Exodus 30:14 - Everyone who passes over to those who are counted, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering to Yahweh.

Generated Verse: Exodus 30:14

What does "Exodus 30:14" mean?


Exodus 30:14 speaks about a poll tax or ransom that every Israelite male over the age of 20 was required to pay when a census was taken. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:

"Everyone who passes over to those who are counted": This refers to every male Israelite who is included in the census. "Passes over" implies going through a process of being registered and accounted for.
"from twenty years old and upward": This specifies the age requirement. Only males who were 20 years of age or older were obligated to pay the offering.
"shall give the offering to Yahweh": This signifies that they were required to provide a specific offering (mentioned earlier in the chapter as half a shekel of silver) to the Lord. The purpose of this offering wasn't just for revenue; it had a deeper spiritual significance.

Purpose and Significance

Ransom for their lives: The payment was seen as a "ransom for their lives" (Exodus 30:12). It was a symbolic act of atonement and protection against a plague that might come upon them due to being numbered. The idea was that by paying this offering, they acknowledged God's ownership of their lives and sought His protection.
Equality: The amount was the same for everyone, regardless of wealth or status. The rich were not to give more, and the poor were not to give less (Exodus 30:15). This emphasized equality before God and underscored the idea that every life was equally valuable in His eyes.
Temple Maintenance: While serving as a spiritual offering, the money collected was used for the service of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:16). It was used to maintain the tabernacle and purchase necessary supplies for worship.
Acknowledgement of God's Ownership: The offering was a tangible way for the Israelites to recognize God's sovereignty and their dependence on Him.

In summary, Exodus 30:14 outlines a mandatory offering to be paid by every Israelite male over 20 years old when a census was taken. This offering served as a ransom for their lives, emphasized equality before God, supported the tabernacle's maintenance, and acknowledged God's ownership of their lives.

What categories does "Exodus 30:14" have?