Preface: Exodus 25 is God describing to Moses what raw materials need to be offered by the people. Then God tells Moses how to built the Ark of God, the Mercy Seat, the Table of Showbread and the Menorah.

The Bible Summary of Exodus 25 (in 140 characters or less): Tell the Israelites to make a sanctuary for me. Make an ark with a mercy seat and two cherubim. Make a table. Then make a lampstand.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Exodus. This will be the most extensive examination of Exodus 25, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 25:

Introduction

         vv.     1–7           Free Will Offerings to Built the Tabernacle and Its Furniture

         vv.     8–39         Description of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture (which Moses is to Make)

         vv.       8–9          The Tabernacle

         vv.      10–22        The Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat

         vv.      23–30        The Table of Showbread and Its Tableware

         vv.      31–39        The Menorah and Its Accessories

         v.         40           The Models (or, Patterns)

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Exodus 25 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Exodus 25 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Exodus 25

         Introduction         The Prequel of Exodus 25

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Exodus 25

         Introduction         The Places of Exodus 25

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Exodus 25

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Exodus 25

         Introduction         Outlines of Exodus 25 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Exodus 25 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Exodus –)

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translation for Exodus 25

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Exodus 25)

         Introduction 

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         v.       4              Violet versus Purple (graphics)

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         v.       9              Sagrada Familia Cathedral Barcelona-Spain (a photograph)

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         v.      10              The Ark of God

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         v.      20              The Ark of God (a photo of a model)

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         v.      22              The Ark of the Covenant (a photo of a scale model)

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         v.      25              The Table of Showbread (a photograph)

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         v.      30              The Spiritual Meaning of the Table of Showbread and the Bread of Presence

         v.      31              Exodus 37:17 (a graphic)

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         v.      33              The Parts of the Lampstand (a graphic)

         v.      33              Menorah (a photograph)

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         v.      39              Bird’s Eye View of Exodus 25–31

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Exodus 25 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Exodus 25

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Exodus 25

         Summary            Hebrews 9—A Brief Exegesis

         Summary            Shmoop Summary of Exodus 25

         Summary 

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Exodus 25

         Summary 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Exodus 25

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Exodus 25

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Exodus 25

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An Introduction to Exodus 25

I ntroduction: Exodus 25 finds Moses in the presence of God once more, writing down what God is telling him. In this chapter, we find a clear declaration of the doctrine of giving and the directions for the building of certain articles of furniture which would be placed in the tabernacle. These articles would represent our Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. The tabernacle and its contents would give us a complete Christology for the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit through these various items would reveal Jesus Christ to Israel and they would chose to believe or not.

This chapter and the next are all about what Moses (and those specifically chosen by God) will make for worship of God. The Tabernacle will be describe in Exodus 26; and the furniture will be described in this chapter. This is God telling Moses what offerings to accept and then God tells Moses what needs to be made. Several chapters later, these same items will be described again, but from the point of view of actually making them. This may seem like overkill to us. Why describe these things here and then describe them again later? There is a very simple answer to this, which you may not understand at first: we have the two descriptions because Moses wrote much of this down as things transpired. Had someone written these things down 100 years later or 500 years later, there would have been no reason to describe the same things twice.

Let me give you an illustration. You find a house, you fall in love with it, and you buy it. Then, you might take a bunch of photos of it, share them on Facebook or Instagram; or send them out in emails; or something along those lines (maybe you just take a bunch of photos to keep them). You know what you don’t do? You do not find the contractor who work on the house—making it nice to put on the market—and then say, “Hey, can I get some before pictures? I would love to see that for the contrast.” This is because you are coming in after the fact; after the repairs and the renovation have been done.

Let’s say, instead, you buy a house and then you fix it up (for yourself, as a rental, or to sell). Or you are a repair person and you have been hired to do a renovation project. What is the first thing you do? You walk through and you take a bunch of before pictures, then you make your plans, then you start the work. Halfway through, you might take some additional pictures; and, once you have finished, you will definitely take some more photos. This is because you are involved in the project from the beginning; the previous illustration is you walk into the project once it has been completed.

If all of these things are taking place in real time (as the Bible presents it), then Moses is recording things as they happen. God speaks with him and Moses writes it down. Moses gets with the contractors to build what God told him to build, and Moses writes down an account of that. So, we end up with what appears to be two accounts of the same thing, but they’re not! One is God speaking to Moses; the second is Moses overseeing the work that God told Moses to do. A person experiencing these things as they happen will take note of both things (just as a renovation specialist will take before and after photos).

Now, if Moses did not write this down, but someone writes it down hundreds of years later (as alleged by some critics), then how many times do they record the same information? Probably once. Just like the family moving into their completed new home. They take one set of photos.

Anyway, the description of what needs to be built is spread out over 3 chapters (Exodus 25–27); and the actual execution of God’s commands are found in Exodus 36–38 (with the next chapter devoted to the clothing worn by the priests as well as to the Ephod and the Breastpiece).

