So they came is identical with the first word in verse 21. Both men and women is literally “men over women,” but it means women in addition to men, or “men and women alike” (New International Version, Revised English Bible). All who were of a willing heart uses an adjective derived from the verb “moved,” or “urged,” in verse 21. Good News Translation‘s “all who wanted to” again seems to be too weak. Contemporary English Version is a bit stronger: “Men and women came willingly.” Brought is the same word as in verse 21.

Brooches is a word that means “hook” or “clasp.” It was probably a decorative gold ornament bent something like a safety pin. So Good News Translation has “decorative pins.” Earrings is the same word used in 32.3. Signet rings means “finger-rings” (Revised English Bible, Translator’s Old Testament). The same word is used for the larger rings on the ark of the covenant for holding the carrying poles. (See 25.12.) Armlets is Revised Standard Version‘s translation of a word for an ornament that cannot be identified with certainty. New Revised Standard Version has changed this to “pendants,” and Good News Translation has “necklaces,” interpreting them as ornaments for hanging around the neck. It is better to follow either New Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation.

All sorts of gold objects, literally “all articles of gold,” uses the general word that means “utensils” in verse 13, but here it probably means “jewelry” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version places this at the beginning of the list, “and gave all kinds of gold jewelry such as pins….” This will be a helpful model for many translators. Every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD is literally “and every man who caused to be elevated an elevation offering of gold to Yahweh.” (See the comment on “wave offering” at 29.24.) This may suggest certain gestures in the act of presenting these gifts of gold to Yahweh, but the main idea is clear, namely, that those who came “presented an offering of gold to the LORD” (New American Bible), which was to be used in constructing the tabernacle. Every man here means both men and women; so possible translations are “every person” or “everyone.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .