TRV
Translation
King James Version
And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
They received from Moshe all the offering which the people of Isra'el had brought for the work of building the sanctuary. But they still kept bringing voluntary offerings every morning,
Berean Standard Bible
They received from Moses all the contributions that the Israelites had brought to carry out the service of constructing the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning,
American Standard Version
and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.
World English Bible Messianic
and they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, with which to make it. They brought yet to him freewill offerings every morning.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And they receiued of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the worke of the seruice of the Sanctuary, to make it: also they brought still vnto him free giftes euery morning.
Young's Literal Translation
And they take from before Moses all the heave-offering which the sons of Israel have brought in for the work of the service of the sanctuary to do it; and still they have brought in unto him a willing-offering morning by morning.
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Commentary on Exodus 36 verses 1–7
1 ¶ Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
I. The workmen set in without delay. Then they wrought, Exo 36:1. When God had qualified them for the work, then they applied themselves to it. Note, The talents we are entrusted with must not be laid up, but laid out; not hid in a napkin, but traded with. What have we all our gifts for, but to do good with them? They began when Moses called them, Exo 36:2. Even those whom God has qualified for, and inclined to, the service of the tabernacle, yet must wait for a regular call to it, either extraordinary, as that of prophets and apostles, or ordinary, as that of pastors and teachers. And observe who they were that Moses called: Those in whose heart God had put wisdom for this purpose, beyond their natural capacity, and whose heart stirred them up to come to the work in good earnest. Note, Those are to be called to the building of the gospel tabernacle whom God has by his grace made in some measure fit for the work and free to engage in it. Ability and willingness (with resolution) are the two things to be regarded in the call of ministers. Has God given them not only knowledge, but wisdom? (for those that would win souls must be wise, and have their hearts stirred up to come to the work, and not to the honour only; to do it, and not to talk of it only), let them come to it with full purpose of heart to go through with it. The materials which the people had contributed were delivered by Moses to the workmen, Exo 36:3. They could not create a tabernacle, that is, make it out of nothing, nor work, unless they had something to work upon; the people therefore brought the materials and Moses put them into their hands. Precious souls are the materials of the gospel tabernacle; they are built up a spiritual house, Pe1 2:5. To this end they are to offer themselves a free-will offering to the Lord, for his service (Rom 15:16), and they are then committed to the care of his ministers, as builders, to be framed and wrought upon by their edification and increase in holiness, till they all come, like the curtains of the tabernacle, in the unity of the faith, to be a holy temple, Eph 2:21, Eph 2:22; Eph 4:12, Eph 4:13.
II. The contributions restrained. The people continued to bring free offerings every morning, Exo 36:3. Note, We should always make it our morning's work to bring our offerings unto the Lord; even the spiritual offerings of prayer and praise, and a broken heart surrendered entirely to God. This is that which the duty of every day requires. God's compassions are new every morning, and so must our duty to him be. Probably there were some that were backward at first to bring their offering, but their neighbours' forwardness stirred them up and shamed them. The zeal of some provoked many. There are those who will be content to follow who yet do not care for leading in a good work. It is best to be forward, but better late than never. Or perhaps some who had offered at first, having pleasure in reflecting upon it, offered more; so far were they from grudging what they had contributed, that they doubled their contribution. Thus, in charity, give a portion to seven, and also to eight; having given much, give more. Now observe, 1. The honesty of the workmen. When they had cut out their work, and found how their stuff held