And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

EXODUS 25:3KJV
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Exodus 25:3 (KJV)

What does Exodus 25:3 mean?

Exodus 25:3 lists the specific materials—gold, silver, and brass—that the Israelites were to offer for the construction of the tabernacle. This verse sets out what kinds of gifts God asked the people to bring as part of their contribution.

In this passage, God is speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, giving instructions for building a sacred place where He would dwell among the people. The mention of gold, silver, and brass highlights the value and variety of materials needed, showing that the offerings were both precious and practical for the work ahead.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 25:3

  • offering (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): This word means a contribution or something set apart as a gift, often for a sacred purpose. It emphasizes that what the people gave was to be willingly set aside for God’s use.
  • take (תִּקְחוּ, tikchu): This verb means to receive or collect. Moses and the leaders were to actively gather these offerings from the people, not just wait for them to appear.
  • gold (זָהָב, zahav): Gold was the most valuable metal, symbolizing purity and worth. Its use in the tabernacle pointed to the importance and holiness of the place being built.
  • silver (כֶּסֶף, keseph): Silver was also valuable and often used for redemption or atonement in other parts of the Bible, hinting at deeper symbolic meanings.
  • brass (נְחֹשֶׁת, nechoshet): This term refers to bronze or copper, metals used for strength and durability. Including brass shows that both precious and sturdy materials were needed.

Why Exodus 25:3 matters

  • Exodus 25:3 clarifies that the offerings were not just any gifts, but specific materials needed for a sacred project, showing intentionality in worship.
  • The verse connects to the larger instructions for building the tabernacle, helping the reader see how each detail was planned and provided for.
  • By listing gold, silver, and brass, the verse shows that different kinds of resources—both rare and common—were valued in the service of God’s dwelling place.

Where else these words appear

“offering” Hebrew H8641 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 25:2 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.
  • Numbers 15:20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
  • Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

“brass” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.