This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
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Exodus 25:3-5 sits inside this longer paragraph.
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. This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze, 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. Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it.
Parallel Translations
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This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze,
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
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And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Show all 3 translations
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And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass;
and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair;
and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia-wood;
Cross-references (9)
- Deuteronomy 8:9 (v3) a land in which you shall eat bread without scarcity, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose…
- Revelation 19:8 (v4) It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
- Genesis 41:42 (v4) Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain…
- Exodus 26:14-15 (v5) You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above. “You shall make the boards for the…
- Exodus 26:26 (v5) “You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Show all 9 cross-references
- Exodus 26:37–27:1 (v5) You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets…
- Exodus 36:20 (v5) He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
- Job 28:2 (v3) Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted out of the ore.
- Ezekiel 16:10 (v4) I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3–5 For the building and use of the Tabernacle.
For the building and use of the Tabernacle.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–5 Exo 25:3 And this [is] the offering which ye…
Exo 25:3 And this [is] the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Ver. 3. Gold, and silver, and brass.] No mention of iron. Compare 1Ki 6:7; 1Ki 8:51.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv4–5 Blue, or sky-coloured; but here you must not understand…
Blue, or sky-coloured; but here you must not understand the mere colours, which could not be offered, but some materials proper for the work, and of the colours here mentioned, to wit, wool, or threads, or some suchlike things, as appears from Heb 9:19, and from the testimony of the Jews. Fine linen, which was of great esteem in ancient times, and used by priests and great officers of state. See Gen 41:42; Rev 19:8,14.
Goats’ hair; Heb. goats. But that their hair is understood, is apparent from the nature of the thing, and from the use of the word in that sense in other places.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And this is the offering which ye shall take…
And this is the offering which ye shall take of them,.... That is, some one or other of the following things were to be taken of each of them that had a heart, and it was in the power of their hands to give; it was not expected that something of each of these should be had of everyone, but every man was to give, and it was to be received of him, what of these would suit him best to bestow, some one thing, some another, as they were possessed of, and had a heart to give; and for which service many of them were abundantly supplied with what they had brought out of Egypt; and as it was the Lord that gave them favour in the eyes of the Egyptians to lend or give them the riches they had, they were under the greater obligation to part with somewhat of it freely for his service; and especially as it would be to the spiritual profit and advantage both of them and theirs:
gold and silver, and brass; "gold", for those things that were to he made of gold; as the mercy seat and cherubim, the candlestick, &c. or were covered with it, as the ark, the shewbread table, and other things; and silver, for those that were made of that, as the silver sockets to the boards of the tabernacle, the silver trumpets, &c. and "brass" for the altar of burnt offering, its pans, shovels, basins, rings, and staves, and other things: Aben Ezra rightly observes, that no mention is made of iron, there being no use of that for anything in the tabernacle to be made of it; as also there was not in the temple of Solomon, and where there was not so much as a tool of iron heard in it while it was building, Kg1 6:7 it may be, because instruments of war, slaughtering weapons, were made of iron; and to show that God is the God of peace in his sanctuary, and so in all the churches: gold and silver vessels the Israelites borrowed or begged of the Egyptians, and brought them with them when they came out of Egypt, Exo 11:2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv4–5 Blue, and purple, and scarlet - Materials of those…
Blue, and purple, and scarlet - Materials of those colours.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3–5 Verse 3. This is the offering] There were three…
Verse 3. This is the offering] There were three kinds of metals:
1. GOLD, זהב zahab, which may properly signify wrought gold; what was bright and resplendent, as the word implies. In Job 28:15-17, Job 28:19, gold is mentioned five times, and four of the words are different in the original.
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(1) סגור SEGOR, from סגר sagar, to shut up; gold in the mine, or shut up in its ore.
(2) כתם KETHEM, from כתם catham, to sign, seal, or stamp; gold made current by being coined; standard or sterling gold, exhibiting the stamp expressive of its value.
(3) זהב ZAHAB, wrought gold, pure, highly polished gold; probably what was used for overlaying or gilding.
(4) פז PAZ, denoting solidity, compactness, and strength; probably gold formed into different kinds of plate, as it is joined in Ex 25:17 of the above chapter with כלי keley, vessels. The zahab, or pure gold, is here mentioned, because it was in a state that rendered it capable of being variously manufactured for the service of the sanctuary.
