Exodus 30:15

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when [they] give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

The rich {H6223} shall not give more {H7235}, and the poor {H1800} shall not give less {H4591} than half {H4276} a shekel {H8255}, when they give {H5414} an offering {H8641} unto the LORD {H3068}, to make an atonement {H3722} for your souls {H5315}.

the rich is not to give more or the poor less than the half-shekel when giving ADONAI's offering to atone for your lives.

In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Jehovah, to make atonement for your souls.

Commentary

Exodus 30:15 is part of God's detailed instructions to Moses regarding the Tabernacle and its services, specifically outlining the mandatory half-shekel offering for every Israelite male aged twenty years and upward.

Context

This verse is found within a passage (Exodus 30:11-16) that describes the "atonement money" or "ransom for their souls" (KJV) that each man was required to pay when a census was taken. This offering was not a tax for general government use, but specifically designated for the service of the Tabernacle. It underscored the idea that every individual soul needed atonement and contributed equally to the upkeep of the sacred dwelling place of God, ensuring the Tabernacle's maintenance and the availability of sacrificial services.

Key Themes

  • Equality Before God: The central message of Exodus 30:15 is the profound truth that in matters of atonement and spiritual standing, all individuals are equal before God. Whether rich or poor, mighty or humble, none could pay more to gain greater favor, and none could pay less due to their poverty. This fixed rate highlighted that salvation and access to God's presence are not commodities to be bought or earned based on one's earthly status or wealth, but are equally available to all who meet God's terms.
  • Atonement and Ransom: The offering's purpose was "to make an atonement for your souls." The Hebrew word for atonement here (related to kopher) implies a covering, a ransom, or a propitiation. It was a symbolic act acknowledging that human life is forfeit due to sin, and a payment is required for redemption. This Old Testament practice foreshadows the ultimate, perfect ransom provided by Christ, as seen in passages like Matthew 20:28.
  • Divine Mandate and Provision: The instruction to pay a fixed amount, regardless of economic status, demonstrates that the means of atonement are divinely ordained and universally applicable, not dependent on human capacity or generosity. God provides the standard and the way for reconciliation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "half a shekel" refers to a precise weight of silver, specifically "the shekel of the sanctuary" (Exodus 30:13), indicating a fixed, sacred standard. The term "atonement" (Hebrew: kopher), as noted, signifies a covering or ransom, emphasizing the protective and redemptive nature of the offering for their souls. This highlights that the offering was not merely a tax, but a profound spiritual act.

Practical Application

Exodus 30:15 carries timeless spiritual truths for believers today. It powerfully illustrates that:

  • Our salvation and standing with God are not based on personal merit, wealth, or social status, but on God's grace and His provision. Just as the Israelites were equally dependent on the half-shekel offering for atonement, so too are all people equally dependent on the finished work of Christ on the cross for their redemption.
  • There is no partiality with God concerning salvation. The rich cannot buy their way into heaven, nor are the poor excluded due to their lack. In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; all are one and equally valued in His sight.
  • This principle encourages humility and a recognition of our shared humanity and shared need for God's mercy. It reminds us that every soul is equally precious in God's sight, regardless of earthly distinctions.
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Cross-References

  • Numbers 31:50

    We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.

  • Exodus 30:12

    When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when [thou] numberest them.

  • Ephesians 6:9

    And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

  • Job 34:19

    [How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

  • Leviticus 17:11

    For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

  • 2 Samuel 21:3

    Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

  • Colossians 3:25

    But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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