5068. nadab
Lexical Summary
nadab: To volunteer, to offer willingly, to incite, to impel

Original Word: נָדַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nadab
Pronunciation: naw-dab'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-dab')
KJV: offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing(-ly)
NASB: offered willingly, volunteered, moved, freewill offering, given as a freewill offering, made offering, make offerings willingly
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to impel
2. (hence) to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
offer freely, be give, make, offer self willingly

A primitive root; to impel; hence, to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously -- offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing(-ly).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to incite, impel
NASB Translation
freewill offering (1), given as a freewill offering (1), made offering (1), make offerings willingly (1), moved (2), moves (1), offer (1), offered (1), offered willingly (3), offerings willingly (1), volunteered (3), volunteers (1), willing (1), willingly offered (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
נָדַב verb incite, impel (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic call impel, incite ( be noble, willing, Generous is denominative from [ compare] נָדִיב according to BaNB § 125 e); VIII. ready, willing; Assyrian nidbu, freewill-offering DlHWB 448; Aramaic נְדַב be willing Pa`el, Ithpa`al; Zinjirli נדב inciting, instigation DHMSendsch. 60); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular נָדַב Exodus 35:29; 3feminine singular נָָֽדְבָה Exodus 35:21; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יִדְּבֶנּוּ Exodus 25:2; — אֲשֶׁר נָדַב לִבּוֺ Exodus 25:2 whose heart incited compare Exodus 35:29; subject רוּחַ Exodus 35:21 (all P).

Hithpa`el Perfect1singular הִתְנַדַּבְתִּי 1 Chronicles 29:27; 3masculine plural הִתְנַדְּבוּ Ezra 2:68; 1 Chronicles 29:9; Imperfect3masculine plural יִתְנַדְּבוּ 1 Chronicles 29:6; Infinitive הִתְנַדֵּב Judges 5:2 2t.; הִתְנַדֶּבֿ 1 Chronicles 29:17; sf הִתְנַדְּבָם 1 Chronicles 29:9; Participle מִתְנַדֵּב Ezra 3:5 + 2.t.; plural מִתְנַדְּבִים Judges 5:9; Nehemiah 11:2; —

1 volunteer for war Judges 5:2,9; for service of other kinds 2Chronicles 17:16; Nehemiah 11:2.

2 offer freewill-offerings for the first temple 1 Chronicles 29:5,6,9 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 29:14,17 (twice in verse); for the second Ezra 1:4; Ezra 2:68; Ezra 3:5 (compare Biblical Aramaic).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Motif of Willingness

The verb נָדַב consistently underlines a movement of the heart that is neither coerced nor merely dutiful. It describes people stirred from within to give, serve, or step forward because they have first been moved by God. Throughout Scripture this spirit of readiness is linked to worship, stewardship, civic responsibility, and warfare, revealing a multifaceted biblical theology of voluntary devotion.

Willing Offerings for the Tabernacle

The earliest uses appear in the wilderness narrative when Moses conveyed the LORD’s call for contributions to the sanctuary. “From every man whose heart prompts him to give you shall receive My offering” (Exodus 25:2). Later, when the project commenced, “Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit prompted him came and brought the LORD’s offering for the work” (Exodus 35:21). These verses highlight that divine worship is funded not by tax but by willingness. The people’s response anticipates the New Covenant principle that “God loves a cheerful giver.”

The Heart of Leadership in David’s Generation

King David employed נָדַב to exhort Israel’s elders to underwrite Solomon’s temple. He asked, “Who then will volunteer to consecrate himself today to the LORD?” (1 Chronicles 29:5). The leaders answered with enthusiasm: “The people rejoiced at the offerings, for they had given willingly and wholeheartedly to the LORD” (1 Chronicles 29:9). David’s prayer interprets their generosity theologically: “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14). The verb therefore intersects with a high view of God’s sovereignty—He both supplies the resources and inclines the heart to release them.

Volunteers in Battle

In the Song of Deborah the judges praise those who offered themselves for battle: “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD” (Judges 5:2, 9). Here נָדַב frames military courage as a freewill act of faith that secures deliverance. Much later, during King Jehoshaphat’s reforms, Amasiah “willingly served the LORD” as commander of two hundred thousand valiant warriors (2 Chronicles 17:16). Spiritual zeal produces civic bravery.

