Ezra 6:5
What does Ezra 6:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 6:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 6:5 means
Cyrus commands the return of the gold and silver vessels Nebuchadnezzar had seized from the first temple, specifying that each piece be restored to its proper place in God’s house. This is a striking reversal of exile’s shame: what was plundered for Babylon must now be brought back to Jerusalem. It is restitution and restoration, affirming continuity between the former temple and the new. God’s worship is not starting from scratch; it is being reestablished. The careful language—“every one to its place”—shows reverence for holy things and a desire to realign what sin and judgment had disordered.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And let the gold and silver vessels from the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple at Jerusalem to Babylon, be given back and taken again to the Temple at Jerusalem, every one in its place, and put them in the house of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And also, the vessels of the house of God, of gold and silver, that Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, let be given back, and go to the temple that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem, <FI>each<Fi> to its place, and put <FI>them<Fi> down in the house of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And also let the golden and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple of Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and carried back to the temple of Jerusalem to their place, which also were placed in the temple of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house ofGod, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple that is at Jerusalem, in their place; and thou shalt put [them] in the house ofGod.
Context
With verse 5, the quotation of Cyrus’s decree concludes by addressing temple vessels, a tangible link between past glory and present rebuilding. This completes the legal basis rediscovered in Achmetha. The narrative now turns from what Cyrus once said to what Darius now commands in light of that record. Verses 6–12 contain Darius’s decisive directives to the local officials: do not interfere, provide funding and supplies, and heed severe penalties for obstruction, thus converting opposition into support.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 25:14
And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
- Jeremiah 52:19
And the cups, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the bowls—that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver,—the captain of the guard took away.
- 2 Chronicles 36:10
And at the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of Jehovah, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 36:18
And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
- Daniel 1:2
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.
- Jeremiah 27:18
But if they be prophets, and if the word of Jehovah be with them, let them now make intercession to Jehovah of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of Jehovah, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.