The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

EXODUS 35:29KJV
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Exodus 35:29 (KJV)

What does Exodus 35:29 mean?

Exodus 35:29 describes how the people of Israel, both men and women, freely brought offerings to the LORD because their hearts moved them to do so, giving what was needed for the work God had commanded through Moses. The verse highlights that these contributions were voluntary and came from those who genuinely wanted to help.

In this part of Exodus, Moses has told the Israelites about God’s instructions for building the tabernacle, a special place for worship. The verse shows that the community responded with generosity, not out of obligation but because they wanted to participate in what God was doing. This willingness is emphasized as a key part of their giving.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 35:29

  • "Willing" (נָדַב, nadav): This word means to offer freely or voluntarily. The verse stresses that the offerings were not forced; people gave because they truly wanted to.
  • "Heart" (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of a person’s will and desire, not just emotions. The verse points out that the motivation came from deep within each person.
  • "Offering" (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): This word refers to a contribution or gift set apart for a special purpose. Here, it means what the Israelites brought for the tabernacle’s construction.
  • "Work" (מְלָאכָה, melakhah): This term covers all kinds of skilled labor or craftsmanship. The offerings were meant for every kind of work needed to make the tabernacle as God had instructed.

Why Exodus 35:29 matters

  • Exodus 35:29 clears up any idea that the Israelites were pressured or required to give; the verse highlights the importance of giving from a willing heart.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in Exodus of community participation in God’s plans, showing that everyone—men and women—could contribute.
  • This verse helps readers see that the building of the tabernacle was not just a command from God but a shared project that depended on the generosity and willingness of the whole community.

Where else these words appear

“willing” Hebrew H5068 · used in 15 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.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
  • 2 Chronicles 17:16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

“offering” Hebrew H5071 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 36:3 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.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Ezra 8:28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.

“whose” Hebrew H834 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
  • Genesis 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
  • Deuteronomy 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

“work” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 29:1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
  • 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.