Exodus 35:5 kjv
Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exodus 35:5 nkjv
'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;
Exodus 35:5 niv
From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;
Exodus 35:5 esv
Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;
Exodus 35:5 nlt
Take a sacred offering for the LORD. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;
Exodus 35 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:2 | "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering...from everyone whose heart makes him willing." | Direct parallel command for the Tabernacle offering. |
| Ex 35:21 | "And everyone whose heart was stirred...came and brought the LORD's offering." | Israel's immediate, willing response to this command. |
| Ex 35:29 | "The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all whose hearts made them willing." | Further affirmation of the freewill nature of the offerings. |
| 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 willing and joyful giving. |
| 1 Chron 29:9 | "Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they offered willingly to the LORD." | People's willingness in contributing for the Temple's construction under David. |
| 1 Chron 29:17 | "I know also, my God, that You test the heart...in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things." | David's acknowledgement that God values the heart behind the offering. |
| Deut 16:10 | "You shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering..." | Instruction for freewill offerings during appointed feasts. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your possessions...so your barns will be filled with plenty." | Connecting generous giving with God's provision. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...and try Me now in this, says the LORD...if I will not open for you the windows of heaven..." | God's promise of blessing for obedient and sacrificial giving. |
| Luke 6:38 | "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down...For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." | New Testament principle of spiritual and material return for giving. |
| 2 Cor 8:12 | "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has..." | Emphasis on willingness and giving proportionately. |
| Ex 25:3-7 | "And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze...spices, and oil..." | Lists the specific types of materials required for the offering. |
| Ex 36:3 | "And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought..." | Refers to the actual collection of the contributions, demonstrating the response. |
| Lev 1:2 | "When any one of you brings an offering [korban] to the LORD..." | Broader principle of offerings and their purpose in Mosaic law. |
| Num 15:19 | "Then it shall be...that you shall offer up a heave offering [terumah] to the LORD." | Application of terumah (heave offering) in later ritual contexts. |
| Ex 29:43 | "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory." | The ultimate purpose of the Tabernacle: God's dwelling and meeting place. |
| Ex 40:34 | "Then the cloud covered the tabernacle...and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." | God's immediate validation and presence once the Tabernacle was completed. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "...in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord..." | Spiritual application: Believers as the temple of God in the New Covenant. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?" | The superiority of obedience and a willing heart over mere ritual sacrifice. |
| Ps 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise." | The emphasis on inner disposition in genuine worship. |
| Isa 1:11 | "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" | Prophetic warning against religious acts performed without a right heart. |
| Matt 9:13 | "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice." | Jesus reiterating that inner spiritual qualities are more important than external rituals. |
Exodus 35 verses
Exodus 35 5 Meaning
This verse serves as a divine command and invitation from the LORD, delivered through Moses, to the Israelites. It calls for the collection of freewill offerings specifically for the construction and furnishing of the Tabernacle. The core emphasis lies on the internal disposition of the giver: only those whose hearts are willing, or genuinely inclined to contribute, are to bring their gifts. This highlights that the value of the offering is intrinsically linked to the spirit of the giver, underscoring sincerity, generosity, and uncoerced devotion as foundational principles for worship and service to the LORD.
Exodus 35 5 Context
Exodus 35:5 stands within the broader narrative of the Tabernacle's construction, immediately following God's reiteration of the Sabbath command in Exodus 35:1-3. After the tragic incident of the Golden Calf and the subsequent renewal of the covenant (Ex 32-34), Moses gathers the entire Israelite community. This verse initiates the practical steps for building the physical dwelling place for the LORD's presence among His people, serving as a reminder of God's renewed favor and desire to dwell with them despite their sin. The previous detailed instructions for the Tabernacle (Ex 25-31) now move into the phase of their materialization. Historically, this event took place in the wilderness, after their liberation from Egypt, marking a pivotal moment in their development as a covenant nation dependent on God's instructions for worship and community life. In contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices where forced labor or temple taxes might be imposed, the emphasis on a "willing heart" for this sacred project set the Israelite model apart as a freewill response of devotion to a personal God.