Restoration Era Generosity

After the Babylonian exile, the verb reappears when Cyrus returns the temple vessels and the remnant readies for travel. “All their neighbors encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings” (Ezra 1:6). Upon reaching Jerusalem, “Some of the heads of the families came to the house of the LORD to give freewill offerings for its reconstruction” (Ezra 2:68; cf. 3:5). The same impulse that erected the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple now rebuilds the second temple, reinforcing Scripture’s internal coherence.

Communal Blessing

Nehemiah records a civic application: “The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to live in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 11:2). Resettling the capital—an act with economic and social costs—again demanded voluntary sacrifice. The blessing of the community underscores the influence one believer’s obedience can exert on many.

A Song for the Nations

Psalm 67 opens with the priestly benediction, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us.” Though the verb is absent in English, the psalmist’s request mirrors the willing favor God shows His people. The linguistic connection reminds readers that all human willingness ultimately rests on divine willingness to bless.

Theological Reflection

1. God’s work invites, never manipulates.
2. True worship includes material and personal surrender.
3. Leaders model willingness; the people follow.
4. Voluntary service extends beyond sanctuary walls to civic duty and national defense.
5. The post-exilic appearances highlight covenant continuity: redeemed people freely build God’s dwelling among them.

Ministry Application

• Stewardship: Encourage giving as Spirit-prompted gratitude, not pressured obligation.
• Leadership: Challenge elders and ministry heads to lead by example as David and the princes did.
• Service teams: Emphasize volunteering that flows from joy, transforming mundane tasks into worship.
• Church planting and revitalization: Look for hearts God has stirred rather than merely assembling manpower.
• Intercessory prayer: Ask the Lord to “incline our hearts” (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:18) so that willingness precedes work.

Across redemptive history נָדַב illustrates how God’s people thrive when compelled not by force but by grace-wrought willingness, a dynamic still essential for vibrant ministry today.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת בהתנדב בנגינת הִֽתְנַדְּב֖וּ הִֽתְנַדְּבָ֔ם הִֽתְנַדְּבוּ֙ הִתְנַדֵּֽב׃ הִתְנַדַּ֣בְתִּי הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ים הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֖ים הַמִּתְנַדֵּ֖ב המתנדב המתנדבים התנדב׃ התנדבו התנדבם התנדבתי וַיִּֽתְנַדְּבוּ֩ ויתנדבו יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ ידבנו לְהִֽתְנַדֶּב־ לְהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב להתנדב להתנדב־ מִתְנַדֵּ֔ב מִתְנַדֵּ֥ב מתנדב נָדְבָ֨ה נָדַ֣ב נדב נדבה bə·hiṯ·nad·dêḇ bəhiṯnaddêḇ behitnadDev bin·ḡî·nōṯ bingiNot binḡînōṯ ham·miṯ·nad·də·ḇîm ham·miṯ·nad·dêḇ hammiṯnaddêḇ hammiṯnaddəḇîm hammitnadDev hammitnaddeVim hiṯ·nad·daḇ·tî hiṯ·nad·də·ḇām hiṯ·nad·də·ḇū hiṯ·nad·dêḇ hiṯnaddaḇtî hitnadDavti hiṯnaddêḇ hiṯnaddəḇām hiṯnaddəḇū hitnadDev hitnaddeVam hitnaddeVu lə·hiṯ·nad·dêḇ lə·hiṯ·nad·deḇ- ləhiṯnaddêḇ ləhiṯnaddeḇ- lehitnadDev miṯ·nad·dêḇ miṯnaddêḇ mitnadDev nā·ḏaḇ nā·ḏə·ḇāh nāḏaḇ naDav nāḏəḇāh nadeVah vaiyitnaddeVu way·yiṯ·nad·də·ḇū wayyiṯnaddəḇū yid·də·ḇen·nū yiddəḇennū yiddeVennu
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 25:2
HEB: אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ
NAS: heart moves him you shall raise
KJV: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart
INT: man whose moves heart shall raise

Exodus 35:21
HEB: וְכֹ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נָדְבָ֨ה רוּח֜וֹ אֹת֗וֹ
NAS: spirit moved him came
KJV: and every one whom his spirit made willing, [and] they brought
INT: and for all whose moved spirit brought

Exodus 35:29
HEB: וְאִשָּׁ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָדַ֣ב לִבָּם֮ אֹתָם֒
NAS: heart moved them to bring
KJV: heart made them willing to bring
INT: and women whose moved heart to bring