out, and that the people were still forward to bring in more, they went in a body to Moses to tell him that there needed no more contributions, Exo 36:4, Exo 36:5. Had they sought their own things, they had now a fair opportunity of enriching themselves by the people's gifts; for they might have made up their work, and converted the overplus to their own use, as perquisites of their place. But they were men of integrity, that scorned to do so mean a thing as to sponge upon the people, and enrich themselves with that which was offered to the Lord. Those are the greatest cheats that cheat the public. If to murder many is worse than to murder one, by the same rule to defraud communities, and to rob the church or state, is a much greater crime than to pick the pocket of a single person. But these workmen were not only ready to account for all they received, but were not willing to receive more than they had occasion for, lest they should come either into the temptation or under the suspicion of taking it to themselves. These were men that knew when they had enough. 2. The liberality of the people. Though they saw what an abundance was contributed, yet they continued to offer, till they were forbidden by proclamation, Exo 36:6, Exo 36:7. A rare instance! Most need a spur to quicken their charity; few need a bridle to check it, yet these did. Had Moses aimed to enrich himself, he might have suffered them still to bring in their offerings; and when the work was finished might have taken the remainder to himself: but he also preferred the public before his own private interest, and was therein a good example to all in public trusts. It is said (Exo 36:6), The people were restrained from bringing; they looked upon it as a restraint upon them not to be allowed to do more for the tabernacle; such was the zeal of those people, who gave to their power, yea, and beyond their power, praying the collectors with much entreaty to receive the gift, Co2 8:3, Co2 8:4. These were the fruits of a first love; in these last-days charity has grown too cold for us to expect such things from it.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 36:3 vividly portrays the extraordinary and sustained generosity of the Israelites toward the construction of the Tabernacle. It reveals that the skilled craftsmen, having received the initial contributions from Moses, continued to be overwhelmed by a daily influx of freewill offerings from the people. This verse underscores the profound spiritual zeal, willing hearts, and abundant contributions of the community, which surpassed all immediate needs for the sanctuary's work.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically positioned at the commencement of the Tabernacle's construction narrative, immediately following Moses's call for offerings and the divine appointment of Bezalel and Aholiab as chief craftsmen in Exodus 35. Chapters Exodus 35:4-29 detail the initial, enthusiastic response of the people, who brought a wide array of materials with willing hearts. Exodus 36:3, therefore, does not describe the initial collection but rather the continuation and overflow of that generosity. It sets the stage for the remarkable declaration in the subsequent verses, Exodus 36:4-7, where the craftsmen report that the people are bringing "much more than enough," necessitating a public proclamation to halt further contributions. This sequence highlights the unprecedented nature of their devotion and the divine prompting behind their actions.
Historical & Cultural Context: The construction of the Tabernacle was a monumental undertaking, serving as the central place of worship and the tangible symbol of God's presence among His people during their wilderness journey. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the building of temples or sacred structures often involved significant contributions, sometimes levied as taxes or forced labor, or even through conscription. However, the offerings for the Tabernacle, as emphasized by the term "free offerings" (Hebrew: nedabah), were entirely voluntary. This reflects a unique spiritual awakening and unity among the Israelites, freshly delivered from Egyptian bondage and now directly commanded by God to build His dwelling. The daily, continuous nature of the giving also speaks to the immediate and pressing need for materials, as well as the sustained fervor of the community, contrasting sharply with the earlier episode of the golden calf in Exodus 32. This outpouring of resources was a direct response to God's specific instructions for the sanctuary, demonstrating their obedience and deep desire for His presence.
