Exodus 35:21

And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled congregation of Israel after detailing Sabbath laws and tabernacle specifications. The people step back from his presence and then voluntarily gather materials for the Tent of Meeting and its sacred garments.

The words — The phrase אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂאֹ לִבּוֹ (a.Sher-ne.sa.O li.Bo) literally translates to "whom his heart lifted." This Hebrew idiom denotes an internal compulsion that moves a person to act.

The thread — The text links this internal motivation to Exodus 25:2, where God first specifies contributions from those whose hearts compel them. It echoes in Exodus 35:26 as women spin goat hair and in Exodus 35:29 when summarizing the collective freewill offerings.

Why it lands — The text reports that internal conviction, not external mandate, drove the people to bring offerings. It establishes that willing response must precede organized service.

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

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Cross-references

Exodus 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him.
Exodus 35:26 And all the skilled women whose hearts were stirred spun the goat hair.
Exodus 35:29 So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
Exodus 35:5 Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;
Exodus 35:22 So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.
Exodus 36:2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted—everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work.
Judges 5:3 Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Judges 5:9 My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!
Judges 5:12 ‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’