Exodus 35 5 Word analysis
- Take ye from among you: This phrasing indicates a collective action from within the community, signifying that the responsibility for contributing to the LORD's dwelling rested on every Israelite, implying participation from all socio-economic strata, as each heart that was willing could contribute.
- an offering: (Hebrew: terumah, תְּרוּמָה). This term derives from the root rum, meaning "to be high," "to lift up," or "to raise." Thus, terumah denotes something lifted out or set apart, a sacred contribution or heave offering. It implies an act of separation and elevation of specific resources dedicated for a divine purpose, signifying the holy nature of what is being given to God. It differentiates from an obligation or a tax, being a consecrated gift.
- unto the LORD: This clarifies the ultimate recipient and purpose of the offering. It's not for Moses, or for a human leader, but solely for Yahweh, the God of Israel. This designation stresses the holiness and divine authority associated with the project, ensuring that all honor and focus remain on God.
- whosoever is of a willing heart: (Hebrew: nadiyb lev, נְדִיב לֵב). This is the crucial qualification.
- Nadiyb (נָדִיב): Means noble, generous, voluntary, spontaneously free-hearted. It denotes an inner disposition that is uncoerced and genuinely inclined to do good or to give. It is rooted in generosity and nobility of spirit rather than compulsion or social pressure.
- Lev (לֵב): Means heart, inner being, mind, will, moral center. This term refers to the totality of a person's inner motivations and intentions. The "willing heart" therefore implies a gift given from the deepest convictions, with sincerity and cheerfulness. This explicitly contrasts with superficial religious acts or begrudging contributions. This aspect can be seen as a polemic against practices where sacrifices or contributions might be given merely out of fear, superstition, or compulsion, common in polytheistic cultures where deity appeasement was paramount regardless of inward devotion.
- let him bring it: A clear directive for action. It's not enough to be willing; the willingness must translate into tangible action—the physical presentation of the offering. This highlights the practical outcome of the inner willingness.
- an offering of the LORD: The reiteration of terumah (offering) with the possessive "of the LORD" further reinforces that the offering is dedicated solely to God and for His purposes. It serves to emphasize the divine origin of the command for the offering, and its ultimate dedication to the LORD.
Exodus 35 5 Bonus section
The concept of the "willing heart" here extends beyond mere financial or material contributions. It forms a theological blueprint for all forms of service to God, whether it be time, talent, or even simple obedience. The LORD delights in a response that springs from inner love and devotion rather than compulsion. This mirrors God's own character, as He willingly and lovingly provides for His creation. The emphasis on individual initiative ("whosoever") highlights personal responsibility within the communal project. The Israelites had experienced miraculous liberation and covenant renewal; this offering was their opportunity to respond tangibly to God's grace, making their giving an act of worship and partnership in His divine plan.
Exodus 35 5 Commentary
Exodus 35:5 serves as a profound foundational principle for biblical giving and service. It demonstrates that while God often provides specific instructions and purposes for His people, He prioritizes the condition of the heart in their response. The call for an "offering" (terumah), which is distinctively a consecrated contribution, immediately emphasizes its sacred nature. However, the LORD's paramount concern is not merely the material value or quantity of the gift, but the free, generous, and uncoerced motivation of the giver's "willing heart." This established a model where acts of devotion were not compelled by law or external pressure, but flowed from an internal desire to honor God and participate in His redemptive work, specifically the construction of His dwelling place among them. This principle prefigures the New Testament emphasis on joyful and generous giving (2 Cor 9:7), demonstrating a continuity in God's desire for genuine, heart-felt worship over mere ritualistic adherence or compelled duty. It implicitly teaches that spiritual contributions stem from a heart already transformed and committed to the LORD, thus rendering the gift acceptable and pleasing to Him.