Exodus 35:21 kjv
And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
Exodus 35:21 nkjv
Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.
Exodus 35:21 niv
and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.
Exodus 35:21 esv
And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.
Exodus 35:21 nlt
All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the LORD. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.
Exodus 35 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:2 | "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him..." | Offering from willing hearts |
| Exod 36:3-7 | "...for the people brought much more material than was required for the work..." | Overabundance from willing givers |
| Lev 1:3 | "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD." | Voluntary nature of offerings |
| Deut 16:10 | "Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering that you give..." | Freewill offerings commanded |
| 1 Chr 29:5-9 | "who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?... Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD..." | Willing, wholehearted offering for temple |
| Ezra 1:6 | "And all who were around them aided them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly things, besides all that was freely offered." | Voluntary giving for temple rebuilding |
| Neh 2:18 | "And I told them of the hand of my God that had been favorable to me... And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work." | Readiness to undertake God's work |
| Psa 110:3 | "Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your power, in holy garments..." | People offer willingly to God's King |
| Prov 11:25 | "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." | Principle of generous giving |
| Isa 60:7 | "All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you... they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house." | Future willing offerings to God's house |
| Hag 1:4 | "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" | Contrast to neglecting God's house |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test..." | Blessings for faithful giving |
| Mark 12:41-44 | "...And many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins... Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all..." | Heart behind the offering's value |
| 2 Cor 8:2-3 | "...for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord..." | Generosity from difficult circumstances |
| 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." | Giving from the heart, not compulsion |
| Rom 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Spiritual act of surrender and service |
| Rom 12:6-8 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy... if contribution, in generosity..." | Using gifts, including generous contribution |
| Phil 4:18-19 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours..." | God's provision for those who give |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Practical sharing as pleasing sacrifice |
| Acts 2:44-45 | "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." | Community generosity and shared resources |
Exodus 35 verses
Exodus 35 21 Meaning
Exodus 35:21 describes the Israelite community's voluntary and enthusiastic response to Moses' call for offerings to construct the Tabernacle. It highlights that the materials brought were not given out of obligation or coercion, but stemmed from an inner spiritual motivation—a heart stirred and a spirit made willing by the Lord. These spontaneous contributions were specifically for the extensive work of building the Tent of Meeting, supporting all its ongoing liturgical service, and fashioning the sacred garments for the priests.
Exodus 35 21 Context
Exodus chapter 35 directly follows the detailed divine instructions given to Moses concerning the Tabernacle's construction, its furnishings, and the garments for the priesthood (Exod 25-31). After the devastating incident of the golden calf (Exod 32), God renewed His covenant with Israel and reiterated His presence among them (Exod 33-34). Moses then convenes the whole congregation of Israel in Chapter 35, communicating God's commands for the Sabbath observance (v. 1-3) and, crucially, the specific requirements for the Tabernacle's building (v. 4-19). Verse 21 begins the powerful narrative of the people's immediate and fervent response to this call for contributions. It sets the stage for the miraculous abundance of materials that followed, enabling the artisans to construct God's dwelling place. The historical context emphasizes that unlike the hasty and sinful collection for the golden calf, this giving was orderly, God-ordained, and fueled by a sincere desire to worship and obey the Lord, reflecting a restoration of the covenant relationship.
Exodus 35 21 Word analysis
- And they came (וַיָּבֹאוּ, vayavo'u): Signifies an immediate and widespread movement, not just a select few. It marks the commencement of the people's action.
- everyone whose heart (כָּל־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂאוֹ לִבּוֹ, kol-'ish asher nesa'o libo):
- everyone: Denotes inclusivity, emphasizing a collective and comprehensive response from the entire community.
- heart (lev, לֵב): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of a person's entire being, encompassing intellect, emotion, and will. It is the core of their motivations and decisions.
- stirred him (nasa, נָשָׂא, lit. "lifted him up"): Implies an internal impulse, a prompting from within. This suggests motivation arising from conviction, not external pressure or command.
