KJV ORIGINAL
And 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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And I said to them, 'You are set apart as holy to the LORD; these vessels are holy too; and the silver and gold are a voluntary gift to the LORD God of your ancestors.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Ezra is reminding the priests and Levites that both they and the temple treasures they're carrying are sacred and set apart for God's service.
📚 Historical Context
Ezra was leading a group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon around 458 BC. He had entrusted precious temple vessels and offerings to specific priests and Levites for the dangerous journey. This was part of the restoration of Jewish worship after decades of exile, and these treasures were meant to restore proper temple worship in Jerusalem.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.
Share or Save