The phrase "freewill offering" in English OT Translations

[Kermos]

The Meaning Of The Words "Freewill Offering" As Used In The Old Testament​

A very telling thing occurs in Psalm 119:108 and Psalm 68:9, and this thing is both verses include exactly the same the Hebrew word נדבות (Strong's 5071 - נְדָבָ֖ה - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - plentiful, abundant, generous (links to biblehub.com/hebrew/5071.htm)).

Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me Your judgments (Psalm 119:108).

You sent a plentiful rain, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was weary (Psalm 68:9).
​

Yet many English translations of Psalm 119:108 contain freewill offerings for the Hebrew source word נדבות (Strong's 5071 - נְדָבָ֖ה - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - plentiful, abundant, generous); on the other hand, many English translations of Psalm 68:9 contain plentiful (and abundant) for precisely the same Hebrew source word נדבות (Strong's 5071 - נְדָבָ֖ה - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - plentiful, abundant, generous).

The Hebrew word נדבות (Strong's 5071 - נְדָבָ֖ה - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - plentiful, abundant, generous) is maltranslated in one but not both of Psalm 119:108 or Psalm 68:9.

Since the phrase freewill offering has been used very frequently by English translators in recent centuries, then a systematic linguistic review of the phrase "freewill offering" must be engaged in Truth (John 14:6).

First, "freewill offering" is in the Old Testament, so this is not the New Testament. There are differences.

Second, as God's chosen people, the Israelites had instruction about the "freewill offering" in the Old Covenant.

Third, the definition behind "freewill offering" must be examined according the source word נְדָבָ֖ה in the Hebrew of the Old Testament. This word נְדָבָ֖ה (nedabah) has a Strong's number of 5071.

DEFINITION: from H5068; properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift:-free(-will) offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary(-ily, offering), willing(-ly), offering) (this Strong's defintion obtained from BlueLetterBible.org 5071).
​

Fourth, the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled offering) has a root Hebrew word of נָדַב (Strong's 5068 - nadab - נדב - ndb - to incite, impel)
SO we find "impel" which defines as "to drive" and/or "to force" as the root of nedabah, not "freewill".


Fifth, Strong et al included a separate Aramaic word entry of נְדַב (Strong's 5069 - nedab - נדב - ndb - to volunteer, offer freely) which means "be (or give) liberal(-ly)"
AND this Aramaic word corresponds to the root Hebrew word of נָדַב (Strong's 5068 - nadab - נדב - ndb - to incite, impel)
AND we find the Aramaic word נְדַב (Strong's 5069 - nedab - נדב - ndb - to volunteer, offer freely) occurs only in the Book of Ezra which is at least 400 years after the Exodus which means the Aramaic word נְדַב (Strong's 5069 - nedab - נדב - ndb - to volunteer, offer freely) is not contemporary with the Exodus, Biblically
SO the Aramaic word נְדַב (Strong's 5069 - nedab - נדב - ndb - to volunteer, offer freely) means a "generous offer", not a "freewill offer", but truly "offer freely", "offer abundantly", "liberally offer", "generous offering", or "gratuitous offering".

Sixth, a highly related Hebrew proper noun of נָדָב Strong's 5070 - Nadab - נדב - ndb - an Israelite name, generous, noble) exists for the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071- nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
SO the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering) includes the denotation of "generous" (plentiful, freely, abundant)
AND historically we find the account of Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron, Moses' brother, in Leviticus 10:1-7
SO we find that the meaning of "generous" is contemporary with the occurrence of the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering) in the timeframe of the Exodus (as in Exodus 28:1, Exodus 35:29, and Exodus 36:3-6), not "freewill", but truly "impelled generous offering".

continued to post #2

 

[Kermos]

continued from post #1

Seventh, the concept of "willing" potentially could be adjunct with the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
YET the concept of "impel" eliminates the potential for "free" as in "unattached" thereby eliminating "freewill" from the definition of the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
AND "impelled" integrates the concept of "forced"
SO if a "wiiling" heart is part of the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
THEN God controls the willing heart (Proverbs 21:1, Ezra 6:22, Philippians 2:13).

