Exodus 35:22

And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, [and] brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered [offered] an offering of gold unto the LORD.

And they came {H935}, both {H5921} men {H582} and women {H802}, as many as {H3605} were willing {H5081} hearted {H3820}, and brought {H935} bracelets {H2397}, and earrings {H5141}, and rings {H2885}, and tablets {H3558}, all jewels {H3627} of gold {H2091}: and every man {H376} that offered {H5130} offered an offering {H8573} of gold {H2091} unto the LORD {H3068}.

Both men and women came, as many as had willing hearts; they brought nose-rings, earrings, signet-rings, belts, all kinds of gold jewelry - everyone bringing an offering of gold to ADONAI.

So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold unto Jehovah.

Commentary

Exodus 35:22 describes the enthusiastic and voluntary contributions made by the Israelites for the construction of the Tabernacle. This verse highlights the immediate and generous response of the people, both men and women, to the call for offerings, specifically focusing on their valuable gold items.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of the Israelites preparing to build the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among them in the wilderness. Following the detailed instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (starting in Exodus 25), Moses relayed the command to the people. Exodus 35:20-29 records the people's collective and individual response, demonstrating their eagerness to participate in this sacred project. The collection of materials was not compulsory but depended entirely on the willingness of heart.

Key Themes

  • Willing and Generous Heart: The central theme is the phrase "willing hearted." This emphasizes that the value of the offering was not just in the material goods themselves, but in the spirit of generosity and devotion with which they were given. This was a freewill offering, reflecting genuine commitment.
  • Community Participation: "Both men and women" participated, indicating that the responsibility and privilege of contributing to God's work extended to all members of the community, regardless of gender or social standing.
  • Sacrifice for God's Dwelling: The Israelites brought their most precious possessions—gold jewelry like bracelets, earrings, rings, and "tablets" (likely ornamental body pieces or necklaces)—to be used for the Tabernacle. This act of giving up personal wealth for a communal spiritual purpose underscores their dedication to establishing a place for God's presence among them (Exodus 25:8).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "willing hearted" translates the Hebrew *nedib libbo*, which conveys a sense of noble, spontaneous, and generous willingness. It implies a heart that is not coerced but freely and abundantly offers. The term "tablets" (KJV) refers to a type of gold ornament, likely a pendant, necklace, or armlet, which was a common form of jewelry in ancient Near Eastern cultures.

Practical Application

Exodus 35:22 serves as a timeless example of true biblical giving. It teaches that God values the heart behind the gift more than the gift itself. Our contributions to God's work, whether financial, through our time, or our talents, should stem from a willing and cheerful spirit, not from compulsion or a sense of obligation. Just as the Israelites gave their best for the Tabernacle, we are called to offer our best to God, understanding that true generosity is a reflection of our love and devotion. This principle resonates with New Testament teachings on giving, such as the encouragement to give "not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 24:9

    And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection [that] Moses the servant of God [laid] upon Israel in the wilderness.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:14

    And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

  • Matthew 2:11

    And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:6

    Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

  • 1 Chronicles 29:7

    And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

  • Nehemiah 7:70

    And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

  • Nehemiah 7:72

    And [that] which the rest of the people gave [was] twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.
← Back