Ezra 3:12
What does Ezra 3:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:12 means
A poignant contrast emerges. Many priests, Levites, and family heads—the elderly who had seen Solomon’s temple—weep loudly as this new foundation appears. Their tears come from memory and comparison; what now begins seems smaller than what was lost. At the same time, many others shout for joy at God’s restoring work. The community’s worship holds both grief and gladness together. Restoration is real, but it occurs in the shadow of past glory and lingering loss. God meets His people in that tension, inviting gratitude for present mercy without denying the pain of what sin and judgment have cost.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But a number of the priests and Levites and the heads of families, old men who had seen the first house, when the base of this house was put down before their eyes, were overcome with weeping; and a number were crying out with joy:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And many of the priests, and the Levites, and the heads of the fathers, the aged men who had seen the first house--in this house being founded before their eyes--are weeping with a loud voice, and many with a shout, in joy, lifting up the voice;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But many of the priests and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers and the ancients that had seen the former temple; when they had the foundation of this temple before their eyes, wept with a loud voice: and many shouting for joy, lifted up their voice.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But many of the priests and Levites and chief fathers, the ancient men that had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice, [when] the foundation of this house was laid in their sight; and many shouted aloud for joy.
Context
After the communal shout of praise (v. 11), verse 12 reveals the complexity of the moment. Those who remembered the former temple respond with sorrow, while others celebrate. This prepares for the concluding observation in verse 13 that the sounds mingle and carry far. The chapter closes not with a simple triumphal note but with an honest portrayal of mixed emotions in the work of renewal.
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.
v.12This passage
v.13so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Haggai 2:3
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?
- Jeremiah 31:8
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall they return hither.
- Isaiah 41:14
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One 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.
- Matthew 13:31
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
- Isaiah 60:22
The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.