Now to a different topic:

I have studied the Law of Moses over a period of many, many years, and one particular thought which has occurred to me: why didn’t God have all of the law organized better? That is, why not have all the Sabbath day stuff together, all of the laws on human injury together, all of the feast days together? Well, to some degree, they are like that. However, in the Law, to find out all that we need to know about the Feast of the Unleavened Bread and the Passover, we might need to go to 3 or 4 or even more passages. I can think of 3 reasons why this is the case: (1) this is how we are to investigate any particular topic in the Bible (and we have to be careful of elevating a single verse above all others); (2) many of these ceremonies are interrelated, so it is impossible to discuss one without discussing a variety of other things; (3) it might get boring for the reader to have everything that we need to know about the Passover all in one passage.

Now to another topic:

When it comes to these various types of furniture and their accessories, we do not have a universal understanding of what everything was. Such confusion is never expressed in Scripture; but it is clear that we, 3500 years later do not know what each item is. The are two observations to be made from this. The first is, during that time, there was religious continuity. Moses wrote something and told the people what they had to do, and it was done. Then, even if some items had to be repaired or replaced, there was recent enough knowledge from religious continuity to make similar items (now, when Solomon built the Temple, he also made some changes to the accessories, such as, the size of the cherubs near the Ark. In the Tabernacle, the cherubs are small; but, for the Temple, Solomon made the cherubs quite large. It is even possible that Solomon misunderstood their purpose, thinking that the cherubs were to guard the Ark of God; and so, he made them big (they represent all angels watching mankind here on earth).

The second observation to be made from this is, just in case there was any confusion, Moses had seen some sort of pattern of what was to be made when speaking with God. We don’t know what he saw (see v. 40). Were they blue prints, were they drawings, were they carvings, were they scale models? We don’t really know for certain. But Moses saw something that was more than the words that God gave him; and, for that reason, the artisans of Israel were able to construct just exactly what God wanted them to construct. Moses was there and he could guide them and explain exactly what each object needed to be (as he saw and studied some form of these items which they would make).

As a result of all this, certain ones from the people of Israel knew, back then, exactly what everything was and exactly how to construct them. However, today, not even the most learned scholar of any faith really knows exactly how everything ought to look today. We made some reasonable guesses, but, if you picture-google, for instance, the Ark of the Covenant; there will be similarities in the pictures; but there will be many differences as well.

Timeline for Exodus 25

As has been my convention, I will begin and end this chapter with quotation marks, as it is all spoken by God (apart verse 1). I will not include any intervening quotation marks to denote new paragraphs.

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Free Will Offerings to Built the Tabernacle and Its Furniture

Compare to Exodus 35:4–29

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Exodus.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so says Y^ehowah unto Moses, to say, “Speak unto sons of Israel and they will take for Me an offering from with every man whose heart is willing. You [all] will receive My offering.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  TERUMAH.

AND the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Speak with the sons of Israel that they set apart before Me a separated portion: from every man who is willing in his heart thou shalt receive that which is set apart. Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   TERUMAH.

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they shall set apart (take) before me a Separation: of every one whose heart is willing, but not by constraint, ye shall take my separation.

Jerusalem targum                  .

Revised Douay-Rheims         And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring firstfruits to me: of every man that offers of his own accord, you shall take them.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) .

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying, "Speak to the B'nai Yisrael, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     AND the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the Israelites to set aside an offering for me; of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take an offering.

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and take the firstfruits from all, who may be disposed in their heart to give; and you shall take My firstfruits.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the children of Israel that they are to make me an offering; from every man who has the impulse in his heart take an offering for me.

Easy English                          Gifts for the tabernacle

The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell the Israelites that they must bring me a gift. Every person who wants to give can do so. You must receive the gifts for me.

Easy-to-Read Version–2001  The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel to bring me gifts. Each person must decide in his heart what he wants to give me. Accept these gifts for me.

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  Gifts for the Holy Things

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me gifts. You will accept gifts for me from everyone who is willing to give.

God’s Word™                         .

Good News Bible (TEV)         Offerings for the Sacred Tent

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to make an offering to me. Receive whatever offerings anyone wishes to give.

The Message                         Instructions on the Mountain: The Offerings

God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give.

Names of God Bible               Gifts for Use in the Tent of Meeting

Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives.

NIRV                                      Offerings for the Holy Tent

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from everyone whose hearts move them to give.

New Simplified Bible              Then Jehovah spoke to Moses. He said: »Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Contemporary English V.       The LORD said to Moses: Tell everyone in Israel who wants to give gifts that they must bring them to you.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    Gifts Given in Worship

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to take a gift for Me. Receive the gift for Me from every person whose heart makes him willing.

New Living Translation           Offerings for the Tabernacle

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

Unlocked Dynamic Bible        Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites that they must give offerings to me. Receive from the people every offering that they want to give to me.

Unfolding Bible (simplified)    .

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          It was there that the Lord told Moses:

‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and [ask for] the first fruits of everything that their hearts are willing to give… then you must [collect] it [and set it aside].

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           Gifts offered for the dwelling

The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites to collect gift offerings for me. Receive my gift offerings from everyone who freely wants to give.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       And now the Lord gave Moses this message, Bid the Israelites bring me gifts in kind, each man offering what his heart prompts him to offer, for your acceptance.

