Ezra 6:17
What does Ezra 6:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 6:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 6:17 means
At the dedication they offer a large number of animals and, significantly, twelve male goats as a sin offering for all Israel, matching the number of the tribes. This declares that the temple belongs to the whole people, not merely to the few who returned. Atonement is central: before the temple can be a place of praise, sin must be dealt with. The abundance of offerings reflects gratitude and seriousness. This scene looks ahead to the necessity of a final, sufficient atonement; the sacrifices point beyond themselves to the once-for-all sacrifice through whom God would cleanse His people perfectly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And offered at the dedication of this house of God an 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they gave as offerings at the opening of this house of God a hundred oxen, two hundred sheep, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, being the number of the tribes of Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and have brought near for the dedication of this house of God, bullocks a hundred, rams two hundred, lambs four hundred; and young he-goats for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve, according to the number of the tribes of Israel;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they offered at the dedication of the house of God, a hundred calves, 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and they presented at the dedication of this house ofGod 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.
Context
After announcing the dedication’s joy, the narrative details its sacrificial core. The numbers emphasize both generosity and the inclusive scope of the act—“all Israel.” The next verse (18) will add that priests and Levites were arranged in their biblical divisions, showing a return to ordered, lawful worship. With the temple dedicated and service rightly organized, verses 19–22 turn to the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the first major festivals celebrated in the renewed temple.
v.16And 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.
v.17This passage
v.18And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Kings 18:31
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Jehovah came, saying, Israel shall be thy name.
- Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:
- Leviticus 4:28
if his sin, which he hath sinned, be made known to him, then he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
- 1 Chronicles 16:1
And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God.
- Leviticus 4:13
And if the whole congregation of Israel err, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done, and are guilty;
- Leviticus 4:3
if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto Jehovah for a sin-offering.