Eighth, people who practice the lawlessness of insisting upon converting the word "freely" (plentiful, generous) into the word "freewill" (unattached will) with regard to the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering) are people who add to the Word of God
AND it is written "do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).

Nineth, the definition behind "freewill offering" must be examined according the source word αφαίρεμα in the Greek of the Old Testament in the Septuagint. This word αφαίρεμα does not appear in the New Testament, so it does not have a Strong's number, but it has been assigned a number of "850.4" in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot.

DEFINITION: That which is cut off as a choice part; a choice portion; a cut-away portion.
​

Tenth, it is written in the Old Testament "The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring [material] for all the work, which YHWH had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to YHWH" (Exodus 35:29).

AND there is a Hebrew word for "choose", but it is not here, so it does not state "who chose to bring", yet it does state "whose heart moved them to bring"

AND this offering is for material for the work as opposed to choosing toward God

AND this is the first occurrence of "freewill offering" in the NASB

AND the people brought abundant offerings for it is written "They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still [continued] bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, 'The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded [us] to perform.' So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, 'Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.' Thus the people were restrained from bringing [any more]" (Exodus 36:3-6)

SO it is clear that the synonyms נְדָבָ֖ה (nedabah) in Hebrew and αφαίρεμα in Greek denote a heartfelt gratuitous offering.
​

Eleventh, based upon Biblical usage neither of these words translate to "freewill" as in "freewill choice toward God":

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

Twelvth, based upon definitions, neither of these words translate to "freewill" as in "freewill choice toward God":

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

Thirteenth, "freewill" is an inappropriate translation of נְדָבָ֖ה (nedabah) in Hebrew.

Fourteenth, based upon both Scriptural usage and definitions, both of these words translate to spontaneous heartfelt gratuitous premier portion offering or in other more discreet words impelled generous offering:

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

And, in the case of נדבה (nedabah), a sentence's context dictates whether the word "offering" is a valid part of the translation.

Returning to Psalm 119:108 and Psalm 68:9:

Unfaithful Translations		Faithful Translations
Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me Your judgments (not Psalm 119:108). You sent a free-will offering rain, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was weary (not Psalm 68:9).		Accept, I pray, the generous offerings of my mouth, YHWH, and teach me Your judgments (Psalm 119:108). You sent a generous rain, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was weary (Psalm 68:9).

Jesus and the Apostles quoted out of the Septuagint as recorded in the New Testament.

The Septuagint uses the word αφαίρεμα which translates to "the choice portion" which references an offering.

The Brenton Septuagint Translation version of Exodus 35:29 reads as "And every man and woman whose mind inclined them to come in and do all the works as many as the Lord appointed them to do by Moses- they the children of Israel brought an offering to the Lord".

The Brenton Septuagint Translation version contains "an offering" with no mention of "freewill".

Freewill is not a part of the Hebrew word נדבה (Strong's 5071 - ndbh) of which the English Bible translators/linguists moved from "freely" (plentiful, generous, abundant) over the centuries into "freewill", so "freewill offering" is not found in the Old Testament, but "impelled generous offering" is found in the Old Testament, and this Scriptural explanation demonstrates this fact.

Freewill is a conjured concept of the traditions of men (Matthew 15:9).

And here we have the Truth (John 14:6), the love of Christ controls us believers (2 Corinthians 5:14), His vessels of mercy (Romans 9:21-23)! PRAISE BE TO LORD JESUS!!!

 

[electedbyHim]

continued from post #1

Seventh, the concept of "willing" potentially could be adjunct with the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
YET the concept of "impel" eliminates the potential for "free" as in "unattached" thereby eliminating "freewill" from the definition of the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
AND "impelled" integrates the concept of "forced"
SO if a "wiiling" heart is part of the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering)
THEN God controls the willing heart (Proverbs 21:1, Ezra 6:22, Philippians 2:13).

