← H5070 H5072 →

נְדָבָה

𐤍𐤃𐤁𐤄

nᵉdâbâh

H5071 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נדב to be willing, to volunteer, to give freely

Definition

A voluntary, freely given offering or gift presented without compulsion, typically as an act of generosity or devotion; in the Hebrew Bible especially refers to offerings brought willingly to the sanctuary, without being required by vow or specific commandment. The term frequently contrasts with mandatory or obligatory offerings, highlighting an emphasis on free choice and generosity. It can denote both material offerings (such as animals or produce) and more abstract gifts or acts of devotion.

Semantic Range

voluntary offering, freewill offering, gift given freely, spontaneous act of generosity, contribution presented of one's own accord, uncoerced act or donation

Root / Etymology

נְדָבָה derives from the root נָדַב (nadav), meaning 'to volunteer' or 'to be willing.' The noun forms from this root carry the sense of something produced or given freely, without external coercion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, נְדָבָה is used in cultic contexts to describe offerings presented by individuals out of their own initiative, such as in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where it is distinguished from obligatory sacrifices (חובה or נדר). This voluntary aspect was significant in Israelite worship, highlighting personal devotion and desire to give rather than compliance with a required ritual. Over time, the concept of voluntary offerings provided a distinction in religious obligations, which later first-century Judean and Second Temple texts further nuance. Not all English translations accurately present this voluntariness, often using 'freewill offering' or simply 'offering,' which may miss the semantic emphasis on uncoerced generosity. The term also appears in non-cultic contexts to describe gifts or donations given freely. In later Hebrew and Jewish tradition, נְדָבָה continues to carry the nuance of personal generosity or voluntary charity, contrasting with obligatory acts. It should not be translated simply as 'gift' or 'offering' without attention to its voluntary character. Related terms include תְּרוּמָה (terumah, 'contribution, heave offering'), which can carry a more obligatory sense, and נדר (neder, 'vow'), which denotes offerings bound by a personal pledge. Usage remains consistent across periods, but post-exilic and Second Temple authors may employ it to emphasize inner devotion over mere ritual compliance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָדַב; 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).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

נדב (n-d-b) — to be willing, to volunteer, to give freely

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3122 יוֹנָדָב to Yahweh-is-generous
H5068 נָדַב in volunteering oneself
H5069 נְדַב they volunteered themselves
H5070 נָדָב Willing-One
H5072 נְדַבְיָה and Yah-gives-freely

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5071-04 נְדָבָ֖ה nedavah HNcfsa a freewill offering voluntary offering 10
H5071-05 נְדָב֖וֹת nedavot HNcfpa freewill-offerings freely-given offerings 3
H5071-11 וְ/נִדְבֹתֵי/כֶ֗ם venidevoteykhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp and your freewill offerings and your voluntary offerings 2
H5071-07 נִדְב֣וֹת nidevot HNcfpc freewill offerings freewill offerings of 2
H5071-03 לִ/נְדָבָ֔ה linedavah HR/Ncfsa freewill offering for a voluntary offering 2
H5071-02 הַ֨/נְּדָבָ֔ה hanedavah HTd/Ncfsa the freewill offering the voluntary offering 1
H5071-09 נִדְב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם nidevoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your freewill offerings your freely-given offerings 1
H5071-06 נִדְבַ֥ת nidevat HNcfsc of a freewill offering freewill offering of 1
H5071-12 בִ/נְדָבָ֔ה vinedavah HR/Ncfsa a freewill offering voluntary offering 1
H5071-10 וְ/נִדְבֹתֶ֖י/ךָ venidevoteykha HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms or your freewill offerings your freely-given offerings 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5071-04 Exodus 35:29 נְדָבָ֖ה nedavah HNcfsa a freewill offering voluntary offering
H5071-04 Exodus 36:3 נְדָבָ֖ה nedavah HNcfsa a freewill offering voluntary offering
H5071-04 Leviticus 7:16 נְדָבָ֗ה nedavah HNcfsa freewill offering voluntary offering
H5071-08 Leviticus 22:18 נִדְבוֹתָ֔/ם nidevotam HNcfpc/Sp3mp their freewill offerings their freely-given offerings
H5071-03 Leviticus 22:21 לִ/נְדָבָ֔ה linedavah HR/Ncfsa freewill offering for a voluntary offering
H5071-04 Leviticus 22:23 נְדָבָה֙ nedavah HNcfsa as a freewill offering voluntary offering
H5071-09 Leviticus 23:38 נִדְב֣וֹתֵי/כֶ֔ם nidevoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your freewill offerings your freely-given offerings
H5071-12 Numbers 15:3 בִ/נְדָבָ֔ה vinedavah HR/Ncfsa a freewill offering voluntary offering
H5071-11 Numbers 29:39 וְ/נִדְבֹתֵי/כֶ֗ם venidevoteykhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp and your freewill offerings and your voluntary offerings
H5071-11 Deuteronomy 12:6 וְ/נִדְבֹ֣תֵי/כֶ֔ם venidevoteykhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp and your freewill offerings and your voluntary offerings
← H5070 Hebrew Lexicon H5072 →