2. SILVER, כסף keseph, from casaph, to be pale, wan, or white; so called from its well-known colour.
3. BRASS, נחשת nechosheth, copper; unless we suppose that the factitious metal commonly called brass is intended: this is formed by a combination of the oxide or ore of zinc, called lapis calaminaris, with copper. Brass seems to have been very anciently in use, as we find it mentioned Ge 4:22; and the preparation of copper, to transform it into this factitious metal, seems to be very pointedly referred to Job 28:2: Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone; אבן יצוק נחושה eben yatsuk nechushah, translated by the Vulgate, Lapis, solutus calore, in aes vertitur, "The stone, liquefied by heat, is turned into brass." Is it going too far to say that the stone here may refer to the lapis calaminaris, which was used to turn the copper into brass? Because brass was capable of so fine a polish as to become exceedingly bright, and keep its lustre a considerable time, hence it was used for all weapons of war and defensive armour among ancient nations; and copper seems to have been in no repute, but for its use in making brass.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v4 Exo 25:4-5. Blue, and purple, and scarlet — Materials…
Exo 25:4-5. Blue, and purple, and scarlet — Materials of those colours. Shittim-wood — A kind of wood growing in Egypt and the deserts of Arabia, very durable and precious.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv4–5 Scarlet twice dyed. Aquila and Symmachus have transparent. This…
Scarlet twice dyed. Aquila and Symmachus have transparent. This colour is often confounded with purple, as our Saviour’s robe is styled scarlet by St. Matthew xxvii. 28; and purple by St. John xix. 2. It was dyed with a worm called shani in Hebrew. (St. Jerome, ep. ad Fabiol.) --- Fine linen, byssus. Hebrew shesh, "or six folds," or it may mean cotton, which was highly esteemed by the ancients; (Arabic version; Herod.) and it is not probable that Moses would have passed over it unnoticed. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3–5 this is the offering which ye shall take of…
this is the offering which ye shall take of them--the articles of which the offerings should consist.
brass--rather copper, brass being a composite metal.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. Gold, and silver, and brass — Sceptics have…
3. Gold, and silver, and brass — Sceptics have been fond of asking whence the Hebrews in the wilderness could have obtained such quantifies of the precious metals as the tabernacle required. It is not difficult to answer: (1.) They probably possessed some of the treasures which belonged to their ancient fathers, and of which they had not been despoiled in Egypt. (2.) They obtained great quantities of gold and silver from the Egyptians on their departure from their land. See Exo_12:35-36, and notes on Exo_3:22, and Exo_11:2. (3.) Much spoil of the Egyptian army probably fell into their hands at the Red sea. See Exo_14:30, note. (4.) They doubtless obtained much spoil of the defeated Amalekites, (Exo_17:8-13.) (5.) Finally, we are not to imagine that in the Sinaitic peninsula the Hebrews were cut off from all communication with other peoples. Great caravans frequently traversed these deserts, (comp. Gen_37:25; Gen_37:28,) and doubtless then, as in a later time merchantmen of “all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country,” (1Ki_10:14-17,) carried to and fro with them large quantities of precious metals; and these, as well as other material needed for any of their purposes, could have been obtained by the Israelites.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. The metals. Gold, silver, and copper are specified,…
3. The metals. Gold, silver, and copper are specified, the gold being prescribed, in accordance with a significant gradation, for those vessels and parts of the sanctuary which were nearest to Jehovah, the silver and the copper for those which were further off and less important. Of gold there was a superior kind, called pure (lit. clean) gold, i.e. gold more carefully freed from silver or alloy than ordinary gold. ‘Pure gold’ is thus prescribed for the gilding of the ark, and for the mercy-seat (vv. 11, 17); for the gilding of the table of Presence-bread, and for its vessels (vv. 24, 29); for the candlestick and its utensils (vv. 31, 36 ff.); for the gilding of the altar of incense (Exo_30:3); and for the chains for the sacred pouch, and the plate on the mitre, in the high priest’s dress (Exo_28:14; Exo_28:22; Exo_28:36). Ordinary gold is prescribed for the rim and rings, and for the gilding of the staves, of the Ark, table of Presence-bread, and incense altar (Exo_25:11-13; Exodus 24, 25, 26, 28; Exo_30:3-5); for the cherubim on the mercy-seat (Exo_25:18); for the clasps of the curtains (Exo_26:6); for the gilding of the frames and of the bars outside, and of the pillars for the veil and for the screen (Exo_26:29; Exo_26:32; Exo_26:37); for the rings outside the frames for the bars (Exo_26:29); for the hooks attaching the veil and the screen to their pillars (Exo_26:32; Exo_26:37); and for the gold thread, rosettes, rings for the sacred pouch, and bells, in the high priest’s dress (Exo_28:6; Exo_28:8; Exo_28:15; Exodus 11, 13, 20; Exodus 23, 26, 27; Exodus 33). Silver is prescribed for the sockets of the frames, and of the pillars for the veil (Exo_26:19; Exo_26:25; Exo_26:32); and for the hooks and fillets of the pillars of the court (Exo_27:10-11; Exo_27:17); and copper for the altar of burnt-offering (Exo_27:2-4; Exo_27:6); the sockets and pins of the court (Exo_27:10 f., 17–19); and the laver (Exo_30:18).
