Exodus 38:26

26 one beka per person, that is, half a shekel,[a] according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men.

Exodus 38:26 in Other Translations

KJV
26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.
ESV
26 a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.
NLT
26 This silver came from the tax collected from each man registered in the census. (The tax is one beka, which is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel.) The tax was collected from 603,550 men who had reached their twentieth birthday.
MSG
26 - that amounted to a beka, or half-shekel, for every registered person aged twenty and over, a total of 603,550 men.
CSB
26 two-fifths of an ounce per man, that is, half a shekel according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone 20 years old or more who had crossed over to the registered group, 603,550 men.

Exodus 38:26 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 38:26

A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the
shekel of the sanctuary
A half shekel was called a "bekah", from (eqb) , "bakah", to divide; because it was a shekel divided into two parts:

for everyone that went to be numbered, from twenty years and
upwards;
in order to give a ransom, and make an atonement for their souls, as was ordered ( Exodus 30:12-15 )

for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and
fifty [men];
so that from the time of their coming out of Egypt, which was now about six months ago, there was an increase of 3550 of the above age; see ( Exodus 12:37 ) .

Exodus 38:26 In-Context

24 The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.
25 The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel—
26 one beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men.
27 The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base.
28 They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.

Cross References 4

  • 1. S Exodus 30:12
  • 2. S Exodus 30:13
  • 3. S Exodus 30:14
  • 4. S Exodus 12:37; Numbers 1:46

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.7 grams
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