Focused Passage

Ezra 3:7-13

The Altar Restored and the Temple Foundation Laid

The returned remnant gathers as one, rebuilds the altar in fearful obedience, resumes covenant worship, and lays the temple foundation amid mingled shouts of joy and weeping.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

8 In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.

9 So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.

10 When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

11 And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

13 The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

They gave וַיִּ֨תְּנוּ־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural money כֶ֔סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular to the masons לַחֹצְבִ֖ים H2672 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural and carpenters וְלֶחָרָשִׁ֑ים H2796 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural and food וּמַאֲכָ֨ל H3978 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and drink וּמִשְׁתֶּ֜ה H4960 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and oil וָשֶׁ֗מֶן H8081 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular to the people of Sidon לַצִּֽדֹנִים֙ H6722 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural and Tyre וְלַצֹּרִ֔ים H6876 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular to bring לְהָבִיא֩ H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct cedar אֲרָזִ֤ים H730 Noun - masculine plural logs עֲצֵ֨י H6086 Noun - masculine plural construct from מִן־ H4480 Preposition Lebanon הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ H3844 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Joppa יָפ֔וֹא H3305 Noun - proper - feminine singular by sea יָ֣ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular construct as authorized כְּרִשְׁי֛וֹן H7558 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃פ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural by Cyrus כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ H3566 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Persia פָּרַ֖ס H6539 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

In the second הַשֵּׁנִ֑י H8145 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular month בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular of the second הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית H8145 Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular year וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה H8141 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular after they had arrived לְבוֹאָ֞ם H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural at אֶל־ H413 Preposition the house בֵּ֤ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of God הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural in Jerusalem לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל H2216 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shealtiel שְׁ֠אַלְתִּיאֵל H7597 Noun - proper - masculine singular Jeshua וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ H3442 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Jozadak יֽוֹצָדָ֜ק H3136 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the rest וּשְׁאָ֥ר H7605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of their associates אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם׀ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural including the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים H3548 Article | Noun - masculine plural the Levites וְהַלְוִיִּ֗ם H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural and all וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct who had returned הַבָּאִים֙ H935 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural to Jerusalem יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular from the captivity מֵהַשְּׁבִ֣י H7628 Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine singular began [the work] הֵחֵ֡לּוּ H2490 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural They appointed וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Levites הַלְוִיִּ֗ם H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural twenty עֶשְׂרִ֤ים H6242 Number - common plural years of age מִבֶּ֨ן H1121 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . שָׁנָה֙ H8141 Noun - feminine singular or older וָמַ֔עְלָה H4605 Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person feminine singular to supervise לְנַצֵּ֖חַ H5329 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition the construction מְלֶ֥אכֶת H4399 Noun - feminine singular construct of the house בֵּית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃פ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

So Jeshua יֵשׁ֡וּעַ H3442 Noun - proper - masculine singular and his sons בָּנָ֣יו H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and brothers וְ֠אֶחָיו H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Kadmiel קַדְמִיאֵ֨ל H6934 Noun - proper - masculine singular and his sons וּבָנָ֤יו H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular descendants בְּנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Yehudah יְהוּדָה֙ H3063 Noun - proper - feminine singular [and] the sons בְּנֵי֙ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Henadad חֵֽנָדָ֔ד H2582 Noun - proper - masculine singular and their sons בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and brothers וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural all Levites הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural joined וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular together כְּאֶחָ֔ד H259 Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular to supervise לְנַצֵּ֛חַ H5329 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition those working עֹשֵׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct . . . הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה H4399 Article | Noun - feminine singular on the house בְּבֵ֣ית H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of God הָאֱלֹהִ֑יםס H430 Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew sons of Judah; that is, most likely, sons of Yehudah, another name for Hodevah or Hodaviah; see Ezra 2:40 and Nehemiah 7:43.
Verse 10

Original words

When the builders הַבֹּנִ֖ים H1129 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had laid the foundation וְיִסְּד֥וּ H3245 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural of the temple הֵיכַ֣ל H1964 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the priests הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים H3548 Article | Noun - masculine plural in their apparel מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים H3847 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural with trumpets בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת H2689 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural and the Levites וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural the sons בְּנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Asaph אָסָף֙ H623 Noun - proper - masculine singular with cymbals בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֔יִם H4700 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - cd took their positions וַיַּעֲמִידוּ֩ H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to praise לְהַלֵּל֙ H1984 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular as עַל־ H5921 Preposition David דָּוִ֥יד H1732 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - feminine singular had prescribed יְדֵ֖י H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct
Verse 11

Original words

And they sang responsively וַֽ֠יַּעֲנוּ H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural with praise בְּהַלֵּ֨ל H1984 Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct and thanksgiving וּבְהוֹדֹ֤ת H3034 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct to the LORD לַֽיהוָה֙ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction He is good ט֔וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction His loving devotion חַסְדּ֖וֹ H2617 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - feminine singular endures forever לְעוֹלָ֥ם H5769 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Then all וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֡ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular gave a great גְדוֹלָ֤ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular shout הֵרִיעוּ֩ H7321 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural . . . תְרוּעָ֙ה H8643 Noun - feminine singular of praise בְהַלֵּל֙ H1984 Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct to the LORD לַֽיהוָ֔ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular because {the foundation} עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition of the house בֵּית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ס H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular had been laid הוּסַ֥ד H3245 Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
Verse 12

Original words

But many וְרַבִּ֡ים H7227 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural of the older הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים H2205 Article | Adjective - masculine plural priests מֵהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים H3548 Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural Levites וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ H3881 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural and family הָאָב֜וֹת H1 Article | Noun - masculine plural heads וְרָאשֵׁ֨י H7218 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct who אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative had seen רָא֜וּ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the first הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ H7223 Article | Adjective - masculine singular temple הַבַּ֤יִת H1004 Article | Noun - masculine singular wept בֹּכִ֖ים H1058 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural loudly בְּק֣וֹל H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular . . . גָּד֑וֹל H1419 Adjective - masculine singular when they saw בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural the foundation בְּיָסְד֔וֹ H3245 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular of this זֶ֤ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular temple הַבַּ֙יִת֙ H1004 Article | Noun - masculine singular Still, many וְרַבִּ֛ים H7227 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural others shouted בִּתְרוּעָ֥ה H8643 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular . . . לְהָרִ֥ים H7311 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct joyfully קֽוֹל׃ H6963 Noun - masculine singular . . . בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה H8057 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

The people הָעָ֗ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular could not וְאֵ֣ין H369 Conjunctive waw | Adverb distinguish מַכִּירִים֙ H5234 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural vvv ק֚וֹל H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct the shouts תְּרוּעַ֣ת H8643 Noun - feminine singular construct of joy הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה H8057 Article | Noun - feminine singular from the sound לְק֖וֹל H6963 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of weeping בְּכִ֣י H1065 Noun - masculine singular construct because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . הָעָ֗ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular the people הָעָ֑ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular were making so much noise מְרִיעִים֙ H7321 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural . . . תְּרוּעָ֣ה H8643 Noun - feminine singular . . . גְדוֹלָ֔ה H1419 Adjective - feminine singular And the sound וְהַקּ֥וֹל H6963 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular was heard נִשְׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular from עַד־ H5704 Preposition afar לְמֵרָחֽוֹק׃פ H7350 Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.