Ezra 1:6
What does Ezra 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 1:6 means
Those around the returning groups “strengthened their hands” with tangible goods—silver, gold, supplies, animals, and precious items—on top of what was freely offered. The phrase portrays real enabling; the journey and the work would be demanding, and this generosity equipped them to succeed. The response fulfills the spirit of the decree in verse 4 and shows God’s favor turning hearts to give. The mixture of general goods and valuable items reflects both practical needs and the dignity of temple service. Willing offerings supplement required aid, emphasizing that worship and generosity go together as God restores His people to their land and to His house.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And all their neighbours gave them help with offerings of vessels of silver and gold and goods and beasts and things of great value, in addition to what was freely offered.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and all those round about them have strengthened <FI>them<Fi> with their hands, with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, apart from all that hath been offered willingly.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all they that were round about, helped their hands with vessels of silver, and gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with furniture, besides what they had offered on their own accord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
Context
Following the stirring of leaders and temple servants in verse 5, this verse shows the broader community answering the call to support. It demonstrates that the decree translated into action and provision. With the returnees supplied, the narrative now turns to an especially significant provision: the sacred vessels of the former temple (verses 7–11). By moving from general generosity to the specific restitution of holy items, the chapter underscores that the heart of the return is the renewal of consecrated worship in Jerusalem.
v.5Then rose up the heads of fathers’housesof Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem.
v.6This passage
v.7Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 8:25
and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
- Ezra 7:15
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,
- Psalms 110:3
Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.
- Ezra 1:4
And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
- Ezra 8:33
And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest (and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites)—