Translation for Translators     Yahweh gave Moses instructions about a big Sacred Tent for their worship

Yahweh said to Moses/me, “There are many things that I want you to tell to the Israeli people. Tell them that they must give offerings/gifts to me. Receive from the people every offering/gift that they want to give to me.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Conservapedia                       And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the Sons of Isreal, so that they shall bring me an offering: every man who gives it willingly with his heart shall give my offering to you.

Hebrew תרומה (thrumeh), literally "heave-offering," or something thrown.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                The Instructions on Sinai.

There the Ever-living spoke to Moses and said, "Tell the children of Israel that they must bring offerings to Me. From anything their heart induces them, they may offer.

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           And the Lord talked with Moses saying: speak unto the children of Israel that they give me an heave offering, and of every man that gives it willingly with his heart, you shall take it.

HCSB                                     Offerings to Build the Tabernacle

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for Me. You are to take My offering from everyone who is willing to give.

International Standard V        An Offering for the Sanctuary

The Lord told Moses, “Tell the Israelis to take an offering for me, and you are to accept my offering from every person whose heart moves him to give. [Lit. moves him]

Jubilee Bible 2000                  .

Lexham English Bible            Instruction to Collect Materials

And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the {Israelites}, and let them bring to me a contribution. You will receive my contribution from every man whose heart prompts him.

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    .

Unlocked Literal Bible            Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me from every person who is motivated by a willing heart. You must receive these offerings for me.

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses saying, Speak to the children of Israel that they take for me a Heave- Offering, from every man whose heart impels him you will take my Heave-Offering.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And Yahweh spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the sons of Israel, and they will take a donation. From every man whose heart will impel him, take my donation.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  .

The Heritage Bible                 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering; you shall take my offering from every man who volunteers from his heart.

New American Bible (2002)   .

New American Bible(2011)    Collection of Materials.

The LORD spoke to Moses: [Ex 35:4–9, 20–29]

Speak to the Israelites: Let them receive contributions for me. From each you shall receive the contribution that their hearts prompt them to give me.

New English Bible–1970        Offerings. - Ex.35.4-9

THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES AND SAID: Tell the Israelites to set aside a contribution for me; you shall accept whatever contribution each man shall freely offer.

New Jerusalem Bible             Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, 'Tell the Israelites to set aside a contribution for me; you will accept a contribution from everyone whose heart prompts him to give it.

New RSV                               .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Parashah 19: T’rumah (Contribution) 25:1–27:19

Adonai said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el to take up a collection for me — accept a contribution from anyone who wholeheartedly wants to give.

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Israeli Authorized Version      .

The Scriptures 1998              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, that they take up a contribution for Me. From everyone whose heart moves him you shall take up My contribution.

Tree of Life Version                Parashat Terumah

Tabernacle: Ark, Table, Menorah

Adonai spoke to Moses saying, “Tell Bnei-Yisrael to take up an offering for Me. From anyone whose heart compels him you are to take My offering.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING, “SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND TAKE FIRST-FRUITS OF ALL, WHO MAY BE DISPOSED IN THEIR HEART TO GIVE; AND YOU SHALL TAKE MY FIRST-FRUITS.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Jehovah was to speak to Moses, to the intent: Be speaking to the sons of Isra-el, you was to receive the contributions, of anyone willing from the sensibility of their heart, even was you to receive their contribution.

Concordant Literal Version    .

Darby Translation (1889)       .

exeGeses companion Bible   THE VOLUNTARY EXALTMENT FOR THE HALLOWED REFUGE

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh, saying,

Word to the sons of Yisra El,

to take me an exaltment:

from all whose heart volunteers, take my exaltment:...

Orthodox Jewish Bible           TERUMAH

And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

Speak unto the Bnei Yisroel, that they bring Me a terumah (offering); of every man that giveth it willingly with his lev ye shall receive My terumah (offering).

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they take for me a heave-offering,—of every man whose heart urgeth him, shall ye take my heave-offering.

Third Millennium Bible            .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                Offerings for the Sanctuary

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the children of Israel to take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart moves him [to give willingly] you shall take My offering.

The Expanded Bible              Gifts for the Lord

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the ·Israelites [^L sons/^T children of Israel] to bring me ·gifts [tribute]. Receive for me the ·gifts [tribute] ·each person wants [^L from each one whose heart moves them] to give.

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Verses 1-9

Offerings of the Israelites Requested

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring Me an offering; according to the Hebrew text, a gift which one lifts off, takes away from the rest of his property and reaches out and up to God; of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart, literally, "from the side of every man whom his heart impels," ye shall take My offering; truly a fine description of the eager willingness which should characterize all the gifts of the believers in the interest of the kingdom of God on earth.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

Then the Eternal spoke to Moses.

Eternal One (to Moses): Instruct the Israelites to bring Me a sacred offering. All those whose hearts move them are to make an offering to the One who delivered them from bondage.

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           The Lord spoke to Moses saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 The Offering Described

God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites and have them bring Me an offering. Take My offering from everyone whose heart impels him to give. [The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Exodus through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.]

God spoke to Moses...

