Ezra 3:2
What does Ezra 3:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:2 means
Jeshua the son of Jozadak and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel step forward, priest and leader together, to rebuild the altar. They act not from innovation but submission—“as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.” By restoring sacrifices, they restore the God-given means of approaching Him. Burnt offerings symbolized complete consecration and atonement. The leaders’ obedience signals that true renewal begins with worship ordered by God’s Word. In the larger biblical story, these sacrifices foreshadow the once-for-all offering of Christ, but here the emphasis is on returned exiles taking their rightful place under the Law, seeking communion and favor with the God of Israel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his brothers, got up and made the altar of the God of Israel for burned offerings as is recorded in the law of Moses, the man of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And rise doth Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and they build the altar of the God of Israel, to cause to ascend upon it burnt-offerings, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Josue the son of Josedec rose up, and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel that they might offer holocausts upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built the altar of theGod of Israel, to offer up burnt-offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man ofGod.
Context
The people have gathered in Jerusalem (v. 1). Now, leadership emerges. Verse 2 spotlights Jeshua and Zerubbabel, representing priestly and civil authority, working in tandem. Their first concern is the altar, not the temple building. The next verse will show why urgency was needed, mentioning fear of surrounding peoples and the resumption of morning and evening offerings. This verse frames their action as covenant obedience, shaping how we read the restoration that follows.
v.1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
v.2This passage
v.3And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 12:5
But unto the place which Jehovah your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come;
- Haggai 2:21
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
- Nehemiah 12:1
Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
- Nehemiah 12:8
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, andMattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
- Haggai 1:1
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
- Haggai 2:23
In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.