Exodus 38 25

Exodus 38:25 kjv

And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

Exodus 38:25 nkjv

And the silver from those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary:

Exodus 38:25 niv

The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel?

Exodus 38:25 esv

The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary:

Exodus 38:25 nlt

The whole community of Israel gave 7,545 pounds of silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 25 Meaning

Exodus 38:25 details the total quantity of silver collected from the Israelite census for the construction of the Tabernacle. This silver was not merely a material contribution but served as atonement money, a half-shekel ransom from each numbered male Israelite aged twenty years and upward, signifying their redemption and equal standing before God. The verse highlights the substantial amount collected and the precise accounting, emphasizing the sanctity and ordered nature of God's work.

Exodus 38 25 Context

Exodus chapter 38 forms part of a larger section (Exod 35-40) detailing the execution of the Tabernacle's construction, meticulously following the divine blueprint revealed earlier (Exod 25-31). This chapter, specifically verses 21-31, provides an official account and audit of the materials, including gold, silver, and bronze, donated by the Israelites for the Tabernacle's components. The mention of silver from "those that were numbered of the congregation" refers directly to the census taken in Exodus 30:11-16, where every male aged twenty years or more was required to pay a "ransom for his life"—a half-shekel of silver according to the sanctuary shekel—for atonement. This precise accounting not only assures transparency and honesty in sacred matters but also reinforces the corporate involvement of the entire community in providing a dwelling place for God among them. Historically, such precise material lists reflect an administrative care indicative of divine order in Israel's formative stages.

Exodus 38 25 Word Analysis

• And the silver (וְהַכֶּסֶף - vehakkesef):
  • Kesef (כֶּסֶף): "Silver." A precious metal valued for its beauty, malleability, and conductivity. In biblical contexts, silver often symbolizes purification, redemption, and truth. Here, it refers to the collected ransom money, not directly mined silver. Its shining quality can reflect divine purity and truth.
• of those that were numbered (פְּקוּדֵי - pequdei):
  • From the root paqad (פָּקַד): "to visit, to muster, to count, to appoint, to observe, to hold responsibility." This indicates a divine census, an ordered registration of individuals, emphasizing accountability and belonging to the covenant community. It implies God's attention to each person.
• of the congregation (הָעֵדָה - ha'edah):
  • Edah (עֵדָה): "assembly, congregation, multitude." Refers to the collective body of Israel, the community gathered by God, acting corporately. This highlights shared responsibility and participation in God's redemptive plan.
• was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, (מֵאָה כִּכָּר וְאֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים וְחָמֵשׁ שְׁקָלִים - me'ah kikkar ve'elef u'sheva me'ot vachamishim vechamesh sheqalim):
  • hundred talents: A "talent" (kikkar) was a significant unit of weight, roughly 75 pounds (~34 kg). A hundred talents thus signifies an immense quantity of silver, demonstrating the scale of communal contribution and the nation's collective resources dedicated to God. This amount represents substantial national wealth invested in divine service.
  • thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels: This specific number (1,775 shekels) provides meticulous detail, accounting for the remaining silver beyond the full talent increments. It underscores the precision and exactness of the divine command and its execution, showing care in managing sacred funds. It demonstrates divine bookkeeping and human faithfulness in reporting.
• after the shekel of the sanctuary: (בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ - be sheqel haqodesh):
  • Shekel (שֶׁקֶל): A basic unit of weight, approximately 11.4 grams. It also served as a standard currency unit.
  • Qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ): "Holiness, sanctuary, sacred."
  • "Shekel of the sanctuary": A precise, unchanging, and sacred standard of weight. This differentiates it from secular market weights, which could vary. Its use ensured fairness, integrity, and sacred adherence in all financial matters related to the Tabernacle and its service. It emphasizes a divine standard for weights and measures, promoting honesty and consistency in transactions pertaining to holy things, reflecting God's character.

Words-group Analysis:

• "the silver of those that were numbered of the congregation": This phrase directly links the collected silver to the census population and the atonement tax of Exodus 30. It shows that the funds were specifically from the individuals who were redeemed, highlighting a direct correlation between each Israelite's contribution and the physical structure of God's dwelling. This emphasizes a collective responsibility for corporate worship and redemption.
• "a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels": This detailed enumeration demonstrates not only the sheer volume of the collected silver but also the meticulousness with which it was accounted for. The exactitude highlights the divine standard for handling sacred contributions—nothing was arbitrary or unmeasured, reflecting God's orderliness and the accountability required in His service.
• "after the shekel of the sanctuary": This phrase serves as the gold standard (or in this case, silver standard) for measurement. It's a key identifier of authenticity and integrity for sacred commerce and contributions. It meant that every individual's contribution was accurately assessed by a consistent, divinely-prescribed standard, free from deceit or variation, reflecting the immutable nature of God's law and His expectation of absolute probity in all things pertaining to His worship.

Exodus 38 25 Bonus section

The detailed accounting for materials, like silver, also served a polemical purpose against pagan societies of the time. Many ancient temples engaged in practices that were often opaque, perhaps even involving exploitation or self-enrichment by priests. By contrast, the biblical record for the Tabernacle is astonishingly transparent, detailing contributions, expenses, and usage for every ounce of precious metal. This highlights the integrity and justice inherent in Yahweh's worship and challenges any perception of self-serving religious institutions. It presented a radically different model where the sacred contributions were for God's glory and the community's benefit, accounted for with divine precision, not for priestly accumulation of wealth. This focus on clear accountability reinforced the idea that God's ways are always just and open.

Exodus 38 25 Commentary

Exodus 38:25 presents a precise audit of the silver contribution for the Tabernacle, linking it directly to the half-shekel atonement money paid by each numbered Israelite man. This was not a voluntary offering from personal stores, but a required tax (Exod 30:13-16), a ransom for the individual's soul, symbolizing that every Israelite, regardless of wealth or status, was equally in need of divine atonement and equally responsible for contributing to God's dwelling place. The vast quantity ("hundred talents") underscores the collective commitment and the considerable wealth dedicated to God.

The insistence on "the shekel of the sanctuary" speaks volumes about divine principles: absolute integrity, consistency, and a fixed standard in all dealings concerning holy things. This standard elevated mundane transactions into a sacred realm, preventing fraud and emphasizing divine oversight over human endeavors. The detailed accounting reveals that God values accuracy and order, even in material management for His sanctuary.

Ultimately, this silver facilitated the physical framework (bases, hooks, pillars) upon which the Tabernacle stood, literally supporting the dwelling of God's presence among His people. It prefigures the corporate nature of the New Testament Church, where individual "living stones" (1 Pet 2:5), bought with the priceless redemption of Christ's blood, form a spiritual house built upon divine standards and sustained by communal contributions to glorify God. It reminds us that while material contributions cease to atone, disciplined giving, governed by integrity, remains vital for supporting God's work.