Some say that this was said to Moses during the 40 days on the mountain (Tanna DeBei Eliahu Rabbah 17; Lekach Tov on Exodus 35:1; Ibn Ezra; Baaley Tosafoth; Zohar 2:194a, 224a). According to others, it was said after the Golden Calf, when Moses went up for the second set of tablets (Exodus 34:29; Seder Olam Rabbah 6 from Exodus 34:32; Tanchuma 8; Rashi on Exodus 31:18, 33:11). See notes on Exodus 25:16, 26:30.

offering

Terumah in Hebrew, literally, something that is uplifted or elevated (to a higher status).

NET Bible®                             The Materials for the Sanctuary

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take² an offering³ for me; from every person motivated by a willing⁴ heart you⁵ are to receive my offering.

^1sn Now begin the detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle of Yahweh, with all its furnishings. The first paragraph introduces the issue of the heavenly pattern for the construction, calls for the people to make willing offerings (vv. 2-7), and explains the purpose for these offerings (vv. 8-9). The message here is that God calls his people to offer of their substance willingly so that his sanctuary may be made.

^2tn The verb is וְיִקְחוּ (vĸyiqkhu), the Qal imperfect or jussive with vav; after the imperative “speak” this verb indicates the purpose or result: “speak…that they may take” and continues with the force of a command.

^3tn The “offering” (תְּרוּמָה, tĸrumah) is perhaps better understood as a contribution since it was a freewill offering. There is some question about the etymology of the word. The traditional meaning of “heave-offering” derives from the idea of “elevation,” a root meaning “to be high” lying behind the word. B. Jacob says it is something sorted out of a mass of material and designated for a higher purpose (Exodus, 765). S. R. Driver (Exodus, 263) corrects the idea of “heave-offering” by relating the root to the Hiphil form of that root, herim, “to lift” or “take off.” He suggests the noun means “what is taken off” from a larger mass and so designated for sacred purposes. The LXX has “something taken off.”

^4tn The verb יִדְּבֶנּוּ (yiddĸvennu) is related to the word for the “freewill offering” (נְדָבָה, nĸdavah). The verb is used of volunteering for military campaigns (Judg 5:2, 9) and the willing offerings for both the first and second temples (see 1 Chr 29:5, 6, 9, 14, 17).

^5tn The pronoun is plural.

New American Bible(2011)    .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Brenner’s Mechanical Trans....and "YHWH ^{He Is}" spoke to "Mosheh ^{Plucked out}" saying, speak to the sons of "Yisra'el ^{He turns El aside}" and they will take (for) me an offering from (every) man (whose) heart will offer willingly, you will take my offering,...

Charles Thompson OT           And the Lord spake to Moses saying, Say to the children of Israel, Take offerings from all who may be willing. And these you shall take as dedications to me.

C. Thompson LXX (updated) .

Context Group Version          And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart makes him willing you (pl) shall take my offering.

English Standard Version      Contributions for the Sanctuary

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Modern English Version         Offerings for the Tabernacle

The Lord said to Moses: Tell the children of Israel to bring Me an offering. From every man who gives willingly with his heart you shall receive My offering.

Modern Literal Version           And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, that they take for me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing you* will take my offering.

New American Standard B.    Offerings for the Sanctuary

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise [Lit take] a contribution [Or heave offering] for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise [Lit take] My contribution [Or heave offering].

New European Version          Preparations to Make the Tabernacle

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for Me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take My offering.

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Owen's Translation                .

Restored Holy Bible 6.0         .

Updated Bible Version 2.11   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the sons of Israel, that they take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart stirs him, you shall take My offering.

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             And Jehovah speaks unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto the sons of Israel, and they take for Me a heave-offering; from every man whose heart impels him you [all] do take My heave-offering.

The gist of this passage:     God speaks to Moses about offerings from the people.

At this point, Moses is up on Mount Sinai, having gone up to God there. Although he came partway up with 70 elders + Aaron + Joshua; the first 71 of them are left farther down the mountain; and Joshua is nearer to Moses. However, it is Moses alone standing before the Revelation of God.

Translation: Y^ehowah spoke to Moses,...

God is going to speak to Moses from Exodus 25 to Exodus 31. God focuses upon the Tabernacle and the furniture which will go into the Tabernacle; and to many of the things related to the worship of God at the Tabernacle.

Moses is going to be on Mount Sinai communing with God for 40 days and 40 nights. What we read in these chapters could be knocked off in an afternoon. Let me suggest that most of the book of Leviticus would be taught during this 40 days session.

We do not know if Joshua was up here with Moses or not (I believe that he was).

God will tell Moses at least once to write down these words (Exodus 34:27). In the previous chapter, Moses wrote down the words of God and then read these words to the people of Israel (Exodus 24:4, 7). Moses would also write the law (referring, I believe, to what Moses taught in Deuteronomy) and gave this to the priests.

When the people entered into the law, they were to write the law on some specific rocks (or rock formation) in the land.

Exodus 25:1 Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying,...

As we will see hundreds of times in the books of Moses and throughout the Old Testament, that God often spoke directly to the writers of Scripture.

Translation: ...saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel,...

All of the information that God is going to give to Moses must be spoken, written down, and taught to the people of Israel.

