Add parallel Print Page Options

Money for the Tabernacle

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them. 13 Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel,[a] based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.) 14 All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the Lord. 15 When this offering is given to the Lord to purify your lives, making you right with him,[b] the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. 16 Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle.[c] It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 30:13 Or 0.2 ounces [6 grams].
  2. 30:15 Or to make atonement for your lives; similarly in 30:16.
  3. 30:16 Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 30:18, 20, 26, 36.

The Atonement Money

11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 12 “When you take a census(A) of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom(B) for his life to the Lord as they are registered. Then no plague(C) will come on them as they are registered. 13 Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel[a] according to the sanctuary shekel (twenty gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord.(D) 14 Each man who is registered, twenty years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. 15 The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less(E) than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for[b] your lives. 16 Take the atonement price[c] from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for your lives.”(F)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 30:13 A shekel is about two-fifths of an ounce of silver
  2. 30:15 Or to ransom, also in v. 16
  3. 30:16 Lit the silver of the atonement