Eighth, people who practice the lawlessness of insisting upon converting the word "freely" (plentiful, generous) into the word "freewill" (unattached will) with regard to the Hebrew word נְדָבָ֖ה (Strong's 5071 - nedabah - נדבה - ndbh - impelled generous offering) are people who add to the Word of God
AND it is written "do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).

Nineth, the definition behind "freewill offering" must be examined according the source word αφαίρεμα in the Greek of the Old Testament in the Septuagint. This word αφαίρεμα does not appear in the New Testament, so it does not have a Strong's number, but it has been assigned a number of "850.4" in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot.

​

DEFINITION: That which is cut off as a choice part; a choice portion; a cut-away portion.​

​

Tenth, it is written in the Old Testament "The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring [material] for all the work, which YHWH had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill offering to YHWH" (Exodus 35:29).

​

AND there is a Hebrew word for "choose", but it is not here, so it does not state "who chose to bring", yet it does state "whose heart moved them to bring"​

​

AND this offering is for material for the work as opposed to choosing toward God​

​

AND this is the first occurrence of "freewill offering" in the NASB​

​

AND the people brought abundant offerings for it is written "They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still [continued] bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, 'The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded [us] to perform.' So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, 'Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.' Thus the people were restrained from bringing [any more]" (Exodus 36:3-6)​

​

SO it is clear that the synonyms נְדָבָ֖ה (nedabah) in Hebrew and αφαίρεμα in Greek denote a heartfelt gratuitous offering.​

​

Eleventh, based upon Biblical usage neither of these words translate to "freewill" as in "freewill choice toward God":

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

Twelvth, based upon definitions, neither of these words translate to "freewill" as in "freewill choice toward God":

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

Thirteenth, "freewill" is an inappropriate translation of נְדָבָ֖ה (nedabah) in Hebrew.

Fourteenth, based upon both Scriptural usage and definitions, both of these words translate to spontaneous heartfelt gratuitous premier portion offering or in other more discreet words impelled generous offering:

• Hebrew נדבה (nedabah)
• Greek αφαίρεμα

And, in the case of נדבה (nedabah), a sentence's context dictates whether the word "offering" is a valid part of the translation.

Returning to Psalm 119:108 and Psalm 68:9:

Unfaithful Translations		Faithful Translations
Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, LORD, and teach me Your judgments (not Psalm 119:108). You sent a free-will offering rain, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was weary (not Psalm 68:9).		Accept, I pray, the generous offerings of my mouth, YHWH, and teach me Your judgments (Psalm 119:108). You sent a generous rain, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was weary (Psalm 68:9).

Jesus and the Apostles quoted out of the Septuagint as recorded in the New Testament.

The Septuagint uses the word αφαίρεμα which translates to "the choice portion" which references an offering.

The Brenton Septuagint Translation version of Exodus 35:29 reads as "And every man and woman whose mind inclined them to come in and do all the works as many as the Lord appointed them to do by Moses- they the children of Israel brought an offering to the Lord".

The Brenton Septuagint Translation version contains "an offering" with no mention of "freewill".

Freewill is not a part of the Hebrew word נדבה (Strong's 5071 - ndbh) of which the English Bible translators/linguists moved from "freely" (plentiful, generous, abundant) over the centuries into "freewill", so "freewill offering" is not found in the Old Testament, but "impelled generous offering" is found in the Old Testament, and this Scriptural explanation demonstrates this fact.

Freewill is a conjured concept of the traditions of men (Matthew 15:9).

And here we have the Truth (John 14:6), the love of Christ controls us believers (2 Corinthians 5:14), His vessels of mercy (Romans 9:21-23)! PRAISE BE TO LORD JESUS!!!

I am not sure where you stand on calvinism.

You are not allowed to post in the calvinism forum if you do not agree with the doctrines of grace.

Please start a new thread in theology with your opinions.

Grace and peace to you.