Sons of Israel can sometimes be generic and it can sometimes refer specifically to the adult males of Israel. The primary teaching, I believe, would be to the adult males. However, everyone would learn to worship the Lord.

Translation: ...[telling them that] they will take up an offering for Me...

Kaplan: [The word terûmâh means] something that is uplifted or elevated (to a higher status).

The feminine singular noun here is terûmâh/terûwmâh (תְּרֻמָה/תְּרוּמָה) [pronounced tehr-oo-MAW]. It means, contribution, offering, an offering [of grain, money], heave offering; an offering which is raised or lifted up. Therefore, these are things which have a temporal use or an earthly use; but by bringing them to God, they take on a much more important place; these things are elevated or uplifted. Strong’s #8641 BDB #929. This is key to this passage; earthly goods and possessions are to be brought to Moses for a much higher use.

The things which God required the people to build in the desert-wilderness had to be paid for. I assume that materials and workers would be paid for in order to build the items which would be used in the worship of Y^ehowah.

Translation: ...from every man whose heart is willing.

This verse is not tithing—it is spiritual giving. It is a freewill offering on the part of the giver. There is no coercion involved here. We have here the 3^rd masculine singular, 3^rd masculine singular suffix, Qal imperfect of nâdab (נָדַב) [pronounced naw-DAHB^v] and it means to willingly offer (it can refer to a freewill offering and it could refer to giving of oneself in war or willingly offering oneself over to the military). We need to add an it here for the suffix, making this from every man whose heart willingly offers it. See Judges 5:2 1Chron. 29:9, 17 Ezra 3:5 for examples of this word. An interesting sidelight to the linguist: this word is found only in the historical books—Exodus through Nehemiah—it is not found in any of the writings nor in any of the prophetical books.

Notice that not all Israel would be hit up for offerings. Only those men whose hearts are willing. So, this is completely and totally a free will offering. Do you see how this coincides with New Testament giving? 2Cor. 9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. (WEB)

Kretzmann: [This is] truly a fine description of the eager willingness which should characterize all the gifts of the believers in the interest of the kingdom of God on earth.

Translation: You [all] will receive My offering.

You all here refers to Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s son and the 70 elders. Although this could refer simply to Moses and Joshua who are there; it strikes me more likely that this will simply be overseen by Moses and Joshua; and that the 70 elders would do all of the footwork. These offerings would be received from, potentially, 700,000 men. Moses and Joshua could not handle that. It is likely that the 70 might have men under them in order to make this happen.

Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, [telling them that] they will take up an offering for Me from every man whose heart is willing. You [all] will receive My offering.

Time after time after time we have fundamental preachers telling us to give 10%. It certain appears as if their motivation is the support their own ministry. They aren't certain that God will do it, so they have learned to put their own hand out and beg. As a new believer, I heard one radio show where the speaker spent nearly the entire time asking for money, presumably so that he would have his bills covered so that he might be able to return and ask for money the next day.

We as believers are to give of our substance to God. God gave us the monetary blessing and we recognize this by giving a portion of it back to him. This is the mark of a maturing believer. Someone who just drops a dollar of a five into the offering plate as a perfunctory action part and parcel fo being in church, or the person who every week or every month, as he gets his paycheck, writes out a check to the church for 10% of that, thinking that he must do that or he won't be blessed or God won't give him good luck—these people are mistaken. As Thieme used to so aptly put it, "Don't think that you can bribe God with 10% of your measly income."

We are to give as motivated by our hearts (2Cor. 9:7) and as God has prospered us (2Cor. 8:14). There is a certain cause and effect relationship involved; but our continued prosperity is not based upon our giving, but upon our positive volition toward God and our continuing maturity, which results in certain spiritual works such as giving (2Cor. 9:6). God provides the means from which we can give (2Cor. 9:8–11). However, this giving must be done in the power of the Spirit, which is indicated by the word love, in 1Cor. 13:3a.

Exodus 25:1–2 Jehovah then said to Moses, “Soon you will speak to the sons of Israel. The first thing that they must do is take up an offering on My behalf from every man whose heart is willing. You and Aaron and the elders will be in charge of receiving these offerings.

——————————

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And this [is] the offering which you [all] will take from them: gold and silver and copper; and violet and purple and a dye of scarlet; and linen and goat’s hair; and hides of rams and hides of sheep; and lumber [pieces] of acacia wood; oil for light, spices for oil of anointing and for incense of sweetness; stones of a gem and stones of settings for the ephod and for the sacred pouch.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Targum (Onkelos)                  And this is the separation that thou shalt take of them: gold, and silver and brass; and hyacinth, and purple and vermilion, (lit., bright colour,) and fine linen, (butz,) and hair of goats, and skins of rams made red, and skins of purple, and sittin woods; oil for the illuminators, aromatics for the anointing oil, and aromatics for the incense; burilla stones, and stones that may complete the insetting of the ephod and the breastplate.

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And this is the separation which you shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass; and hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen; and goats' skins, and skins of rams dyed red, and purpled skins, and woods of sittin, and olive oil for the light, and aromatics for the confection of the pure anointing oil, and of the fragrant incense; gems of beryl that are gems of perfection, for engraving and insertion in the ephoda and in the breastplate.

