Ezra 6:22
What does Ezra 6:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 6:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 6:22 means
They keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because Jehovah made them joyful and turned the heart of “the king of Assyria” toward them, strengthening their hands in the work of the house of God. The phrase underscores God’s sovereignty over empires—whatever title is used, He directs kings’ hearts. Joy is not self-generated; it is God’s gift accompanying obedience and restoration. The feast of purity follows Passover’s redemption, and together they renew the nation’s life around God’s house. Strengthened by divine favor through the ruler, the people are established in ongoing worship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them full of joy, by turning the heart of the king of Assyria to them to give them help in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they make the feast of unleavened things seven days with joy, for Jehovah made them to rejoice, and turned round the heart of the king of Asshur unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, that he should help their hands in the work of the house of the Lord the God of Israel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for Jehovah had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house ofGod, theGod of Israel.
Context
The chapter concludes with extended joy and explicit acknowledgment that God has inclined the ruling king to favor His people, empowering further work at the temple. This ties back to the opening: royal edicts and archival records are ultimately instruments in God’s hand. The narrative arc moves from inquiry and opposition, to decree and provision, to completion, dedication, and festival joy. Ezra 6 thus seals the restoration of worship under God’s providential care, preparing for further reforms in the book.
v.21And the children of Israel that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat,
v.22This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 12:15
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
- Ezra 6:6
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from thence:
- 1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:
- Ezra 1:1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, andput italso in writing, saying,
- Ezra 7:27
Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem;
- Zechariah 10:10
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.