Ezra 3:7
What does Ezra 3:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:7 means
They fund skilled labor—masons and carpenters—and engage the coastal peoples of Sidon and Tyre to supply cedars from Lebanon to Joppa. This recalls the materials and trade routes used in Solomon’s day and shows prudent planning and legitimate partnership with neighbors. Importantly, all is done “according to the grant” from Cyrus king of Persia, grounding their work in lawful imperial authorization. Faith here is not opposed to careful logistics; trusting God includes using available means with integrity. The mention of food, drink, and oil reflects ancient payment customs and affirms that the sacred task of rebuilding rests on thoughtful, tangible provision.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they gave money to the stoneworkers and woodworkers; and meat and drink and oil to the people of Zidon and of Tyre, for the transport of cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, as Cyrus, king of Persia, had given them authority to do.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they give money to hewers and to artificers, and food, and drink, and oil to Zidonians and to Tyrians, to bring in cedar-trees from Lebanon unto the sea of Joppa, according to the permission of Cyrus king of Persia concerning them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they gave money to hewers of stones and to masons: and meat and drink, and oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Libanus to the sea of Joppe, according to the orders which Cyrus king of the Persians had given them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they gave money to the masons and to the carpenters; and meat and drink and oil to the Zidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Context
Having prioritized worship (vv. 1–6), the community now turns to the practical work of rebuilding. Verse 7 details resource procurement, echoing earlier temple-building patterns from Israel’s history. This prepares for the next step: appointing overseers from among the Levites (v. 8) and naming those who supervised (v. 9), culminating in the ceremonial moment when the foundation is laid and celebrated (vv. 10–11).
v.6From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid.
v.7This passage
v.8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
- 2 Kings 12:11
And they gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, that wrought upon the house of Jehovah,
- Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah.
- Acts 10:5
And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
- Acts 12:20
Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king’s country.
- 1 Kings 5:6
Now therefore command thou that they cut me cedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and I will give thee hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt say: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that knoweth how to cut timber like unto the Sidonians.