Ezra 8:36
What does Ezra 8:36 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 8:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 8:36 means
Ezra’s company delivers the king’s commissions to the satraps and to the governors beyond the River, and these authorities support the people and the house of God. This shows that the return was not in defiance of Persian rule but in cooperation with it, under royal authorization. By presenting official documents, the community secured political backing for their religious work. The outcome—officials furthering the people and God’s house—demonstrates how God can move rulers to favor His purposes. The verse ties off the chapter by showing that worship and civic order aligned, enabling the restored community to flourish under legitimate authority.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they gave the king's orders to the king's captains and the rulers across the river, and they gave the people and the house of God the help which was needed.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they give the laws of the king to the lieutenants of the king and the governors beyond the river, and they have lifted up the people and the house of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they gave the king's edicts to the lords that were from the king's court, and the governors beyond the river, and they furthered the people and the house of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps, and to the governors on this side the river. And they furthered the people and the house ofGod.
Context
Verse 36 concludes the chapter, following the sacrifices of verse 35. After worship, Ezra attends to governance, delivering the king’s orders to the provincial officials. Their supportive response confirms God’s providential arrangement through Artaxerxes noted earlier in Ezra. The chapter thus moves from lists of returnees, to recruitment of Levites, to fasting and faithful stewardship, to a protected journey, to worship, and finally to administrative establishment. This full arc illustrates that spiritual renewal involves people, prayer, purity, prudence, protection, praise, and proper relations with governing powers—all under the good hand of God.
v.35The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.
v.36This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 12:16
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
- Isaiah 56:6
Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant;
- Acts 18:27
And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;
- Ezra 5:6
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;
- Ezra 6:13
Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.
- Esther 9:3
And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.