Revised Douay-Rheims         And these are the things you must take: gold, and silver, and brass,

Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

And rams' skins dyed red, and violet skins, and setim wood:

Oil to make lights: spices for ointment, and for sweet-smelling incense:

Onyx stones, and precious stones to adorn the ephod and the rational.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) .

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     And this is the offering which you shall take of them: gold, silver, and brass, Blue, purple, and scarlet, fine linen, and goats hair, And rams skins dyed red, skins dyed with vermilion, and shittim wood, Oil for the lamps, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and precious stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And this is the offering which you shall take of them: gold, silver and brass; blue, purple, and double scarlet; fine spun linen, and goats' hair; rams' skins dyed red, blue skins, and incorruptible wood; and oil for the light, incense for anointing oil, for the composition of incense, and sardius stones, and stones for the carved work of the breastplate, and the full-length robe.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And this is the offering you are to take from them: gold and silver and brass; And blue and purple and red, and the best linen, and goats' hair; And sheepskins coloured red, and leather, and hard wood; Oil for the light, spices for the sweet-smelling oil, sweet perfumes for burning; Beryls and stones of value to be put on the ephod and on the priest's bag.

Easy English                          These are the gifts that you must receive from the people:

                                               •       gold

                                               •       silver and bronze

                                               •       blue, purple and red material

                                               •       and special white material

                                               •       goat's hair,

                                               •       red sheep skins and badger skins

                                               •       wood from acacia trees

                                               •       olive oil for the lights

                                               •       sweet powder from plants for the special oil, to make a lovely smell

                                               •       many different stones, all valuable, to fix on to the priest's special clothes.’

Easy-to-Read Version–2001  .

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  Here is the list of the things that you should accept from the people: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and red yarn and fine linen; goat hair, ram skins dyed red, and fine leather; acacia wood; oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and spices for the sweet-smelling incense. Also accept onyx stones and other jewels to be put on the ephod and the judgment pouch.

God’s Word™                         .

Good News Bible (TEV)         These offerings are to be: gold, silver, and bronze; fine linen; blue, purple, and red wool; cloth made of goats' hair; rams' skin dyed red; fine leather; acacia wood; oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense; carnelians and other jewels to be set in the ephod^[a] of the High Priest and in his breastpiece.

                                               [a]     In most contexts the term ephod refers to a type of shoulder garment, in certain respects resembling a vest. It was made of costly and colorful cloth and to it was attached a kind of pouch containing the Urim and Thummim, two objects used in determining God's will.

The Message                         These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats’ hair; tanned rams’ skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece.

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      “Here are the offerings you must receive from them.

“gold, silver and bronze

blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen

goat hair

ram skins that are dyed red

another kind of strong leather

acacia wood

olive oil for the lights

spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense

onyx stones and other jewels for the linen apron and chest cloth

New Simplified Bible              »This is the type of contribution you will accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze, violet, purple, and bright red yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood, olive oil for the lamps, spices (balsam oil) for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense, onyx stones, and other precious stones to be set in the chief priest’s ephod and his breastplate.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

College Press Bible Study     .

Contemporary English V.       Here is a list of what you are to collect: Gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and red wool; fine linen; goat hair; tanned ram skins; fine leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamp; sweet-smelling spices to mix with the oil for dedicating the tent and ordaining the priests; and onyx stones for the sacred vest and the breastpiece.

The Living Bible                     Jehovah said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel that everyone who wants to may bring me an offering from this list: gold, silver, bronze, blue cloth, purple cloth, scarlet cloth, fine-twined linen, goats’ hair, red-dyed rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. Vv. 1–2 are included for context.

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    This is the gift you are to receive from them: Gold, silver and brass, blue, purple and red cloth, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins made red, badgers’ skins, acacia wood, lamp oil, spices for the oil used in worship and for perfumes, onyx stones, and stones to be set in the clothing of the religious leaders.

New Living Translation           Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them:

gold, silver, and bronze;

blue, purple, and scarlet thread;

fine linen and goat hair for cloth;

tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;

acacia wood;

olive oil for the lamps;

spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece.

Unlocked Dynamic Bible        These are the things that they may offer: gold, silver, bronze, blue and purple and scarlet dyed wool, fine linen, goats’ hair for making cloth, ram skins that have been tanned, sea cow hides, hard wood from acacia trees, olive oil to burn in the lamps, spices to put in the olive oil for anointing the priests, and spices to put in the sweet-smelling incense, onyx stones and other expensive stones to be fastened to the priest’s sacred apron and to be put on the chest pouch that is to be fastened to the apron.

Unfolding Bible Simplified      .

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          These are the offerings that you are to ask for: gold, silver, bronze, blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair, ram’s skins that are dyed red and blue, and durable wood. [You should also ask for] lamp oil, fragrances for anointing oil, ingredients for incense, and for rubies and other [precious] stones that will fit into a breastplate, as well as a full-length robe.