brass] bronze, or copper (Gen_4:22 RVm.), which, indeed, was the meaning of ‘brass’ in old English: in Holland’s Pliny, for instance, mention is made of ‘mines of brass’ (cf. Deu_8:9). The alloy of copper and zinc which we call ‘brass’ was not known to the ancients. ‘Bronze,’ i.e. copper hardened by tin, was much used anciently for weapons and other implements, before iron came into general use.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 (3) Gold, and silver, and brass.—The Israelites had brought…
(3) Gold, and silver, and brass.—The Israelites had brought out of Egypt (1) their ancestral wealth—the possessions of Abraham and the accumulations of Joseph, and (2) the rich gifts received from the Egyptians at the moment of their departure. They had added to their wealth by the plunder of the Amalekites. Thus they possessed a considerable store of the precious metals; and there is no difficulty in supposing that they furnished the gold needed for the tabernacle without seriously impoverishing themselves. The silver, which was of small amount comparatively, appears ultimately to have been furnished in another way (Exo_30:12-16; Exo_38:25-28) The brass, or rather bronze, for brass seems to have been unknown at this time, was small in amount (Exo_38:29), and of no great value. It would have constituted no serious drain on the resources of the people.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3–5 This is the offering gold and silver and brass.…
This is the offering gold and silver and brass. Gold was needed for the overlaying of the boards, whereof the ark was composed (ver. 11); for the "crown of gold," which surmounted it (ibid. ); for the "rings" (ver. 12); the "mercy-seat" (ver. 17) the cherubim (ver. 18); the dishes, the spoons, the covers, the bowls (ver. 29); the candlestick (ver. 31); the tongs and snuff dishes (ver. 28); the hooks and taches; (Exo_26:6, Exo_26:32) for the covering of the table of shew bread; (Exo_25:24) and of the staves and pillars (ib, 28:; Exo_26:32, Exo_26:37) and also for many parts of the dress of the High Priest. (Exo_28:6, Exo_28:8, Exo_28:11, Exo_28:14, etc.) Silver was required for the sockets which supported the hoards of the Tabernacle; (Exo_26:19) and for the "hooks" and "fillets" of the pillars of the court. (Exo_27:10) Brass, or rather bronze, was wanted for the "taches" which coupled together the curtains of the tent; (Exo_26:11) for the "sockets" which received the pillars or tent-poles (ib, 37); for the external coating of the altar; (Exo_27:2) for the vessels and utensils of the altar (ib, 3); for the covering of its staves (ib, 6); for the sockets of the pillars of the Court; (Exo_27:10) for the "pins" of the Court (ib, 19); and generally for the vessels of the Tabernacle (ibid. ). To understand how the Israelites could supply all that was wanted, we must remember,
1. That they had a certain amount of ancestral wealth, as that which Josephhad accumulated, and what Jacob and his sons had brought with them into Egypt.
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2. That they had received large presents of gold and silver from theEgyptians just before their departure; (Exo_12:35) and
3. That they had recently defeated, and no doubt despoiled, the Amalekites. (Exo_16:8-13) Whether they had further made money by trade since they entered the Sinaitic peninsula, may be doubted. The supposition is not at all needed in order to account for their wealth.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v5 shittim wood
shittim wood
i.e. acacia.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues to tell Moses what the people must do.
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blue, purple, and scarlet material
Possible meanings are 1) "material that is dyed blue, purple, and scarlet," probably wool yarn, or 2) "blue, purple and scarlet dye" to dye the linen.
scarlet
bright red
sea cow
a large animal that lives in the sea and eats plants
spices
dried plants that people grind into a powder and put in oil or food to give it a nice smell or flavor (See: Translate Unknowns)
onyx
a valuable stone that has layers of white and black, red or brown. (See: Translate Unknowns)
precious stones to be set
This can be stated in active form. AT: "precious stones for someone to set" (See: Active or Passive)
precious stones
"valuable gems" or "treasured gems"
translationWords
sacrifice
gold
silver
bronze
goat
ewe
acacia
oil
sanctuary
lamp
anoint
incense
ephod
breastplate
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.