that mere counting without an acknowledgement of divine ownership over life could be precarious. Thus, the half-shekel is primarily an "atonement money" (kofer nefesh), a ransom for the lives of the people. This monetary contribution, prescribed here, also directly funded the ongoing construction and maintenance of the Tent of Meeting (Exod 30:16), ensuring the infrastructure for Israel's worship life. Historically, such a regular, universal contribution was vital for supporting the national sanctuary, demonstrating communal participation and financial responsibility for the physical place of God's presence among them.
Exodus 30 13 Word analysis
- This: (Hebrew: זֶה, zeh) – Refers specifically to the "ransom for his soul" previously introduced in verse 12. It emphasizes that the outlined payment is the required act of atonement.
- they shall give: (Hebrew: יִתְּנוּ, yitt'nū, from נָתַן, nathan, "to give") – Denotes an unconditional, divine directive rather than a voluntary contribution. The plural indicates a collective obligation for the whole community.
- every one that passeth among them that are numbered: (Hebrew: כֹּל הָעֹבֵר עַל־הַפְּקֻדִים, kol ha‘ovēr ‘al-happĕqudîm) –
- every one: (כֹּל, kol) – Stresses the universal nature of the command, excluding none who met the criteria.
- that passeth among: (הָעֹבֵר עַל, ha‘ovēr ‘al) – Refers to those being enumerated or "passed over" for counting in the census.
- them that are numbered: (הַפְּקֻדִים, happĕqudîm, from פָּקַד, paqad, "to muster, to count") – Specifically designates those counted in the official census, primarily male Israelites aged twenty years and older for service (Exod 30:14). This established accountability and recognized their communal standing.
- half a shekel: (Hebrew: מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל, machatsit hashsheqel) – Prescribes the exact, unchanging amount required from each individual. This fixed sum, regardless of economic status, highlights that all lives are equally valued by God and stand in equal need of atonement, preventing any claim to greater merit by the wealthy or lesser requirement for the poor.
- after the shekel of the sanctuary: (Hebrew: בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, bəsheqel haqqodesh) –
- shekel of the sanctuary: (שֶּׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ, sheqel haqqodesh) – Denotes a precisely weighed standard held in the sanctuary, implying unvarying accuracy and preventing fraud or varying valuations. This specific reference emphasizes divine exactitude and holiness in dealings pertaining to God's requirements.
- a shekel is twenty gerahs: (Hebrew: עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה הַשֶּׁקֶל, ‘esrīm gērāh hashsheqel) – This explanatory clause ensures complete clarity on the units of measurement for all. The gerah (gērāh) was the smallest monetary or weight unit, with twenty equaling one shekel. This leaves no ambiguity in calculation.
- an offering: (Hebrew: תְּרוּמָה, tᵉrûmāh, "heave offering, contribution") – Derived from a root meaning "to lift up." While commanded, it is presented as a consecrated contribution "lifted up" or dedicated to the Lord for His holy purposes, elevating it beyond a mere secular tax.
- unto the Lord: (לַיהוָה, laYahweh) – Explicitly identifies God (Yahweh) as the ultimate recipient and intended purpose of the payment. This designates the offering as sacred and underscores the act as one of worship and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.
Exodus 30 13 Bonus section
The concept of kofer nefesh, a "ransom for a soul," implicitly recognizes humanity's forfeited standing before God due to sin, a state from which only divine intervention or provision can bring redemption. This half-shekel payment served as a practical acknowledgment of this spiritual truth. The silver used for this offering also held symbolic weight, frequently being associated with redemption, value, and divine judgment throughout the biblical narrative. The very "halfness" of the payment has been interpreted by some to suggest that human efforts for atonement are always incomplete, emphasizing God's role in perfecting what is initiated by human obedience, or highlighting the shared responsibility between the individual and the community. The systematic nature of this collection ensured accountability within the Israelite community and demonstrated their tangible support for the covenant relationship maintained through the Tabernacle's operations. This tradition formed the basis for the annual Temple Tax in later Israelite history, continued even into the New Testament era (as seen with Jesus and Peter in Matt 17:24-27).
Exodus 30 13 Commentary
Exodus 30:13 sets forth a pivotal ordinance for the Israelite community, mandating a universal "half-shekel" payment as an "atonement money" for every eligible male. This command is steeped in theological significance: it is not a graduated tax based on wealth, but a fixed ransom, emphatically stating that every human soul is equally precious in God's eyes and equally dependent on His atonement. Neither the rich nor the poor could offer more or less to gain divine favor, thereby fostering spiritual equality and unity within the community. The specific "shekel of the sanctuary" emphasizes the unwavering standard of God's demands and the importance of integrity in fulfilling them. This communal fund was then channeled into supporting the physical and spiritual functions of the Tabernacle, the center of their worship and God's presence. Ultimately, this ancient ordinance points to the profound truth of the ultimate, incomparable ransom offered by Jesus Christ. His sacrifice serves as a complete and final atonement, equally available and fully sufficient for all who believe, without distinction of wealth, status, or any other human measure.