Ezra 8:19
What does Ezra 8:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 8:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 8:19 means
Along with Sherebiah, Ezra notes Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with their brothers and sons, twenty in number. This adds another Levitical branch, complementing Mahli’s line. The Levites’ diverse representation ensures the breadth needed for various temple responsibilities. By recording their names and counts, Ezra highlights that God not only provided some Levites but enough to form a functioning group. The commitment of these families to leave and serve signals a renewed priority for worship at Jerusalem, making the return not just a relocation but a re-centering on the service of the house of God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brethren, and their sons, twenty;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Hasabias, and with him Isaias of the sons of Merari, and his brethren, and his sons twenty.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and Hashabiah, and with him Isaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
Context
Verse 19 continues the answer to the recruitment effort, supplementing the earlier mention of Sherebiah in verse 18. It rounds out the Levitical personnel needed for temple duties. The next verse (20) will add the Nethinim, temple servants historically assigned by David and the princes to assist the Levites. Once the staffing is complete, the narrative will move to spiritual preparation through fasting for protection (verses 21–23) and to the solemn entrusting of the offerings (verses 24–30), before recounting the start and success of the journey (verses 31–36).
v.18And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
v.19This passage
v.20and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Chronicles 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
- Nehemiah 3:17
After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district.
- Nehemiah 10:11
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
- 1 Chronicles 6:16
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
- 1 Chronicles 6:1
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.