Bible Strands
Exodus 30:15
In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God instructs Moses to collect a census tax from every Israelite aged twenty or older. This directive occurs during the preparation for numbering the people and funding the Tent of Meeting.
The words — The Hebrew עָשִׁיר (he.'a.Shir) translates to "the rich," and דָּל (Dal) translates to "the poor." These terms anchor the command that neither economic group may alter the mandated half-shekel contribution.
The thread — The text ties this ransom to the census requirement in Exodus 30:12 and echoes the atonement principle in Leviticus 17:11. The collected money is explicitly designated for the Tent of Meeting service as a memorial before the LORD (Exodus 30:16).
Why it lands — The text mandates a uniform half-shekel payment that applies equally to rich and poor to secure atonement for every counted life. Readers must recognize that the covenant standard requires identical financial obligation from all adults regardless of wealth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
Cross-references
- Numbers 31:50 So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”
- Exodus 30:12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.
- Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
- Job 34:19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
- Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
- 2 Samuel 21:3 So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
- Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
- Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.