Key Themes: Exodus 36:3 contributes significantly to several key themes prevalent in the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of Divine Presence and Dwelling, as the Tabernacle was to be the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people (Exodus 25:8). The verse also highlights the theme of Willing Obedience and Generosity, showcasing the Israelites' enthusiastic response to God's command, a stark contrast to their earlier rebellions. This generosity is presented as a model of Covenant Faithfulness, where the people actively participate in establishing the terms of their relationship with Yahweh. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of Divine Provision, demonstrating how God moves the hearts of His people to provide abundantly for His purposes, ensuring that His work is not only accomplished but overflows with resources, as seen in the subsequent verses of Exodus 36.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Exodus 36:3 employs several literary devices to convey the profound and continuous generosity of the Israelites. The use of Repetition, specifically with the implied continuation of "offerings" and the explicit "every morning" (which is a repetition of the Hebrew word bôqer), powerfully emphasizes the sustained and consistent nature of the giving. This creates a sense of ongoing abundance. The phrase "free offerings every morning" itself functions as a form of Hyperbole, not in the sense of exaggeration, but in vividly portraying an abundance that verges on the incredible, as confirmed by the subsequent verses where the people are told to stop giving because there is "much more than enough." There is also a strong element of Narrative Emphasis on the people's willing hearts, which stands in stark contrast to earlier instances of their grumbling or disobedience in the wilderness narrative. The entire account of the Tabernacle's construction, fueled by such overwhelming generosity, serves as a powerful Symbolism of a community united in devotion, eager to participate in God's redemptive plan and establish His presence among them.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 36:3 beautifully illustrates the principle of divine provision through human partnership. While God commanded the Tabernacle's construction and provided the intricate blueprint, He chose to accomplish His will through the willing hearts and hands of His people. This highlights that true worship often involves generous, self-sacrificial giving, not out of obligation, but out of a deep love and desire to participate in God's work. The overflowing nature of the gifts underscores God's ability to stir hearts to generosity beyond measure, ensuring His purposes are not only met but abundantly fulfilled. This act of giving became a tangible expression of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, demonstrating their trust, devotion, and unified response to His call.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The overwhelming and sustained generosity of the Israelites in Exodus 36:3 serves as a profound challenge and inspiration for believers today. It calls us to examine the depth of our own devotion and willingness to contribute to God's work, not merely out of duty or obligation, but from a heart stirred by His purposes and a desire to see His kingdom advance. This passage reminds us that when God's Spirit moves upon His people, their response can be so abundant that it exceeds all expectations, leading to an overflow of resources for His kingdom. It encourages us to cultivate a spirit of joyful, consistent, and even extravagant giving—whether of our finances, time, talents, or prayers—recognizing that our contributions are not just meeting a need, but actively participating in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan in the world. Our "free offerings every morning" can be a daily commitment to seek His will and offer our lives as living sacrifices, eager to see His presence manifested in and through us, trusting that God will use our willing offerings for His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why were the Israelites so incredibly generous in their giving for the Tabernacle?
Answer: The Israelites' extraordinary generosity was a direct result of a profound spiritual awakening and a deep sense of gratitude and devotion to God. Having just been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt and receiving God's covenant and commandments at Mount Sinai, their hearts were stirred by the direct command to build a dwelling place for the Lord among them (Exodus 25:8). This was not merely a physical structure but a tangible symbol of God's presence and faithfulness. The willingness of their hearts, explicitly mentioned in Exodus 35:21, indicates a Spirit-prompted response, a unified desire to honor God and participate in His divine plan, leading to an outpouring of resources that far exceeded what was needed, as further detailed in Exodus 36:4-7.
What is the significance of the phrase "free offerings every morning"?
Answer: The phrase "free offerings" (Hebrew: nedabah) is highly significant because it emphasizes that these contributions were entirely voluntary, given from a willing and uncoerced heart, rather than being a commanded tax or obligatory tithe. This highlights the purity of their motives and the depth of their devotion. It underscores that their giving was an act of worship and love, not compulsion. The addition of "every morning" underscores the continuous and sustained nature of their generosity. It wasn't a one-time burst of enthusiasm but a daily, consistent outpouring of gifts, demonstrating an ongoing commitment and a remarkable abundance that continued day after day until the craftsmen had more than enough materials for the Tabernacle's construction, prompting them to tell Moses to stop the people from bringing more (Exodus 36:6).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 36:3, with its depiction of an overflowing, willing generosity for the Tabernacle, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in Christ. The Tabernacle itself, as God's dwelling place among His people, was a profound type and shadow of the incarnate Christ, who "dwelt among us" (literally, "tabernacled among us") as described in John 1:14. Just as the Israelites brought their most precious possessions as "free offerings" to build a physical sanctuary for God's presence, so too did God provide His ultimate "free offering" in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly offered His life as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29) and establishing a new and living way to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). His entire life was a "free offering" of obedience and love, culminating in His death on the cross, which established a new covenant where God's presence is not confined to a tent or temple, but dwells within believers through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our response to Christ's ultimate gift is to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1), giving our lives, resources, and talents freely and joyfully, not out of obligation, but in grateful worship to Him who gave everything, thereby building up His spiritual temple, the Church, which is the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:21-22).