and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
Parallel translations
- KJV And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
- BSB Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
- NKJV and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem;
- NASB and to bring the silver and gold, which the king and his advisers have voluntarily given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
- NLT We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ezra is to carry silver and gold the king and counselors have freely given to the God of Israel in Jerusalem. The empire's wealth is devoted to true worship.
Overview
The king and his advisors make a freewill offering to 'the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,' entrusting it to Ezra. Pagan rulers thus contribute generously to the worship of the one true God. This astonishing provision again displays God's sovereign power to incline rulers' hearts and supply His house, recalling how the nations' wealth will one day honor the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 2 Chr 6:2But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
- Ps 135:21Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
- Ezra 6:12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.
- 1 Chr 29:6Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly;
- 2 Chr 2:6But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a house, except just to burn incense before him?
- 2 Chr 6:6but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
- Ezra 6:8–10Moreover I make a decree what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered.
- Isa 60:6–9A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
- Ezra 6:4with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
- Ps 72:10The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Ps 68:29–30Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
- Ps 76:2His tabernacle is also in Salem; His dwelling place in Zion.
- Ps 76:11Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
- Ps 9:11Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion, and declare among the people what he has done.
- Ps 26:8Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.
- Rev 21:24–26The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
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Christ at the center
The return from exile and the rebuilt altar keep alive the hope of a greater restoration — the true return from our deeper exile of sin accomplished by Christ.
How Ezra 7:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.