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           These are the gift offerings that you should receive from them: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and deep red yarns; fine linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins dyed red; beaded leather;^[a] acacia wood; oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense; gemstones; and gems for setting in the priest’s vest^[b] and chest piece.

                                               [a]     Exodus 25:5 Or dolphin skins

                                               [b]     Exodus 25:7 Heb ephod

New Advent (Knox) Bible       And these are the gifts you will declare to be acceptable, gold, silver and bronze; threads of blue and purple and scarlet twice-dyed, and lawn, and goats’ hair, and rams’ fleeces dyed red, and skins dyed violet;[1] acacia wood, and oil to feed lamps, spices for the anointing-oil, and sweet-smelling incense; onyx-stones, too, and jewels, to be set in the priestly mantle and burse.

[1] The word used in the Hebrew text is of uncertain significance, and may perhaps indicate the name of the animal whose skin is referred to.

Translation for Translators     These are the things that they may offer/give: Gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn/wool, fine ◂linen/white cloth►, goats' hair for making cloth, rams' skins that have been ◂tanned/dyed red►, goatskins, hard wood from acacia trees, olive oil to burn in the lamps, spices to put in the olive oil for anointing the priests and in the sweet-smelling incense, expensive quartz stones called onyx, and other expensive stones to be fastened to the priest's vest and put on the pouches that are to be fastened to the vest.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                And these are the offerings they may offer for themselves, gold, silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and red; spun goats' hair, and red ram skins, and badgers' skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light for the lamps, with oil to anoint, and incense to perfume; (kjv) Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate,...

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           And this is the heave offering which you shall take of them: gold, silver and brass: and Jacinth color, scarlet, purple, byss and goats hair: rams skins that are red, and the skins of taxus (may be a badger) and sethim wood, oil for lights, and spices for anointing oil and for sweet cense: Onyx stones and set stones for the Ephod and for the breastlap.

HCSB                                     This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins dyed red and manatee skins; [Or and dolphin skins, or and fine leather; Hb obscure] acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx [Or carnelian] along with other gemstones for mounting on the ephod and breastpiece [Traditionally, breastplate].

International Standard V        This is the offering that you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; [The Heb. lacks material; and so throughout the book] fine linen and goat hair; ram skins dyed [Or tanned] red, dolphin [Or dugong, a marine animal similar to a walrus or manatee] skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for aromatic incense; onyx stones, stones for setting on the ephod and the breast piece. [Or the pouch on the breast piece]

Jubilee Bible 2000                  .

H. C. Leupold                         .

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather [Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals]; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

Peter Pett’s translation          .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    .

Unlocked Literal Bible            .

Urim-Thummim Version         .

Wikipedia Bible Project          This is the donation which you take from them: gold, silver, and copper. And cyan and magenta [fabric], and second-weave, and wool and goat-hair. And reddened ram's skin, and sealskins, and acacia wood. And lighting oil, perfumes for ointment oils, and for the fragrant incense. Onyx stones, and setting stones, for the Ephod and the breastplate.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  The things you shall accept from them are these: gold, silver, and bronze, purple cloth of violet shade and red, crimson cloth, fine linen, goats' hair; rams' skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood; oil for the lamps, spices for the chrism and for the fragrant incense; precious stones and gems to be set in priestly vestments.

The Heritage Bible                 And this is the offering which you shall take of them: gold, and silver, and bronze, And blue, and purple, and bright crimson, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and acacia wood, Oil for the lights, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.⁷

⁷ 25:7 breastplate, choshen. The meaning of choshen is ornament. It is used only of the item of clothing of the head priest in which twelve stones were set, one for each of the twelve tribes, and had a pocket to hold the stones of urim and thummim, so we have retained the word breastplate.

New American Bible (2002)   These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold, silver and bronze; violet, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ¹ rams' skins dyed red, and tahash skins; acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece.

1 [5] Tahash: perhaps the name of a marine animal, such as the dugong or the porpoise. The Greek and Latin versions took it for the color hyacinth.

New American Bible (2011)   These are the contributions you shall accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; [Ex 35:4–9] violet, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; rams’ skins dyed red, and tahash* skins; acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece.

* [25:5] Tahash: perhaps a kind of specially finished leather. The Greek and Latin versions took it for the color hyacinth.

New English Bible–1970        This is what you shall accept: gold, silver, copper; violet, purple, and scarlet yarn ; fine linen and goats' hair; tanned rams' skins, porpoise-hides Strictly sea-cow hides, and acacia-wood, oil for the lamp, balsam for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; cornelian and other stones ready for setting in the ephod and the breast-piece Or pouch.

New Jerusalem Bible             And this is what you will accept from them: gold, silver and bronze; materials dyed violet-purple, red-purple and crimson, fine linen, goats' hair; rams' skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood; oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and fragrant incense; cornelian and other stones to be set in the ephod and breastplate.

New RSV                               This is the offering that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple, and crimson yarns and fine linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, fine leather, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and for the breastpiece.

Revised English Bible–1989   You may accept any of the following: gold, silver, copper; violet, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goats' hair; tanned rams' skins and dugong-hides; acacia-wood; oil for the lamp, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; cornelians and other stones ready for setting on the ephod and the breastpiece.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           The contribution you are to take from them is to consist of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen, goat’s hair, tanned ram skins and fine leather; acacia-wood; oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones to be set, for the ritual vest and breastplate.

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; and blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and goats hair; and rams' skin dyed red, and dugong skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, spices for the oil of anointing, and for the incense of perfumes; onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod, and for the breast pocket.

Israeli Authorized Version      .

The Israel Bible (beta)            .

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               .

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures 1998              “And this is the contribution which you take up from them: gold, and silver, and bronze, and blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and fine leather, and acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, shoham stones, and stones to be set in the shoulder garment and in the breastplate.

Tree of Life Version                .

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND THIS IS THE OFFERING WHICH YOU SHALL TAKE OF THEM; GOLD AND SILVER AND BRASS, AND BLUE, AND PURPLE, AND DOUBLE SCARLET, AND FINE SPUN LINEN, AND GOATS' HAIR, AND RAMS' SKINS DYED RED, AND BLUE SKINS, AND INCORRUPTIBLE WOOD, AND OIL FOR THE LIGHT, INCENSE FOR ANOINTING OIL, AND FOR THE COMPOSITION OF INCENSE, AND SARDIUS STONES, AND STONES FOR THE CARVED WORK OF THE BREAST-PLATE, AND THE FULL-LENGTH ROBE.

Awful Scroll Bible                   The contributions you was to receive is gold, silver, and bronze; violet, magenta, scarlet, and crimson; bleached goat's hair, ram's hide being dyed red, and sea cow hides; and acacia wood; and oil for light, spices for anointing oil and fragrant incense; and onyx stones, stones for be setting on the ephod and breast piece.

Charles Thompson OT           .

Concordant Literal Version    And this is the heave offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver and copper, blue, purple and double-dipped crimson, cambric and goats' hair, reddened rams' hides and azure hides and acacia boards; oil for the luminary, aromatics for the anointing oil and for the incense of spices;" stones of onyx and stones for fillings for the vestment and for the breastplate.

Darby Translation                  .

exeGeses companion Bible   and this is the exaltment you take from them;

gold and silver and copper

and blue and purple and scarlet

and white linen and of goats,

and reddened skins of rams and skins of badgers

and shittim timber:

oil for the light, spices for anointing oil

and for incense of aromatics,

onyx stones and stones

- fillings in the ephod and in the breastplate.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And this is the terumah (offering) which ye shall receive of them; zahav, and kesef, and nechoshet,

And turquoise, and purple, and scarlet wool, and linen, and goat hair,

And ram skins dyed red, and tachash skins, and acacia wood,

Shemen for the light, spices for shemen hamishchah (anointing oil) and aromatic ketoret (incense),

Shoham stone, and stones to be set in the Ephod, and in the Choshen (Breastplate).

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Third Millennium Bible            .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Expanded Bible              ·These are the gifts [This is the tribute] that you should receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread; fine linen, goat hair, ·sheepskins [or ramskins] that are dyed red; ·fine leather [or sea cow/porpoise hide]; acacia wood; olive oil to burn in the lamps; spices for sweet-smelling incense, and the special olive oil ·poured on a person’s head to make him a priest [^L for anointing; Ps. 133]; onyx stones, and other jewels to be put on the ·holy vest [ephod; 28:6–14] and the ·chest covering [breastpiece; 28:15–30].

Kretzmann’s Commentary    And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold and silver and brass, iron not being included, probably on account of its tendency to rust,

and blue, a hyacinth colored or dark-blue purple, and purple, that is, the purple proper, of a brilliant dark-red, and scarlet, or crimson purple, dyed with the color prepared from the coccus insect, and. fine linen, a silklike, snow-white muslin, and goats' hair,

and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, probably the skins of a marine animal found in the Red Sea, which were used both for sandal-leather and for tent coverings, and shittim wood, that of the Arabian acacia, which is very light and yet very strong and durable,

oil for the light, as it was required to burn in the great candelabrum, spices, sweet-smelling ingredients, for anointing oil and for sweet incense, the odor of which was pleasant,

onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, in rows or clusters on one of the ornamental garments of the high priest, and in the breastplate, Exodus 28:6 ff.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               Eternal One (to Moses): You should accept only the finest things: gold, silver, and bronze metals; blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fabric; fine linen and goat-hair garments; ram skins (dyed red) and sea-cow [The exact type of animal skin is uncertain.] leathers; acacia wood; olive oil for the lamps; spices for anointing oil and incense; and onyx and other gems for the ceremonial vestment and the breast piece worn by the high priest. A portion of v. 2 is included for context.

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Amplified Bible                This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, fine twisted linen, goats’ hair, rams’ ^[a]skins dyed red, ^[b]porpoise skins, ^[c]acacia wood, [olive] oil for lighting, ^[d]balsam for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, ^[e]onyx stones and setting stones for the [priest’s] ephod and for the breastpiece.

                                               [a]     Exodus 25:5 The finished product would be similar to morocco leather.

                                               [b]     Exodus 25:5 The meaning of the Hebrew word is not certain; some scholars have suggested that the material is instead a fine leather of unspecified origin.