Exodus 35:20 kjv
And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
Exodus 35:20 nkjv
And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
Exodus 35:20 niv
Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence,
Exodus 35:20 esv
Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.
Exodus 35:20 nlt
So the whole community of Israel left Moses and returned to their tents.
Exodus 35 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 35:4-5 | Moses said to all the congregation of the children of Israel, "This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying: 'Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering...'." | The divine command preceding the people's departure. |
| Exo 35:21 | And everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, came and brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting... | The direct consequence: people acted on their willingness. |
| Exo 35:22 | They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought brooches and earrings, and rings and bracelets... | Details of the wide-ranging and willing contributions. |
| Exo 36:3 | And they received from Moses all the offerings which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. | The continued flow of generous offerings. |
| Exo 25:2 | "Speak to the children of Israel to bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering." | Earlier instruction emphasizing the 'willing heart'. |
| Exo 36:5-7 | And they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do." ...So the people were restrained from bringing. | Overwhelming generosity; people brought too much. |
| 1 Chr 29:9 | Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they offered willingly to the Lord... | David's temple offerings echo the principle of willing hearts. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. | New Testament principle of cheerful, willing giving. |
| Psa 110:3 | Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. | God's people respond with willingness. |
| Deu 16:17 | Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. | Giving according to one's ability, inspired by God's blessing. |
| 1 Tim 6:18 | Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share... | Readiness and willingness in generosity in the New Testament. |
| Php 2:13 | for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. | God enabling the willing heart and action. |
| Psa 100:2 | Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. | Serving God with joyful readiness. |
| Heb 10:7 | Then I said, 'Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God.'" | Christ's example of doing God's will with readiness. |
| 1 Pet 1:13 | Therefore gird up the loins of your mind; be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ... | Readiness and preparation in spiritual life. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Emphasizing action following hearing the word. |
| Pro 21:18 | The rich and the poor meet together; The Lord is the maker of them all. | Implies inclusivity, where all contribute according to ability and willingness. |
| Exo 35:29 | The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose heart was willing to bring materials... | Reinforcement of "freewill" and "willing heart." |
| Ezr 2:68-69 | Some of the heads of the fathers' houses, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to erect it in its place. According to their ability, they gave... | Post-exilic parallel of freewill offerings for temple rebuilding. |
| Neh 11:2 | And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. | Example of people willingly offering themselves for service. |
Exodus 35 verses
Exodus 35 20 Meaning
Exodus 35:20 describes the immediate, unified, and decisive response of the Israelite community after Moses relayed God's commands concerning the Tabernacle's construction and the call for freewill offerings. It signifies the prompt departure of the entire congregation from Moses's direct presence, not to disperse, but to prepare themselves to contribute willingly towards God's dwelling place. This act indicates their readiness to move from hearing to action, a key step in their communal obedience and participation in the sacred project.
Exodus 35 20 Context
Exodus chapter 35 follows immediately after God has given Moses detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, along with the reiteration of the Sabbath law (Exo 34-35:3). In verses 4-19 of Exodus 35, Moses meticulously relays these divine commands to the assembled Israelite community. He calls for willing offerings, emphasizing that participation in providing the materials for God's dwelling place is to come from "everyone who is of a willing heart." The people have just heard the complete set of requirements and the invitation to contribute generously to a unified sacred purpose.
Historically and culturally, the Israelites at this point are encamped at the base of Mount Sinai, having recently ratified the covenant with Yahweh and received the Ten Commandments. The construction of the Tabernacle is a pivotal moment, establishing God's physical presence among His people as they journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. It served as the central place of worship, sacrifice, and divine communication, reinforcing the covenant relationship. This moment also carries profound significance given their recent idolatry with the golden calf (Exo 32); their immediate and willing response here signifies a renewed commitment and a collective step towards restoration and obedience to God. It underscores their role in participating actively in God's redemptive plan and highlights a profound transformation from earlier rebellions to collective unity and zeal.
Exodus 35 20 Word analysis
- Then (וַיֵּצְאוּ - wayyets'u): This conjunction signifies a direct, immediate, and consequent action following what has just been stated. It's a "Waw-consecutive" perfect verb, which often indicates sequential action or consequence. In this context, it signals the immediate reaction to Moses's instruction.
- all (כָּל־ - kol-): This Hebrew word denotes completeness or entirety. It emphasizes that no one was excluded or lagged behind; the response was comprehensive, encompassing the entire body of the congregation.
- the congregation (הָעֵדָה - ha'edah): Refers to the assembled community or general assembly of Israel, often having a formal or designated status. It highlights the unity and organized nature of the group, underscoring that the entire nation responded together, not just a select few. This word signifies Israel's corporate identity.
- of the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'nei Yisra'el): The standard collective term for the nation of Israel, literally "sons of Israel." It specifies the group as God's chosen covenant people.
- departed (וַיֵּצְאוּ - wayyets'u): From the root יָצָא (yatsa), meaning "to go out," "to exit," or "to come forth." It denotes physical movement away from a specific location or presence. Here, it means they moved away from Moses's immediate vicinity where the instructions had been delivered. It implies a purposeful exit to prepare for the required actions.
- from the presence (מִלִּפְנֵי - milliphnei): Literally "from before the face of," or "from before." It is a prepositional phrase signifying removal from someone's immediate vicinity or authority. They left the spot where they were assembled to listen to Moses.
- of Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Moshe): The leader and mediator through whom God communicated His will to the Israelites. Their departure from his "presence" implies the completion of the message delivery and the commencement of the people's independent, albeit divinely directed, action.
Words-group analysis:
- Then all the congregation: Highlights the immediate and unified response of the entire community. It emphasizes corporate responsibility and unity in purpose. This stands in stark contrast to previous instances of individual or subgroup disobedience.
- departed from the presence of Moses: Signifies a transition from passive listening to active preparation. They weren't merely dispersing but going to act on the instruction given. It underscores the call to obedience, indicating that they took the instructions seriously and were now proceeding to implement them. This shows a commendable posture of readiness and intent to follow through on God's command.
Exodus 35 20 Bonus section
The seemingly simple act of "departing from the presence of Moses" carries symbolic weight. It mirrors the theological truth that after receiving divine instruction, God's people are called to internalize and then implement His will in their practical lives. This wasn't merely a dismissal from a meeting, but a purposeful dispersal to gather resources and prepare, showing profound earnestness and communal resolve. It lays the groundwork for understanding the concept of active participation in the work of the Kingdom—hearing is always a prelude to doing. The swiftness implies that the command resonated deeply, evoking a heart of ready obedience rather than hesitation or complaint.
Exodus 35 20 Commentary
Exodus 35:20 marks a critical turning point following the detailed exposition of God's commands regarding the Tabernacle. It succinctly captures the immediate and unanimous response of the Israelite community. The simplicity of the verse belies its profound theological significance. "All the congregation...departed" indicates not a dispersion in indifference, but a unified withdrawal from Moses's direct address, poised to act. This movement suggests a collective processing of the divine instruction and a resolute intention to fulfill it.
This particular instance showcases a remarkable readiness and willingness within the people, contrasting sharply with their earlier rebellion at the golden calf incident. Their swift departure is a testament to their attentiveness to God's word conveyed through Moses and their eagerness to participate in the construction of His dwelling place. It demonstrates a practical expression of their renewed covenant commitment, signifying their transformation from disobedient complainers to willing contributors. The communal action described sets the stage for the unparalleled outpouring of generosity detailed in the subsequent verses (Exo 35:21-29), illustrating that true obedience is often preceded by a heart prepared and a community mobilized to act in unity. The verse embodies the spirit of an assembly that understands its call to worship and service.