Ezra 8:28
What does Ezra 8:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 8:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 8:28 means
Ezra affirms to the appointed priests, “Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.” He grounds their duty in consecration: both bearers and objects are set apart to God. The offerings’ status as freewill gifts highlights the devotion of the givers and the need for reverent handling. By reminding the priests of their own holiness, Ezra calls them to match inward character with outward responsibility. Stewardship here is not merely administrative but sacred, tied to identity and the worship owed to Jehovah.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I said to them, You are holy to the Lord and the vessels are holy: and the silver and the gold are an offering freely given to the Lord, the God of your fathers.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I say unto them, `Ye <FI>are<Fi> holy to Jehovah, and the vessels <FI>are<Fi> holy, and the silver and the gold <FI>are<Fi> a willing-offering to Jehovah, God of your fathers;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I said to them: You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and gold, that is freely offered to the Lord the God of our fathers.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I said to them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah; the vessels also are holy; and the silver and the gold is a voluntary offering to Jehovah theGod of your fathers.
Context
Verse 28 delivers the theological charge that undergirds the practical arrangements of verses 24–27. Having listed amounts and items, Ezra now frames the task in terms of holiness—of the priests and the vessels. The instruction in verse 29 will follow naturally: guard and keep the items until they are weighed in Jerusalem before authorized leaders. This solemn commission is the final preparatory word before departure (verse 31). The narrative will then demonstrate that, under God’s hand, the priests faithfully deliver what was entrusted, confirmed by weighing and records upon arrival (verses 33–34).
v.27and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.
v.28This passage
v.29Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers’ houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
- 2 Chronicles 24:14
And when they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of Jehovah, even vessels wherewith to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of Jehovah continually all the days of Jehoiada.
- Deuteronomy 33:8
And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
- 1 Kings 7:48
And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Jehovah: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the showbread was, of gold;
- 1 Chronicles 23:28
For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;
- Numbers 4:19
but thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden;