Exodus 30:15

Verse

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Jehovah, to make atonement for your souls.

Bible in Basic English

The man of wealth is to give no more and the poor man no less than the half-shekel of silver, when the offering is made to the Lord as the price for your lives.

Douay-Rheims 1899

The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man shall diminish nothing.

Free Bible Version

When you give this offering to buy back your lives the rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less.

Geneva Bible 1599

The rich shall not passe, and the poore shall not diminish from halfe a shekel, when ye shall giue an offring vnto the Lord, for the redemption of your liues.

King James (Authorized) 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.

One Unity Resource Bible

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel [0.2 oz; 5.67 g], when they give the offering of Adonai , to make atonement for your souls.

Translation for Translators

Rich men must not pay more than this amount, and poor men must not pay less than this amount, when they pay this money to save their lives.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When the people give this offering to me to make atonement for their lives, the rich must not give more than the half shekel, and the poor must not give less.

Noah Webster Bible

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering to the LORD to make an atonement for your souls.

World English Bible

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls.

Young's Literal Translation

the rich doth not multiply, and the poor doth not diminish from the half-shekel, to give the heave-offering of Jehovah, to make atonement for your souls.

Context

The Census Offering

¹⁴Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.¹⁵In 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.¹⁶Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

Summary

In Exodus 30:15, God instructs Moses regarding the importance of the half-shekel tax for the service of the tabernacle. This tax was required from all who were counted in the census, rich or poor, as a ransom for their lives. The payment of this tax served as a reminder of the atonement for sin and the need for redemption. It also emphasized the equality of all individuals before God, regardless of their material wealth, highlighting the principle of fairness and unity within the community of believers.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel,.... Which shows that the Israelites were alike in the esteem of God, their worldly circumstances making no difference; their souls being alike, the same ransom price was given for them; and that they were all to have an equal share in the service and sanctuary of God, and the price was set so low, that the poorest man might be able to pay it: and even Maimonides (y) says, if he lived on alms, he was to beg it of others, or sell his clothes from off his back to pay it. This shows the equality of the redeemed and ransomed of the Lord; for though some sins and sinners are greater than others, and some are redeemed from more sins than others, yet all sins being infinite, as committed against an infinite God, but one price is paid for all, and that is the precious blood of Christ, the Son of God, an infinite and divine Person; hence all the ransomed ones have the same faith, righteousness, salvation, and eternal life: when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make atonement for your souls; which have sinned, are liable to death for it, are the more excellent part of men, and require a great price for the redemption and ransom of them; and hence it is so great a blessing to be ransomed, because it is the ransom of the soul: and such is the efficacy of Christ's ransom, that it is a full atonement for the souls of men, and their sins, and completely delivers from sin, Satan, the law, death, and hell. (y) Hilchot Shekalim, c. 1. sect. 1.