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Wednesday, July 30th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Amplified Bible

Numbers 31:50

"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man obtained—articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Atonement;   Bracelet;   Chains;   Gold;   Jewels;   Liberality;   Necklace;   Ring;   Spoils;   Thankfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Adorning;   Bracelets;   Earrings;   Giving;   Jewels;   Liberality-Parsimony;   Ornaments;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Rings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Bracelet;   Midianites;   Rings;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Seal;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bracelet;   Earrings;   Jericho;   Tablet;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Chain;   Earrings;   Paran;   Sacrifice;   Silver;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Armlet;   Beads;   Bracelet;   Chains;   Earrings;   Jewels, Jewelry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ornaments;   Table, Tablet;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bracelet;   Chains;   Eleazar ;   Tablets;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Earrings;   Metals;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Rings;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ankle;   Anklet;   Armlet;   Chain;   Get;   Gold;   Ring;   Tablet;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Atonement;   Bracelets;   Chains;   Earring;   Ornament;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
We have brought the LORD's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before the LORD.
King James Version
We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord , what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord .
Lexham English Bible
So we brought the offering of Yahweh, what each man found, objects of gold, bangles, bracelets, rings, earrings, and female ornaments, to make atonement for ourselves before Yahweh."
English Standard Version
And we have brought the Lord 's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord ."
New Century Version
So we have brought the Lord a gift of the gold things that each of us found: arm bands, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces. These are to remove our sins so we will belong to the Lord ."
New English Translation
So we have brought as an offering for the Lord what each man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord ."
New American Standard Bible
"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
Geneva Bible (1587)
We haue therefore brought a present vnto the Lorde, what euery man found of iewels of golde, bracelets, and cheines, rings, eare ringes, and ornaments of the legges, to make an atonement for our soules before the Lorde.
Legacy Standard Bible
So we have brought near as an offering to Yahweh what each man found—articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before Yahweh."
Contemporary English Version
So we want to give the Lord all the gold jewelry we took from the Midianites. It's our gift to him for watching over us and our troops."
Complete Jewish Bible
We have brought an offering for Adonai , what every man has obtained in the way of gold jewelry — armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and belts — to make atonement for ourselves before Adonai ."
Darby Translation
So we present the offering of Jehovah, that which each one hath found, jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
So we are bringing the Lord 's gift from every soldier. We are bringing things that are made of gold—armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. This gift to the Lord is to make us pure."
George Lamsa Translation
We have therefore brought as an offering for the LORD what every man has found, articles of gold, ankle chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before the LORD.
Good News Translation
So we are bringing the gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces that each of us has taken. We offer them to the Lord as a payment for our lives, so that he will protect us."
Christian Standard Bible®
So we have presented to the Lord an offering of the gold articles each man found—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”
Literal Translation
And we bring near Jehovah's offering, each what he has found, vessels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and jewels, to atone for ourselves before Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
therfore brynge we a present vnto the LORDE, what euery one hath foude of Iewels of golde, cheynes, bracelettes, rynges, earinges, and taches, that oure soules maye be reconcyled before the LORDE.
American Standard Version
And we have brought Jehovah's oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
And we have here an offering for the Lord from what every man took in the war, ornaments of gold, leg-chains and arm-rings, finger-rings, ear-rings, and neck-ornaments, to make our souls free from sin before the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
We haue therfore brought a present vnto the Lord what euery man found, of iewels of golde, bracelets, chaynes, rynges, eare rynges, and spangles, to make an attonement for our soules before the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And we have brought the LORD'S offering, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and girdles, to make atonement for our souls before the LORD.'
King James Version (1611)
Wee haue therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what euerie man hath gotten, of iewels of golde chaines, and bracelets, rings, earerings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our soules before the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And we have brought our gift to the Lord, every man who has found an article of gold, whether an armlet, or a chain, or a ring, or a bracelet, or a clasp for hair, to make atonement for us before the Lord.
English Revised Version
And we have brought the LORD'S oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, earrings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for which cause we offren `in the fre yiftis of the Lord, alle bi vs silf, that that we myyten fynde of gold in the pray, girdelis for `the myddil of wymmen, and bies of the armes, and ryngis, and ournementis of the arm nyy the hond, and bies of the neckis of wymmen, that thou preye the Lord for vs.
Young's Literal Translation
and we bring near Jehovah's offering, each that which he hath found, vessels of gold -- chain, and bracelet, seal-ring, [ear]-ring, and bead -- to make atonement for ourselves before Jehovah.'
Update Bible Version
And we have brought Yahweh's oblation, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, earrings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath obtained of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, ear-rings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.
World English Bible
We have brought Yahweh's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh.
New King James Version
Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD, what every man found of ornaments of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
New Living Translation
So we are presenting the items of gold we captured as an offering to the Lord from our share of the plunder—armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. This will purify our lives before the Lord and make us right with him."
New Life Bible
We have brought as a gift to the Lord what each man found, objects of gold, things to be worn on the arms and fingers and ears and necks. They are to pay for our sins before the Lord."
New Revised Standard
And we have brought the Lord 's offering, what each of us found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and pendants, to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord ."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore have we brought near an offering unto Yahweh, what, each man, hath found - articles of gold, ankle chains and bracelets, rings earrings and buckles, - to put a propitiatory-covering over our souls before Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore we offer as gifts to the Lord what gold every one of us could find in the booty, in garters and tablets, rings and bracelets, and chains, that thou mayst pray to the Lord for us.
Revised Standard Version
And we have brought the LORD's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."

