Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Ezra 3:8

in Ezra 3

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah.

KJV

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.

⋯

This verse in Ezra 3

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Basil of Caesarea

LETTER 236.2 · Written before 379.

When Jerusalem was demolished by Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom was destroyed, and no longer were there hereditary successions to the sovereignty as formerly; at that time, moreover, being out of power, the posterity of David were living in captivity. But, when the followers of Salathiel and Zerubbabel returned, they led the people more democratically, transferring the rule henceforth to the priesthood because of the intermingling of the priestly and royal tribes.

This site's exposition

Levites twenty years of age or older

on Ezra 3:8-9

The leaders appoint Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the work. That is the age David set in 1 Chronicles 23:24 and 27, lower than the thirty years of Numbers 4. A Levite named Jeshua, a different man from Jeshua son of Jozadak, supervises with Kadmiel.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah · Written before 735.

proposed

In the second year of their coming, etc. He says they came to the temple of God, not because they found it already built, since it was foretold that it had not yet been founded; but it is said that they came to the temple …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

This was the day of small things, which was not to be despised, Zech. iv. The Renewal of the Sacrifices. 1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:26w-of-46

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Well begun (we say) is half ended. Who began it--Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and their brethren. Then the work of God is likely to go on well when magistrates, ministers, and people, are hearty for it, and agree in their places to promote it.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

In the second year - The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

appointed the Levites . . . to set forward the work--that is, to act as overseers of the workmen, and to direct and animate the laborers in the various departments.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

Unto the house of God - i. e., to the place where the house of God had been, and where God was believed still to have His special dwelling. And appointed the Levites - This is the emphatic clause of the present verse. Though so small a number of Levites had returned from Babylon Ezr 2:40, yet they were especially singled out to be entrusted with the task of superintending and advancing the building of the temple.

The words behind it

36 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּבַשָּׁנָ֣הand in the year

    uvashanahH8141 →877 times

  • הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית<the> second

    hashenitH8145 →

  • לְבוֹאָ֞םof coming their

    levoamH935 →2568 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • בֵּ֤ית[the] house of

    beitH1004 →2046 times

  • הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙<the> God

    haelohimH430 →2601 times

  • לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םto Jerusalem

    lirushalimH3389 →643 times

  • בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁin the month

    bachodeshH2320 →284 times

  • הַשֵּׁנִ֑י<the> second

    hasheniH8145 →

  • הֵחֵ֡לּוּthey began

    hecheluH2490 →

  • זְרֻבָּבֶ֣לZerubbabel

    zerubavelH2216 →21 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    benosh-H1121 →4930 times

  • שְׁ֠אַלְתִּיאֵלShealtiel

    shealtielH7597 →

  • וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַand Jeshua

    veyeshua'H3442 →29 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • יֽוֹצָדָ֜קJozadak

    yotzadakH3136 →5 times

  • וּשְׁאָ֥רand [the] rest of

    ushearH7605 →26 times

  • אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם׀brothers their

    ʾacheihemH251 →630 times

  • הַכֹּהֲנִ֣יםthe priests

    hakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • וְהַלְוִיִּ֗םand the Levites

    vehalviyimH3881 →291 times

  • וְכָל־and all

    vekholH3605 →5413 times

  • הַבָּאִים֙those [who] had come

    habaimH935 →2568 times

  • מֵהַשְּׁבִ֣יfrom the captivity

    mehasheviH7628 →49 times

  • יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔םJerusalem

    yerushalimH3389 →643 times

  • וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּand they appointed

    vaiyaamiduH5975 →521 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הַלְוִיִּ֗םthe Levites

    halviyimH3881 →291 times

  • מִבֶּ֨ןfrom a son of

    mibenH1121 →4930 times

  • עֶשְׂרִ֤יםtwenty

    ʾesrimH6242 →315 times

  • שָׁנָה֙year[s]

    shanahH8141 →877 times

  • וָמַ֔עְלָהand up -wards

    vama'lahH4605 →

  • לְנַצֵּ֖חַto act as overseers

    lenatzeachH5329 →

  • עַל־over

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • מְלֶ֥אכֶת[the] work of

    melekhetH4399 →167 times

  • בֵּית־[the] house of

    beit-H1004 →2046 times

  • יְהוָֽה׃ פYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Haggai 1:1In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating5 worksEzra 4:3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”4 worksEzra 5:16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”4 works1 Chronicles 23:4“Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,3 works1 Chronicles 23:24These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.3 worksNumbers 4:3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.2 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ezra 3:9So 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.2 worksEzra 6:14So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.2 works1 Chronicles 3:17The descendants of Jeconiah the captive:2 worksJeremiah 30:3For behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares the LORD. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”2 worksNehemiah 12:1Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,2 worksNehemiah 7:1When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.2 worksZechariah 6:12And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ezra 4:3

    But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the…

    it leads to

    • Nehemiah 2:20

      So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”

  • Through

    Numbers 4:3

    men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

    it leads to

    • Numbers 4:23

      from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

    • 2 Kings 11:4–12

      Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them…

    • Numbers 8:24–26

      “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

    • 1 Chronicles 23:3–5

      The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.

    • 1 Chronicles 23:24–32

      These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 23:4

    “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,

    it leads to

    • 2 Chronicles 19:8

      Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.

    • Deuteronomy 16:18

      You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

Where this verse is studied

About Ezra

The Rebuilding of the Temple Is Begun — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Rebuilding of the Temple Is Begun — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Ezra: the study guide →Read Ezra 3 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, LETTER 236.2; Bede, Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Ezra 3 →