Ezra 2:69
What does Ezra 2:69 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 2:69 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 2:69 means
They gave after their ability: threescore and one thousand darics of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments. This substantial offering demonstrates proportional, sacrificial giving for the temple work. Gold, silver, and priestly garments meet both construction and cultic needs. The phrase “after their ability” affirms fairness and willingness, not compulsion. It portrays a community unified around the priority of God’s worship, pooling resources to rebuild. This generosity, recorded for posterity, shows that the restoration’s success rested not only on imperial favor but on the faithful commitment of Israel’s own leaders.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Every one, as he was able, gave for the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand pounds of silver and a hundred priests' robes.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862according to their power they have given to the treasure of the work; of gold, drams six myriads and a thousand, and of silver, pounds five thousand, and of priests' coats, a hundred.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752According to their ability, they gave towards the expenses of the work, sixty-one thousand solids of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and a hundred garments for the priests.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' coats.
Context
This verse quantifies the freewill offerings introduced in verse 68, highlighting both wealth and specific items needed for worship. With the funds and garments dedicated, the community is materially and spiritually poised to begin the temple’s reconstruction in subsequent chapters. The chapter will conclude next with the people settling in their cities (v. 70), signifying the transition from return to resettlement and preparation for renewed worship.
v.68And 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:
v.69This passage
v.70So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
- 1 Chronicles 26:20
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
- 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:
- Nehemiah 7:71
And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.
- 1 Kings 7:51
Thus all the work that king Solomon wrought in the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.