Exodus 30:15
New International Version
The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives.

New Living Translation
When this offering is given to the LORD to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less.

English Standard Version
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD’s offering to make atonement for your lives.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.

New American Standard Bible
The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less, than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

NASB 1995
“The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

NASB 1977
“The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

Legacy Standard Bible
The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel when you give the contribution to Yahweh to make atonement for your souls.

Amplified Bible
The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give this contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

Christian Standard Bible
The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the LORD to atone for your lives.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the LORD to atone for your lives.

American Standard Version
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.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The rich must not give more than one-fifth of an ounce of silver, and the poor must not give less. This contribution is given to make peace with the LORD and make your lives acceptable to the LORD.

Good News Translation
The rich man is not to pay more, nor the poor man less, when they pay this amount for their lives.

International Standard Version
The rich person is not to give more, nor is the poor person to give less than the half shekel, when you give a contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The rich are not to increase it, and the poor are not to pay less than the half shekel when giving the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.

New Heart 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 the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
the rich do not multiply, and the poor do not diminish from the half-shekel, to give the raised-offering of YHWH, 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
The rich one shall not multiply, and the poor one shall not diminish from half the shekel, to give an offering to Jehovah to expiate for your souls.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man shall diminish nothing.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The rich shall not add to the half shekel, and the poor shall diminish nothing.

New American Bible
The rich need not give more, nor shall the poor give less, than a half-shekel in this contribution to the LORD to pay the ransom for their lives.

New Revised Standard Version
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you bring this offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa 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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All who are present in the number from a son of twenty years and above will give an offering to LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than the half didrachm in giving the offering to the Lord, to make atonement for your souls.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Atonement Money
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.”…

Cross References
Leviticus 27:8
But if the one making the vow is too poor to pay the valuation, he is to present the person before the priest, who shall set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

Numbers 1:3
You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Numbers 26:2
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

2 Samuel 24:1-2
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” / So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

2 Samuel 24:15
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.

1 Chronicles 21:1-2
Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. / So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”

1 Chronicles 21:14
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.

2 Chronicles 24:6
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”

2 Chronicles 24:9
And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.

Nehemiah 10:32-33
We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: / for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.

Matthew 17:24-27
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” / “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” / “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ...

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 20:22-25
Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” / But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, / “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. ...

Romans 3:22-24
And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, / for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, / and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

rich

Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Proverbs 22:2
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

Ephesians 6:9
And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

give more.

Exodus 30:12
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Numbers 31:50
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.

Jump to Previous
Atone Atonement Contribution Diminish Half Half-Shekel Heave-Offering Less Multiply Offering Pay Poor Price Rich Shekel Silver Souls Wealth Yourselves
Jump to Next
Atone Atonement Contribution Diminish Half Half-Shekel Heave-Offering Less Multiply Offering Pay Poor Price Rich Shekel Silver Souls Wealth Yourselves
Exodus 30
1. The altar of incense
11. The ransom of souls
17. The bronze basin
22. The holy anointing oil
34. The composition of the incense














The rich shall not pay more
This phrase emphasizes the principle of equality before God. In the Hebrew context, the word for "rich" (עָשִׁיר, 'ashir) refers to those with abundant resources. The instruction that they "shall not pay more" underscores the idea that wealth does not grant one greater favor or standing before God. This reflects a divine justice system where material wealth does not influence spiritual obligations or privileges. Historically, this would have been a radical concept in ancient societies where wealth often dictated one's social and religious standing.

and the poor shall not pay less
The term "poor" (דַּל, dal) in Hebrew refers to those with limited means. The command that they "shall not pay less" ensures that every individual, regardless of economic status, is equally responsible for their spiritual duties. This reflects God's impartiality and the intrinsic value of every soul. In the socio-economic context of ancient Israel, this would have been a significant statement about the dignity and worth of every person, countering any societal tendency to marginalize the less fortunate.

than half a shekel
The "half a shekel" (שֶׁקֶל, shekel) was a standard unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel. This specific amount was set as a fixed standard for the atonement offering, symbolizing that the cost of redemption is the same for everyone. Archaeological findings, such as ancient shekel weights, provide insight into the economic systems of the time and affirm the historical accuracy of such biblical references. Theologically, this fixed amount points to the unchanging nature of God's requirements for atonement.

when you make the offering to the LORD
The act of making an "offering to the LORD" (קָרְבָּן, korban) is a central theme in the Hebrew sacrificial system. This phrase highlights the purpose of the offering as an act of worship and obedience to God. It signifies a personal and communal acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the need for reconciliation with Him. Historically, offerings were a tangible expression of faith and devotion, serving as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

to atone for your lives
The concept of "atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar) involves covering or reconciling, indicating the removal of sin and restoration of relationship with God. "For your lives" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) refers to the whole being, emphasizing that atonement affects every aspect of a person's existence. This phrase underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of divine intervention for redemption. Scripturally, it points forward to the ultimate atonement provided through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the sacrificial system and offers eternal reconciliation with God.

(15) The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less.--See Note 2 on Exodus 30:12.

Verse 15. - The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less. This is very emphatic testimony to the equal value of souls in God's sight. The payment was "the ransom of a soul" (ver. 12) - an acknowledgment of God's mercy in sparing those whose life was justly forfeit. As each soul that he has created is equally precious in his sight, and as he designs equally the salvation of all - it was fitting that the same exact sum should be paid in every case.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In making
לָתֵת֙ (lā·ṯêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the offering
תְּרוּמַ֣ת (tə·rū·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8641: Contribution, offering (for sacred uses)

to the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

to atone
לְכַפֵּ֖ר (lə·ḵap·pêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your lives,
נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶֽם׃ (nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

the rich
הֶֽעָשִׁ֣יר (he·‘ā·šîr)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6223: Rich

shall not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

give more
יַרְבֶּ֗ה (yar·beh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

than a half
מִֽמַּחֲצִ֖ית (mim·ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4276: A halving, the middle

shekel,
הַשָּׁ֑קֶל (haš·šā·qel)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8255: A weight, a commercial standard

nor shall
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the poor
וְהַדַּל֙ (wə·had·dal)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

give less.
יַמְעִ֔יט (yam·‘îṭ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4591: To pare off, lessen, in, to be, small, few


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OT Law: Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more (Exo. Ex)
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