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.
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.
- BSB “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him.
- 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 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
- Neh 11:2And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.
- Ezra 2:68And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
- Ezra 1:6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
- Ezra 7:16And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
- Ezra 3:5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
- Ps 110:3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
- 1 Chr 29:1–30Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
- Num 18:24But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
- Deut 16:16–17Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
- Judg 5:9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
- Exod 35:4–29And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,
- Num 7:3–88And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
- 2 Cor 8:11–12Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
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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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