Contextual Overview

48Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, approached Moses, 49and they said to him, "Your servants have counted the warriors under our command, and not one man of us is missing. 50"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man obtained—articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."51Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all the handmade articles. 52All the gold of the offering which they presented to the LORD from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds was 16,750 shekels. 53For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself. 54So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) as a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

therefore brought: The officers of the army having mustered their men, found they had not lost a man in the contest with Midian! Penetrated with gratitude for this most remarkable interposition of Providence in their favour, they now offer to Jehovah the golden jewels which they had found among the spoil, to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to,869, 16s. 5d. of our money.

an oblation: Psalms 107:15, Psalms 107:21, Psalms 107:22, Psalms 116:12, Psalms 116:17

gotten: Heb. found

an atonement: Exodus 30:12, Exodus 30:15, Exodus 30:16, Leviticus 17:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:22 - bracelets 2 Chronicles 15:11 - offered Proverbs 3:9 - General Song of Solomon 1:10 - thy neck Isaiah 3:19 - the bracelets Ezekiel 16:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 31:5
and he said to them, "I see [a change in] your father's attitude, that he is not friendly toward me as [he was] before; but the God of my father [Isaac] has been with me.
Genesis 31:6
"You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
Leviticus 18:18
'You shall not marry a woman in addition to her sister as a rival while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.
Judges 11:10
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD is the witness between us; be assured that we will do as you have said."
1 Samuel 12:5
Samuel said to them, "The LORD is a witness against you, and [Saul] His anointed is a witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is a witness."
Jeremiah 29:23
because they have acted foolishly in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and in My Name have spoken false and concocted words, which I did not command them. I am He who knows and I am a witness," says the LORD.'"
Jeremiah 42:5
Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we fail to act in accordance with all the things that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
Micah 1:2
Hear, O peoples, all of you; Listen closely, O earth and all that is in it, And let the Lord GOD be witness [giving a testimony of the judgment] against you, The Lord from His holy temple [in the heavens].
Malachi 2:14
But you say, "Why [does He reject it]?" Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your marriage companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your vows].
Malachi 3:5
"Then I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, and against those who oppress the laborer in his wages and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away the alien [from his right], and those who do not fear Me [with awe-filled reverence]," says the LORD of hosts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

We have therefore brought an oblation to the Lord,.... A freewill offering, out of the spoil, over and above the tribute levied out of the half that came unto them;

what every man hath gotten: or "found" f, in the houses, and upon the bodies of the slain, or of such that were taken captives:

of jewels of gold either such as were set in gold; or rather, as the words may be rendered,

vessels of gold g, as dishes, cups, spoons, and the like:

chains; which were wore about the neck, or upon the arm, as Aben Ezra:

and bracelets; for the hand, as the same writer, see Genesis 24:22,

rings; for the finger:

ear rings; for the ear, as we render it, the word signifies something round:

and tablets; which, according to the Targum of Jonathan, were ornaments that hung down between the breasts:

to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord; not only this offering was brought as a token of gratitude and thankfulness, for sparing of everyone of their lives, and giving them such success and victory, and so large a spoil of the enemy; but also to expiate any sins they had been guilty of in going out, and coming in, and particularly for sparing the women they should have put to death, for which Moses was wroth with them, Numbers 31:14.

f מצא "invenit", Pagninus, Montanus. g כלי זהב "vas auri", Montanus; "vasa aurea", Vatablus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “chains” were “armlets” 2 Samuel 1:10. The “rings” were “finger-rings,” or “seal-rings;” and the “tablets” were worn suspended from the neck Exodus 35:22.

To make an atonement for our souls before the Lord - Compare Exodus 30:11-16. The atonement was not for any special offence committed (which would have called for a sacrifice of blood-shedding), but rather like the half-shekel given at the census in the Book of Exodus (loc. cite), was an acknowledgment of having received undeserved mercies. These, if unacknowledged, would have entailed guilt on the soul.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 31:50. We have - brought an oblation for the Lord — So it appears there was a great deal of booty taken which did not come into the general account; and of this the soldiers, of their own will, made a very extensive offering to God, because he had preserved them from falling in battle. That not one man should have been slain is a most extraordinary circumstance, and powerfully marks the peculiar superintendence of God's especial providence. The Midianites must certainly have made some resistance; but that was ineffectual, because it was against the Lord. When any nation undertakes a crusade against those whom they are pleased to call the Lord's enemies, let them bring from the contest this proof of their Divine mission, viz., that not one man of them is either lost or missing; and then, and not till then, shall we believe that God hath sent them.

To make an atonement for our souls — That is, to make an acknowledgment to God for the preservation of their lives. The gold offered on this occasion amounted to 16,750 shekels, equal to £37,869, 16s. 5d. of our money. Exodus 25:39, where the true value of the shekel is given, and a rule laid down to reduce it to English money.


 
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