Ezra 3:11
What does Ezra 3:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:11 means
They answer one another in song, declaring, “For he is good, for his lovingkindness endures forever toward Israel.” This refrain celebrates God’s covenant mercy that outlasts exile and ruin. The people shout loudly because the foundation is proof that God has not forsaken them. Their praise does not rest in their achievement but in His steadfast love. The antiphonal singing unites priest, Levite, and people in a single confession: God’s enduring goodness is the ground of their hope. In the broader biblical story, this enduring lovingkindness reaches its climax in Christ, in whom God’s faithful mercy to Israel and the nations is fully revealed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they gave praise to the Lord, answering one another in their songs and saying, For he is good, for his mercy to Israel is eternal. And all the people gave a great cry of joy, when they gave praise to the Lord, because the base of the Lord's house was put in place.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they respond in praising and in giving thanks to Jehovah, for good, for to the age His kindness <FI>is<Fi> over Israel, and all the people have shouted--a great shout--in giving praise to Jehovah, because the house of Jehovah hath been founded.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord, because the foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they sang alternately together in praising and giving thanks to Jehovah: For he is good, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout to the praise of Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
Context
Verse 10 described the ceremonial arrangement as the foundation was laid. Verse 11 gives the content and effect: a classic confession of God’s goodness and enduring lovingkindness, and a great shout from all the people. This joyful peak sets the stage for the sober counterpoint in verses 12–13, where older men, remembering the first temple, weep even as others rejoice. The narrative balances triumph with realism.
v.10And 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.
v.11This passage
v.12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 12:6
Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalms 107:1
O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
- Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
- Psalms 47:1
Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
- Nehemiah 12:24
And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.
- 2 Chronicles 7:3
And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever.