καὶ ἔλαβον παρὰ Μωυσῆ πάντα τὰ ἀφαιρέματα ἃ ἤνεγκαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ἁγίου ποιεῖν αὐτά καὶ αὐτοὶ προσεδέχοντο ἔτι τὰ προσφερόμενα παρὰ τῶν φερόντων τὸ πρωὶ πρωΐ (Exodus 36:3 LXX)
Context of Giving: The Sanctuary and the People
This verse paints a scene of liturgical abundance — a people stirred by divine instruction, responding not once but daily, with gifts for the construction of the holy things (τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ἁγίου). But beyond its content, the Greek grammar provides a rich study in coordinated infinitives, aspectual variation, and the use of repeated temporal adverbs.
Coordinated Infinitives: The Syntax of Purpose
One of the syntactic highlights in this verse is the coordinated phrase:
εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ἁγίου ποιεῖν αὐτά
(for all the works of the sanctuary, to do them)
This reveals a purpose construction using:
– Preposition εἰς (into/for) + accusative object: πάντα τὰ ἔργα
– Followed by a complementary infinitive: ποιεῖν (“to do”)
What’s happening grammatically?
– ποιεῖν is a present active infinitive, and here it functions to express the goal of receiving the offerings — namely, “to carry out” or “to construct” the sanctuary elements.
– This construction is typical of Koine Greek purpose syntax, and parallels Hebrew לַעֲשׂוֹת (laʿasot — “to do”).
Why present infinitive?
The present infinitive (rather than aorist) highlights ongoing, process-oriented action. The work on the sanctuary is not described as a single act but as an extended project — sustained, continual, sacred labor.
Temporal Layering: Repetition of πρωὶ πρωΐ
Toward the end, we encounter the striking repetition:
τὸ πρωὶ πρωΐ — “in the morning, early morning”
This is not redundancy but a Semitism, echoing the Hebrew בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר (ba-boqer ba-boqer) — a Hebrew idiom expressing habitual or repeated early action. The Greek mirrors this exactly:
– πρωί (early morning)
– Duplicated for emphasis and idiomatic faithfulness
Syntactic and Theological Meaning
This repetition signals:
– Intensity: the people came early and with urgency
– Frequency: they came again and again
– Devotion: their giving was not random, but disciplined, rhythmic, even liturgical
Verbal Aspects in Contrast: ἤνεγκαν vs. προσφερόμενα
We find an elegant juxtaposition of verbal aspect:
– ἤνεγκαν — aorist active indicative, “they brought” (past, complete)
– προσφερόμενα — present middle/passive participle, “the things being brought” (ongoing)
The Contrast Speaks
– ἤνεγκαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ: a past event — they had already brought materials.
– ἔτι τὰ προσφερόμενα: yet more was still being brought — continuing action by others, even after the main collection.
This highlights abundance, but also the difference between corporate and individual action:
– The community gave once.
– Individuals kept giving, beyond the call.
Theological Syntax: Overflow That Surpasses the Law
This entire verse illustrates a grammar of willing overflow:
– The infinitive of purpose shows structured obedience.
– The present participles show living devotion.
– The doubled morning adverb shows urgency that springs not from compulsion, but from joy.
The Septuagint grammar itself breathes the Spirit of the tabernacle — not as a sterile command but as participatory holiness. The syntax here is not only functional; it is formational. It trains the reader in the rhythm of early, repeated, purposeful offering.
Grammatical Echoes at Dawn
When read reverently, Exodus 36:3 LXX is not merely a record of donations. It is a liturgical portrait of a people so moved that their giving became a dawn-to-dawn procession of holiness.
The Greek infinitives, participles, and adverbials paint this with exacting grammar:
– They brought (ἤνεγκαν)
– They continued bringing (προσφερόμενα)
– They gave early (πρωὶ πρωΐ)
– And all was received to do the works of the holy place (ποιεῖν αὐτά)
Here, grammar becomes the architecture of worship. May our syntax of life follow the same pattern.
