Exodus 36 3

Exodus 36:3 kjv

And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

Exodus 36:3 nkjv

And they received from Moses all the offering 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.

Exodus 36:3 niv

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

Exodus 36:3 esv

And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

Exodus 36:3 nlt

Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning.

Exodus 36 verses

Exodus 36 3 Meaning

Exodus 36:3 describes the practical commencement of the Tabernacle's construction, where Bezalel, Oholiab, and other skilled artisans began receiving the consecrated materials from Moses. This verse underscores the exceptional and continuous generosity of the Israelites, who not only provided all the necessary contributions for building God's dwelling according to His precise blueprint but continued to bring abundant freewill offerings day after day, far exceeding the initial requirements. It highlights a people whose hearts were deeply moved to give for God's holy work.

Exodus 36 3 Context

Exodus 36:3 is situated within the detailed account of the Tabernacle's construction. Following God's detailed instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exod 25-31) and Moses' subsequent call for voluntary contributions from the people (Exod 35), this verse marks the commencement of the actual labor. The people of Israel, having received Moses' appeal for the Tabernacle's materials, responded with an overwhelming and sustained generosity. The immediate verses (36:1-2) introduce the divinely gifted craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, and other skilled individuals whom God endowed with wisdom for this sacred work. Historically, this period reflects the nascent Israelite nation, fresh from deliverance from Egypt and bound by the covenant at Sinai. The construction of the Tabernacle signified God's promised dwelling among His people, serving as a physical manifestation of His presence and a center for worship and atonement. This overwhelming generosity for the Tabernacle stood in stark contrast to their recent rebellion with the golden calf (Exod 32), where similar materials were shamefully misused, illustrating a powerful spiritual turnaround and renewed devotion to God.

Exodus 36 3 Word analysis

• And they received: The Hebrew verb is laqaḥ (לָקַח), "to take" or "to receive." This indicates an active process of acceptance and management of the offerings by Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other wise-hearted craftsmen appointed for the task (implied from Exod 36:1-2). They were entrusted with sacred donations.
• from Moses: Moses served as the mediator. He received God's commands and communicated the need to the people, and then facilitated the transfer of their offerings to the artisans, signifying order and divine delegation in the process.
• all the contributions: The Hebrew term is tᵉrûmâ (תְּרוּמָה), meaning a "heave offering" or "sacred contribution." This specifies offerings freely lifted up or set apart for holy purposes. The word "all" indicates a comprehensive response from the people.
• that the people of Israel had brought: Emphasizes the active and collective participation of the entire community, not just a select few. It underscores the people's ownership and enthusiasm in this endeavor.
• for the work of construction: The phrase mᵉle’ḵeṯ ha-ʿăḇōḏâ (מְלֶאכֶת הָעֲבֹדָה) refers to the specialized "work of service" or "work of the Tabernacle," differentiating it from ordinary labor. It denotes the sacred nature and specific purpose of their effort.
• to make it according to the design: The Hebrew laʿăśôt ʾōṯô haṭ-ṭaḇnîṯ (לַעֲשֹׁות אֹתֹו הַתַּבְנִית) translates to "to do it by the pattern/model." Ṭaḇnîṯ (תַּבְנִית) is crucial; it means a precise blueprint or heavenly pattern (Exod 25:9, 40). This highlights the divine origin of the Tabernacle's plan and the imperative for meticulous adherence, allowing no human deviation.
• And still, morning after morning: The repetitive phrase wəʿôḏ babbōqeṭ babbōqeṭ (וְעֹוד בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר) expresses an ongoing, continuous, and enthusiastic inflow of offerings. It literally means "and still, in the morning, in the morning." This signals an extraordinary and sustained outpouring of devotion.
• they brought him: This refers to the people continuing to bring offerings to Moses, who then forwarded them to the craftsmen.
• freewill offerings: The term nədāḇâ (נְדָבָה) signifies a "voluntary offering" or "spontaneous gift," explicitly contrasting with any required or obligatory tax. This reiterates the self-driven generosity of the Israelites' giving.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they received from Moses all the contributions that the people of Israel had brought for the work of construction": This phrase details the formal handover and collection of the initial mass of sacred materials. It signifies the transfer of resources from the givers, via the mediator Moses, into the hands of those responsible for execution. The comprehensive nature ("all") of the contributions already collected points to a significant initial outpouring.
• "to make it according to the design": This crucial phrase sets the immediate objective and primary constraint of the entire building project. It emphasizes obedience to God's precise and non-negotiable architectural blueprint. The Tabernacle was not built according to human whims or aesthetic preferences but divinely revealed specifications, indicating its holy purpose and prophetic typology.
• "And still, morning after morning, they brought him freewill offerings": This powerful continuation reveals an extraordinary and sustained wave of generosity. The "still" indicates the offerings continued even after the initial "all the contributions" were collected, implying sufficiency had been met. The "morning after morning" highlights the daily, eager, and unfading devotion of the people. This wasn't a one-time charitable act but a continuous outpouring of their possessions, specifically designated as freewill offerings, demonstrating an overflow of willing hearts beyond mere compliance. This led to an abundance, necessitating a call to cease giving (Exod 36:6).

Exodus 36 3 Bonus section

The overabundance of giving, which required Moses to issue a command for the people to cease bringing offerings (Exod 36:6), is a unique and striking detail in biblical narrative. It illustrates a level of zealous generosity rarely seen, testifying to God's power to move hearts. This act of "more than enough" challenges the notion that resources are always scarce for God's work; when His people respond with wholehearted devotion, provision often exceeds expectation. This divine sufficiency, arising from human generosity, demonstrates God's sovereignty over material resources and His ability to equip for every good work beyond measure. Furthermore, the type of giving — "freewill offerings" — highlights an intrinsic desire to honor God, which flows from love, not from coercion or guilt. This voluntary spirit is a hallmark of true worship and distinguishes the community's relationship with Yahweh.

Exodus 36 3 Commentary

Exodus 36:3 is a pivotal verse in the Tabernacle narrative, underscoring both the immense provision for God's dwelling and the people's transformative devotion. The initial contributions from Israel for the Tabernacle were substantial, covering "all the contributions" requested. Yet, the verse immediately highlights a more profound spiritual reality: the people continued to bring "freewill offerings" daily, morning after morning. This wasn't driven by necessity, as enough had already been collected; it was an overflow of joyous and fervent hearts, a genuine love for God and His presence among them. This extraordinary generosity signifies a major spiritual shift from the golden calf incident (Exod 32), demonstrating repentance and renewed commitment. It points to the power of a heart fully surrendered to God's will, where giving becomes a spontaneous expression of devotion rather than an obligation. The directive "to make it according to the design" serves as a counterpoint to the boundless giving, illustrating that while human generosity is desired, God's divine plan is ultimate and non-negotiable. The meticulous adherence to the heavenly "pattern" ensures the Tabernacle's holiness and prophetic significance, pointing forward to Christ Himself as the true Tabernacle (Jn 1:14).

Examples for practical usage:

• A Christian community coming together with such overflow to build a church or support a mission.
• Individuals dedicating their time, talent, and resources daily and continuously to God's kingdom work, not just when asked or needed.
• Leaders having so much financial support for a ministry project that they tell people to stop giving.