Exodus 30 14

Exodus 30:14 kjv

Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

Exodus 30:14 nkjv

Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD.

Exodus 30:14 niv

All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the LORD.

Exodus 30:14 esv

Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.

Exodus 30:14 nlt

All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the LORD.

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 14 Meaning

Exodus 30:14 states the divine command that every male twenty years old and above, who is counted in the census, must give a specific half-shekel offering to the LORD. This payment serves as atonement money for their souls and is dedicated for the service and maintenance of the Tabernacle. It signifies an individual's accountability before God and their required participation in the communal support of God's dwelling place among His people.

Exodus 30 14 Context

Exodus chapter 30 primarily details further instructions for the Tabernacle and its services, immediately following the elaborate descriptions of its construction. Verses 11-16 specifically address the "ransom money" or "atonement money" required for every man counted in a census. This particular instruction is a departure from previous descriptions of voluntary offerings for the Tabernacle construction; instead, it mandates a specific, equal contribution from all eligible males. Historically, a census often preceded military readiness or taxation. Here, it is divinely mandated not for state revenue or human power, but for a sacred purpose: atonement for the individuals and for funding the spiritual apparatus of worship. The command for an equal offering from rich and poor alike (v. 15) underscores a fundamental principle of equality before God, particularly in matters of spiritual reconciliation and communal support for His holy dwelling.

Exodus 30 14 Word analysis

• Every one (כֹּל, kol): This Hebrew term signifies universality and completeness. It emphasizes that this command applies without exception to every eligible individual, reflecting an inclusive accountability before the LORD and a collective responsibility for the holy work.
• that passeth among them that are numbered (עֹבֵר עַל־הַפְּקֻדִים, ‘over ‘al-happĕquddîm):
  • ‘over (עֹבֵר): "one passing over," or "passing through." It refers to participation in the process of being counted.
  • happĕquddîm (הַפְּקֻדִים): "the numbered ones," or "those counted." It refers to the individuals who are officially registered in the census. This phrase connects the requirement directly to a formal census, indicating a structured and mandatory identification of all responsible individuals within the community. The numbering implies accountability and eligibility for communal responsibilities, including military service or, in this context, supporting the Tabernacle.
• from twenty years old and above (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָעְלָה, mibben ‘eśrīm shānāh wāmā‘lāh):
  • mibben (מִבֶּן): "from the son of" or "from the age of."
  • ‘eśrīm shānāh (עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה): "twenty years."
  • wāmā‘lāh (וָמָעְלָה): "and upward."This age specified is consistently presented in the Pentateuch as the age of legal majority and full responsibility, particularly for military service (e.g., Num 1:3, Num 26:2). It designates males old enough to be held accountable for their actions and capable of contributing to the nation's welfare, both physically and financially. This excludes children, signifying maturity and readiness for civic and religious duty.
• shall give (יִתֵּן, yitten): This verb is in the imperative sense, conveying a direct command and obligation, not a suggestion or voluntary choice. It stresses the mandatory nature of the offering.
• an offering (תְּרוּמַת, terumat): This term generally refers to a "heave offering" or "contribution" set aside, specifically from the proceeds of the land or other goods. Here, it is uniquely specified as money, the half-shekel. In the context of the subsequent verses (Exod 30:15-16), it is explicitly called "atonement money" (kopher nafsho), emphasizing its spiritual purpose. It is a holy contribution designated for a sacred use.
• unto the LORD (לַיהוָה, la-YHWH): This specifies the ultimate recipient and purpose of the offering. The contribution is not for Moses or human authorities, but solely for God, intended for the support of His worship and Tabernacle, which served as His dwelling place among His people. This highlights the sacred nature of the offering and its divine purpose.

Exodus 30 14 Bonus section

The specific amount, the "half-shekel," symbolically suggests that humans, even after making this payment, cannot achieve complete atonement on their own. The individual's payment acknowledges their need for divine grace. It speaks to human incompleteness without God. This annual payment (later in Jewish history) also became a communal act, reinforcing unity and shared responsibility among God's people in supporting the worship and presence of God. This mandatory, equal contribution was distinct from the voluntary offerings for the Tabernacle's initial construction, emphasizing ongoing collective accountability for its operational holiness and perpetual upkeep.

Exodus 30 14 Commentary

Exodus 30:14 serves as a foundational verse establishing a mandatory and universal sacred tax for the adult males of Israel. The directive to collect a half-shekel from every man counted in a census, aged twenty years and older, is deeply significant. This wasn't merely a civil tax; it was "atonement money," underscoring the spiritual necessity of this communal offering. The universal applicability, regardless of wealth, highlights that all souls are of equal value before God and equally in need of atonement, and all are equally obligated to support His dwelling place and service. This obligatory payment ensured the financial stability for the Tabernacle's ongoing maintenance and rites. The act of giving was a perpetual reminder of their redemption, an acknowledgment that their very lives belonged to God and required atonement. Furthermore, by linking it to the census for battle, it implied a spiritual battle and a redemption necessary for life within God's covenant community, rather than purely military enlistment. The ultimate fulfillment of this concept of redemption is found not in an offering of silver, but in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood provides ultimate and complete atonement for sins, applicable to all who believe, without distinction of person.