Ezra 3:10
What does Ezra 3:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:10 means
When the builders lay the foundation, the community treats it as a holy moment. Priests, vested in their sacred garments, take up trumpets; Levites from the line of Asaph take cymbals. They praise the Lord according to the order established by David, showing continuity with Israel’s worship heritage. The ceremonies are not empty; they confess that God, not human skill, is the true builder of His house. Music, priestly service, and the foundation itself converge to declare that the work belongs to the Lord. Even before the temple rises, praise rises, acknowledging that any future glory must begin with God’s presence and promise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when the builders put in position the base of the Temple of the Lord, the priests, dressed in their robes, took their places with horns, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with brass instruments, to give praise to the Lord in the way ordered by David, king of Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And those building have founded the temple of Jehovah, and they appoint the priests, clothed, with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, by means of <FI>the instruments of<Fi> David king of Israel.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when the masons laid the foundations of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets: and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise God by the hands of David king of Israel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel, with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah according to the directions of David king of Israel.
Context
After organization and oversight (vv. 8–9), verse 10 reaches the pivotal act: the foundation is laid. The focus immediately turns to worship, with priests and Levites leading praise in Davidic order. The next verse records the content of their song and the people’s great shout. Together, verses 10–11 form the celebratory heart of the chapter, before the mixed emotional response is described in verses 12–13.
v.9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
v.10This passage
v.11And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 22:18
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Jehovah, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Jehovah, the God of Israel:
- Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; these are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
- Exodus 28:40
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
- 2 Chronicles 29:25
And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.
- 1 Chronicles 15:24
And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.