Ezra 3:4
What does Ezra 3:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:4 means
They keep the Feast of Tabernacles as prescribed, offering the daily sacrifices in their assigned numbers. This feast remembered God’s care in the wilderness and celebrated His provision at harvest. Observing it “as it is written” ties the returned community back to the covenant story from which exile had torn them. Reentering the festival calendar was not mere ceremony; it formed their identity around God’s saving acts and faithful presence. The careful mention of “the duty of every day” shows that restoration meant not just grand gestures, but steady, structured obedience that aligned their lives with God’s appointed times and ways.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
KJV
King James Version · 1611They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they kept the feast of tents, as it is recorded, making the regular burned offerings every day by number, as it is ordered; for every day what was needed.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they make the feast of the booths as it is written, and the burnt-offering of the day daily in number according to the ordinance, the matter of a day in its day;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the holocaust every day orderly according to the commandment, the duty of the day in its day.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they held the feast of tabernacles as it is written, and [offered] daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
Context
Having restored the altar and daily offerings amid fear (v. 3), the community now reinstates the larger cycle of worship. Verse 4 focuses on the Feast of Tabernacles, a key seventh-month observance. The next verse expands to the continual burnt offering, new moons, other set feasts, and freewill offerings. Together, these verses portray a full-orbed return to covenant life, preparing for the later note that this all began even before the temple foundation was laid (v. 6).
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.
v.4This passage
v.5and afterward the continual burnt-offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Leviticus 23:34
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Jehovah.
- Exodus 5:13
And the taskmasters were urgent saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
- Jeremiah 52:34
and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
- Exodus 29:38
Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually.
- Nehemiah 8:14
And they found written in the law, how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
- John 7:37
Now on the last day, the greatdayof the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.