Ezra 3:8
What does Ezra 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:8 means
In the second year after their return, in the second month, the leaders—Zerubbabel, Jeshua, priests, Levites, and the returned community—begin the temple work formally. They appoint Levites twenty years old and upward to oversee the Lord’s house. The timing recalls Solomon, who also began temple work in the second month, signaling continuity. Assigning Levites to supervision follows the pattern set under David, where Levites were entrusted with service and oversight from about that age. The verse emphasizes order, accountability, and shared ownership of the sacred task. This rebuild is not a private project of elites but the coordinated service of the whole community under God-ordained structures.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now 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 remnant 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 set forward the work of the house of the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now in the second year of their coming into the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, the work was taken in hand by Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come from the land where they were prisoners to Jerusalem: and they made the Levites, of twenty years old and over, responsible for overseeing the work of the house of the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And in the second year of their coming in unto the house of God, to Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those coming from the captivity to Jerusalem, and they appoint the Levites from a son of twenty years and upward, to overlook the work of the house of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And in the second year of their coming to the temple of God in Jerusalem, the second month, Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Josue the son of Josedec, and the rest of their brethren the priests, and the Levites, and all that were come from the captivity to Jerusalem began, and they appointed Levites from twenty years old and upward, to hasten forward the work of the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And in the second year of their coming to the house ofGod at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem; and they appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to superintend the work of the house of Jehovah.
Context
After securing materials (v. 7), verse 8 marks the official start of construction and the appointment of Levite overseers. It shows widening participation and careful organization. The next verse names specific Levite families engaged in oversight, and verses 10–11 then shift from organization to celebration as the foundation is laid. This flow underscores that the rebuilding proceeds both orderly and worshipfully.
v.7They 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.
v.8This passage
v.9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 4:3
from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
- Ezra 4:3
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
- 1 Chronicles 23:4
Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;
- 1 Chronicles 23:24
These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’housesof those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.