Judges 5:2
HEB: פְּרָעוֹת֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב עָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ
NAS: That the people volunteered, Bless
KJV: when the people willingly offered themselves.
INT: the leaders Israel volunteered the people Bless

Judges 5:9
HEB: לְחוֹקְקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֖ים בָּעָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ
NAS: of Israel, The volunteers among the people;
KJV: of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people.
INT: the commanders of Israel the volunteers the people Bless

1 Chronicles 29:5
HEB: חָרָשִׁ֑ים וּמִ֣י מִתְנַדֵּ֔ב לְמַלֹּ֥אות יָד֛וֹ
NAS: Who then is willing to consecrate
KJV: of artificers. And who [then] is willing to consecrate
INT: the craftsmen Who is willing to consecrate done

1 Chronicles 29:6
HEB: וַיִּֽתְנַדְּבוּ֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת
NAS: work, offered willingly;
KJV: of the king's work, offered willingly,
INT: offered the rulers of the fathers'

1 Chronicles 29:9
HEB: הָעָם֙ עַל־ הִֽתְנַדְּבָ֔ם כִּ֚י בְּלֵ֣ב
NAS: because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering
KJV: rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect
INT: the people because had offered for heart

1 Chronicles 29:9
HEB: בְּלֵ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם הִֽתְנַדְּב֖וּ לַיהוָ֑ה וְגַם֙
NAS: they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD
KJV: heart they offered willingly to the LORD:
INT: heart A whole willingly to the LORD also

1 Chronicles 29:14
HEB: נַעְצֹ֣ר כֹּ֔חַ לְהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב כָּזֹ֑את כִּֽי־
NAS: that we should be able to offer as generously as this?
KJV: able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own
INT: be able to offer likewise for

1 Chronicles 29:17
HEB: בְּיֹ֤שֶׁר לְבָבִי֙ הִתְנַדַּ֣בְתִּי כָל־ אֵ֔לֶּה
NAS: of my heart, have willingly offered
KJV: of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen
INT: the integrity of my heart have willingly all these

1 Chronicles 29:17
HEB: רָאִ֥יתִי בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה לְהִֽתְנַדֶּב־ לָֽךְ׃
NAS: have willingly offered all
KJV: which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
INT: have seen joy offered

2 Chronicles 17:16
HEB: בֶן־ זִכְרִ֔י הַמִּתְנַדֵּ֖ב לַיהוָ֑ה וְעִמּ֛וֹ
NAS: of Zichri, who volunteered for the LORD,
KJV: of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD;
INT: the son of Zichri offered the LORD two

Ezra 1:6
HEB: עַל־ כָּל־ הִתְנַדֵּֽב׃ ס
NAS: from all that was given as a freewill offering.
KJV: and with precious things, beside all [that] was willingly offered.
INT: from all was given

Ezra 2:68
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הִֽתְנַדְּבוּ֙ לְבֵ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים
NAS: is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house
KJV: which [is] at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house
INT: which Jerusalem offered the house of God

Ezra 3:5
HEB: הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֑ים וּלְכֹ֛ל מִתְנַדֵּ֥ב נְדָבָ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃
NAS: and from everyone who offered a freewill offering
KJV: that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering
INT: were consecrated everyone offered A freewill to the LORD

Nehemiah 11:2
HEB: לְכֹל֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֔ים לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
NAS: the men who volunteered to live
KJV: all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell
INT: all the men volunteered to live Jerusalem

Psalm 67:1
HEB: לַמְנַצֵּ֥ח בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת מִזְמ֥וֹר שִֽׁיר׃
INT: Musician offer freely A Psalm Song

18 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5068
18 Occurrences


bə·hiṯ·nad·dêḇ — 1 Occ.
bin·ḡî·nōṯ — 1 Occ.
ham·miṯ·nad·dêḇ — 1 Occ.
ham·miṯ·nad·də·ḇîm — 2 Occ.
hiṯ·nad·daḇ·tî — 1 Occ.
hiṯ·nad·dêḇ — 1 Occ.
hiṯ·nad·də·ḇām — 1 Occ.
hiṯ·nad·də·ḇū — 2 Occ.
lə·hiṯ·nad·dêḇ — 2 Occ.
miṯ·nad·dêḇ — 2 Occ.
nā·ḏaḇ — 1 Occ.
nā·ḏə·ḇāh — 1 Occ.
way·yiṯ·nad·də·ḇū — 1 Occ.
yid·də·ḇen·nū — 1 Occ.

5067b
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