The freewill-offering is always that which is given willingly, bountifully, liberally, or as a prince would give. The word Nedavah (נדבה, Ass. nindabu) refers not to the nature of the offering or to the external mode in which it is offered, but to the motive and spirit of the offerer. The most usual rendering in the LXX is ἑκούσιος. The verb occurs in [Exo 35:29], ’The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord;’ 36:3, ’They brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.’ [It is important to notice that when in [Lev 1:3] and elsewhere the A.V. reads, ’He shall offer it of his own voluntary will,’ an entirely different word is used. These passages ought to be rendered, ’He shall offer it for his acceptance’.] in [Lev 7:16] it is called ’a voluntary offering.’ in [Jdg 5:2]; [Jdg 5:9], in Deborah’s song the people are praised for offering themselves willingly. Again the word occurs in [1Ch 29:6]; [1Ch 29:9]; [1Ch 29:14]; [1Ch 29:17], with reference to the offerings made for the construction of the temple; also in [2Ch 17:11]; [Ezr 1:6]; [Ezr 2:68]; [Ezr 3:5]; [Ezr 7:15-16]; [Neh 11:2]. ’Free offerings’ are also referred to in [Psa 54:6]; [Psa 110:3]; [Psa 119:108]; [Amo 4:5]. It is used of the rain as a free gift of God in [Psa 68:9]; and of his free love in [Hos 14:4].