- and everyone whose spirit (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נָדְבָה רוּחוֹ, vekhol asher nadva ruḥo):
- spirit (ruach, רוּחַ): Refers to the animating life principle or inner disposition of a person. It speaks to a deep, animating sense of purpose and willingness.
- made him willing (nadab, נָדַב): To be willing, volunteer, to act spontaneously and generously. This word is fundamental to the concept of a "freewill offering," highlighting the uncompelled and gracious nature of their contribution.
- and brought (וַיָּבִיאוּ, vayavi'u): Direct action stemming from internal motivation, resulting in a physical act of presentation.
- the LORD's offering (אֶת־תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה, et-terumat Adonai):
- offering (terumah, תְּרוּמָה): A heave offering, a contribution lifted up and set apart. It specifically indicates an item dedicated to God. This underlines that the gifts were for divine purposes, owned by God Himself.
- for the work of the tent of meeting (לִמְלֶכֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, limlekhet ohel mo'ed):
- work (melekhet, מְלֶכֶת): The labor or craftsmanship involved in construction.
- tent of meeting (ohel mo'ed, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד): The Tabernacle, God's dwelling place where He would meet with His people. This explicitly states the sacred purpose of the collected materials.
- and for all its service (וּלְכָל־עֲבֹדָתוֹ, ulekhol avodato):
- service (avodah, עֲבֹדָה): Encompasses both the worship and functional upkeep necessary for the Tabernacle's operations, emphasizing ongoing liturgical activities.
- and for the holy garments (וּלְבִגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ, uveligde haqqodesh): The priestly vestments, vital for their consecrated role in officiating the Tabernacle's worship. This specific mention underlines the comprehensive nature of the appeal.
Words-group analysis:
- "whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit made him willing": This parallelism emphasizes the two-fold depth of their inner motivation: both the emotional-intellectual will ("heart stirred") and the deeper spiritual impulse ("spirit made him willing"). It signifies that their giving was holistic and profoundly intrinsic.
- "for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments": This comprehensive list specifies the full scope of God's holy requirements. It demonstrates that the Israelites understood the purpose of their contributions for every aspect of divine dwelling and worship.
Exodus 35 21 Bonus section
The contrast between the collection for the golden calf (Exod 32), which was impulsive and resulted in idolatry, and the offering for the Tabernacle is significant. For the calf, Aaron "required" them to take off their earrings, suggesting some level of coercion or direct command (though people likely complied quickly due to spiritual emptiness). For the Tabernacle, it's explicitly "everyone whose heart stirred him," emphasizing free will and a deep inner conviction. This shows God's patience and graciousness in bringing His people to a point of willing obedience and demonstrates that God desires the proper motivation for acts of worship and service. The abundance of material from the willing hearts (Exod 36:3-7) ultimately led Moses to command them to stop bringing offerings, illustrating how God often provides exceedingly beyond what is merely necessary when His people respond with generosity and devotion. This also sets a standard for congregational participation in holy endeavors.
Exodus 35 21 Commentary
Exodus 35:21 powerfully illustrates the principle of voluntary, joyful giving in service to God. Unlike forced labor or taxation, God's call for offerings for the Tabernacle appealed directly to the individual's inner disposition. The Israelites' "heart being stirred" and "spirit made willing" underscores that divine work thrives not on grudging compliance but on fervent, uncompelled generosity. This passage reveals God's desire for genuine love and devotion as the foundation of service, mirroring the New Testament truth that "God loves a cheerful giver." Their ready response in providing materials for the sacred dwelling, its ongoing operations, and the holy vestments served as a collective act of worship, demonstrating renewed covenant faithfulness after their earlier rebellion. It is a timeless example of how faith expresses itself through tangible offerings that flow from a transformed heart, directly enabling God's presence and ministry among His people.