Ezra 2:68
What does Ezra 2:68 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 2:68 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 2:68 means
Some heads of fathers’ houses, upon arriving at the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, offered willingly to set it up in its place. This spontaneous generosity expresses devotion and priority: reestablishing the temple is central to national and spiritual restoration. The leaders lead in giving, modeling commitment to God’s house. “Set it up in its place” suggests restoring the temple on its historic site, affirming continuity with Israel’s past worship. Their willingness points to hearts stirred by God, translating faith into tangible support for rebuilding the center of Israel’s covenant life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And some of the heads of fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And some of the heads of fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, gave freely of their wealth for the building up of the house of God in its place:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And some of the heads of the fathers in their coming in to the house of Jehovah that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, have offered willingly for the house of God, to establish it on its base;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the temple of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, offered freely to the house of the Lord to build it in its place.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And some of the chief fathers, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house ofGod to set it up in its place.
Context
After counting people and resources, the narrative turns to the community’s spiritual focus—rebuilding the temple. This verse introduces voluntary offerings by leading families, which the next verse will quantify (v. 69). The chapter will then end with the people settling in their towns (v. 70). The flow shows that restoration is not just demographic or economic; it is fundamentally oriented toward restored worship at the house of God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Chronicles 21:18
Then the angel of Jehovah commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
- 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.
- Exodus 35:29
The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto Jehovah; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Jehovah had commanded to be made by Moses.
- 2 Chronicles 3:1
Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, whereJehovahappeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
- 1 Chronicles 22:1
Then David said, This is the house of Jehovah God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
- Luke 21:1
And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.