Ezra 8:29
What does Ezra 8:29 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 8:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 8:29 means
Ezra commands vigilance: watch and keep the offerings until they are weighed before the chiefs of the priests and Levites and the princes of the fathers’ houses at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah. The process anticipates an open, official audit. Transparency protects both the sacred trust and the reputation of the bearers. The setting—temple chambers under recognized authorities—assures that the gifts will be received properly. This verse shows that faith in God’s protection and integrity among His servants express themselves through clear procedures that invite accountability and honor the sanctity of what belongs to His house.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Watch 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Watch 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Take care of them and keep them, till you put them on the scales before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862watch, and keep, till ye weigh before the heads of the priests, and of the Levites, and the heads of the fathers of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Watch ye and keep them, till you deliver them by weight before the chief of the priests, and of the Levites, and the heads of the families of Israel in Jerusalem, into the treasure of the house of the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Watch and keep [them] until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the chiefs of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.
Context
Verse 29 concludes Ezra’s charge following the inventory and sanctifying reminder in verse 28. With instructions for custodianship and reweighing at Jerusalem, the preparations are complete. The priests and Levites receive the precious items (verse 30), and then the caravan departs on the appointed date (verse 31). The subsequent narrative will highlight God’s protective hand during the journey, their arrival and rest (verses 31–32), and the fulfillment of these procedures in the temple through weighing and recording (verses 33–34), followed by sacrifices and administrative communications (verses 35–36).
v.28And 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.
v.29This passage
v.30So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 13:34
It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.
- 2 Timothy 4:5
But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
- 1 Chronicles 26:20
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
- Ezra 8:33
And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest (and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levites)—
- Acts 20:31
Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.