Ezra 6:16
What does Ezra 6:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 6:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 6:16 means
Israel—priests, Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles—celebrate the dedication of God’s house with joy. The entire community is involved, showing that this is not only a clerical event but the people’s shared renewal. Joy is the fitting response to God’s fulfilled promise and sustained help. Dedication marks the temple as set apart for holy worship. After years of grief and struggle, God’s presence and purpose again define their life. This joy anticipates the blessings that flow when God’s dwelling among His people is honored and His appointed worship restored.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of those who had come back, kept the feast of the opening of this house of God with joy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the sons of Israel have made, <FI>and<Fi> the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, a dedication of this house of God with joy,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of the house of God with joy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house ofGod with joy;
Context
With the building completed, the next movement is consecration. Verse 16 introduces the dedication’s communal joy, which verses 17–18 will flesh out with offerings and the ordering of priestly and Levitical service according to Scripture. This prepares for the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in verses 19–22. The narrative thus moves from structure to sacrifice to rhythm of worship, restoring Israel’s life around atonement, holiness, and thanksgiving.
v.15And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
v.16This passage
v.17And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 7:5
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
- 2 Chronicles 7:9
And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
- Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.
- Deuteronomy 12:7
and there ye shall eat before Jehovah your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee.
- Ezra 3:11
And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
- Ezra 6:22
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.