Ezra 7:16
What does Ezra 7:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 7:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 7:16 means
Beyond royal and counselor gifts, Ezra is authorized to gather silver and gold from the province of Babylon and to receive freewill offerings from the people and priests. The language stresses willingness rather than coercion. The destination is clear: the house of their God in Jerusalem. This provision mobilizes broad support across the empire’s territory, making the restoration a shared effort among Jews still living outside Judah. By linking royal backing with communal generosity, the decree encourages unity and participation in rebuilding worship. The abundance envisioned here will soon be directed to specific sacrificial uses, demonstrating that the funds serve the altar and its appointed services.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As well as all the silver and gold which you get from the land of Babylon, together with the offering of the people and of the priests, freely given for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and all the silver and gold that thou findest in all the province of Babylon, with the free-will offerings of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly, for the house of their God that <FI>is<Fi> in Jerusalem,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, and that the people is willing to offer, and that the priests shall offer of their own accord to the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, besides the voluntary offering of the people, and of the priests, who offer willingly for the house of theirGod which is at Jerusalem.
Context
This verse expands the financial base established in verse 15. The next step (verse 17) directs how these resources are to be used—namely, purchasing animals and accompanying offerings for the altar. Then discretionary use under God’s will (verse 18) and the handling of temple vessels (verse 19) will follow. The flow is practical: gather resources, spend them obediently on worship, and manage the sacred items reverently.
v.15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
v.16This passage
v.17therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 1:6
And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
- 1 Chronicles 29:6
Then the princes of the fathers’houses, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly;
- 1 Chronicles 29:9
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Jehovah: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
- Ezra 8:25
and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
- 1 Chronicles 29:17
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.