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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites during the initial collection phase for constructing the Tent of Meeting. Both men and women respond by bringing gold jewelry to the camp.

The words — The text highlights נְדִיב לֵב (ne-div lev), literally "willing of heart," and הֵבִיאוּ (he-vi-u), meaning "they brought." These terms frame the contribution as a voluntary act rather than a mandated tax.

The thread — This model of voluntary material donation appears in Ezra 2:68 and Nehemiah 7:70, where community leaders and heads of families contribute freewill offerings for temple and wall reconstruction.

Why it lands — The passage records that sacred work requires materials supplied by those whose hearts are voluntarily moved, not by coercion. Readers must recognize that participation in holy projects depends on willing contribution rather than external compulsion.

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, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

Cross-references

Ezra 2:68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
Nehemiah 7:70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Exodus 32:3 Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.
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.”
1 Chronicles 29:6 Then the leaders of the families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
2 Chronicles 24:9 And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.
Isaiah 3:19 their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
Isaiah 60:9 Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
Isaiah 60:13 The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its cypress, elm, and boxwood together—to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify the place of My feet.