Hebrew Word Study

Hebrew Word Study by Chaim Bentorah

Offering – Terumah – תְּרוּמָ֑ה     

Exodus 25:1-2 - “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart prompts him, you shall take My offering.’”

Why did God want the people to donate their gold, silver and other possessions of their prosperity to build His sanctuary?  God is rich enough, why not provide this out of His vast creation, why take it from his people?  

The word “take” here is tikechu which comes from the root lakach, a word used when a man announces his engagement to a woman and declares:

“I have taken myself a bride.” 

The word itself means to take as spoil or loot. It is the idea of taking something that was earned not given. The word offering is terumah. That is the title of this week's Torah study.  Interestingly this comes from the root word rum.

This word in Hebrew means ‘to be high, exalted’. Other words could have been used for offering but God chose His words carefully.  He does not need our gold or silver, but it is in that sacrifice of that which we pour our life’s blood into obtaining, that exalts Him. It declares that He is more important to us that our gold or silver.  

The word lakach is appropriately used, for it is a picture of a warrior who has faced combat, suffering the risk of injury, perhaps mortal injury and then when prevailing, claims his right to take what he has from the conquered enemy. Then after having risk all to obtain it, he turns around and just give it to his king, just to honor him. Or let’s say a man who falls in love with a woman. He is willing to give up all he owns and has worked for just to share it all with the woman he loves.

Of every man whose heart “prompts him.”   Note the syntax here.  It is really saying, “what prompts your heart.”  In other words, let every man give what is prompting his heart.  

The word prompt in Hebrew is nadav which means ‘to impel’. To give because you just cannot endure not giving.  We say: “Your heart goest out to that person such that you give what you can to help.” What is motivating you to go to work every day?  To get that pay check?

Then you are asked to give from that which has been impelling you or prompting you to give of your time away from your family, give your energy that you could spend on some hobby, to give of your emotional well-being and take on the stress of the job so that you can bring home a pay check.

You are asked to give of that for the sake of love for your family. This is the calibre of giving that honours HaShem!