“Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.
- KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
- NKJV “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
- NASB “Tell the sons of Israel to take a contribution for Me; from everyone whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.
- NLT “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God told Israel to bring a freewill offering, given by everyone whose heart was willing. The materials for God's dwelling come from glad, voluntary generosity.
Overview
The tabernacle was to be built from offerings given not by compulsion but by willing hearts. This emphasizes that acceptable worship and giving flow from gratitude and love, not mere duty. God invites His people to participate joyfully in providing for His dwelling among them. The New Testament echoes this in calling believers cheerful givers, a response to the grace given in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Cor 9:7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
- Neh 11:2And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
- Ezra 2:68When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
- Ezra 1:6And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.
- Ezra 7:16together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.
- Ezra 3:5After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings and those for New Moons and for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD.
- Ps 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
- 1 Chr 29:1–30Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
- Num 18:24For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.”
- Deut 16:16–17Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed.
- Judg 5:9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!
- Exod 35:4–29Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
- Num 7:3–88They brought as their offering before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two leaders—and presented them before the tabernacle.
- 2 Cor 8:11–12Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 25:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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