Ezra 3:9
What does Ezra 3:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 3:9 means
Jeshua with his sons and brothers, along with Kadmiel and his sons—called “the sons of Judah”—and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers, take their place to supervise the workmen in the house of God. The naming of these families personalizes the effort and displays unity across Levite clans. Oversight is plural and shared; the work is too great for any single leader. This verse honors faithful, often unsung service. The temple’s restoration depends on steady hands, not only on figureheads. By documenting these names, the writer affirms that God remembers the labor of those who quietly ensure that His work is done well and according to order.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, the sons of Hodaviah, together took up the work of overseeing the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brothers, the Levites.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jeshua standeth, <FI>and<Fi> his sons, and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, sons of Judah together, to overlook those doing the work in the house of God; the sons of Henadad, <FI>and<Fi> their sons and their brethren the Levites.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then Josue and his sons and his brethren, Cedmihel, and his sons, and the children of Juda, as one man, stood to hasten them that did the work in the temple of God: the sons of Henadad, and their sons, and their brethren the Levites.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jeshua stood up, his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, as one [man], to superintend the workmen in the house ofGod; [also] the sons of Henadad, their sons and their brethren, the Levites.
Context
With the Levites appointed (v. 8), verse 9 lists key supervising families, underlining that the oversight was collaborative. This completes the organizational picture before the narrative shifts to the dramatic milestone: the laying of the foundation and the accompanying liturgical celebration (vv. 10–11). The move from names to praise highlights that administration serves worship’s end.
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.
v.9This passage
v.10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 3:8
Now 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.
- Ezra 2:40
The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
- Nehemiah 7:43
The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.