Ezra 1 6

Ezra 1:6 kjv

And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

Ezra 1:6 nkjv

And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

Ezra 1:6 niv

All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

Ezra 1:6 esv

And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.

Ezra 1:6 nlt

And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.

Ezra 1 verses

Ezra 1 6 Meaning

Ezra 1:6 describes the abundant and diverse material support provided to the returning Jewish exiles by the non-Israelite peoples surrounding them in the Persian Empire. This assistance included a wide range of valuables: silver articles, gold, various goods, livestock, and other costly gifts. Crucially, this significant aid from the Gentiles was in addition to the voluntary offerings made by the Israelites themselves. This verse highlights God's sovereign providence in preparing and resourcing His people for their journey back to Judah and the momentous task of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.

Ezra 1 6 Context

Ezra 1:6 is situated at the pivotal beginning of the book of Ezra, immediately following King Cyrus’s decree that permitted and encouraged the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4). This decree, initiated by God's stirring of Cyrus's heart, marked the end of the prophesied seventy years of Babylonian captivity (Jer 29:10, 25:11-12). Verse 6 shows the immediate and practical outpouring of support that accompanied this divine intervention. It highlights how God not only influenced a powerful pagan king but also orchestrated the willing participation of the surrounding non-Jewish populace. This generous provision from Gentile neighbors enabled the repatriating Jews to finance their long journey, procure necessary supplies for their resettlement, and acquire precious materials essential for the enormous task of reconstructing the Temple of God, underscoring God's complete provision for His restorative purposes.

Ezra 1 6 Word analysis

• And all those: Refers to the non-Israelite inhabitants and communities living in Babylon or throughout the Persian Empire, near the Jewish exiles. This was not a limited gesture but widespread.
• who were around them: Hebrew: ha-sevivim (הַסְּבִיבִים), meaning "the surrounding ones" or "their neighbors." It explicitly indicates Gentile people. The benevolence from these foreign peoples demonstrates God’s ability to use any source, even non-believers, to fulfill His will for His chosen people.
• aided them: Hebrew: chazaq (חָזַק), meaning "to strengthen," "to hold firm," "to reinforce," or "to prevail." It suggests not just casual help, but robust and effective assistance that enabled the Jews to undertake such a challenging enterprise. This word implies a significant empowering of their mission.
• with articles of silver: Hebrew: keli-kesef (כְּלִי־כֶסֶף). Keli refers to a "vessel," "implement," or "utensil," implying not raw silver but finished, usable items of value. This specific mention suggests a transfer of wealth and useful objects.
• with gold: Hebrew: v'zahav (וְזָהָב). This is pure gold, a standard measure of significant wealth and value, crucial for the temple's reconstruction and adornment.
• with goods: Hebrew: u-virekush (וּבִרְכוּשׁ). Rekush denotes "property," "possessions," "goods," or "acquired wealth," referring to general tangible assets or valuable movable property. This signifies comprehensive support beyond just precious metals, likely including household items, trade goods, etc.
• with livestock: Hebrew: u-vivhemah (וּבִבְהֵמָה). This term includes beasts of burden (donkeys, camels) for transport during the long journey, animals for food, or even for sacrificial purposes upon arrival. This was a vital, practical contribution for their difficult repatriation.
• and with costly things: Hebrew: u-vemigdanot (וּבְמִגְדָּנוֹת), from meged (מֶגֶד), meaning "choice," "precious things," "gifts," or "delicacies." This refers to items of high quality, special value, or even rare offerings, further emphasizing the generous and valuable nature of the assistance given.
• besides all that was willingly offered: Hebrew: lebad mit-tnedavah (לְבַד מִתְּנָדָבָה). Nedavah (נְדָבָה) signifies a "freewill offering" or "voluntary gift." This crucial phrase indicates that the aid from the Gentile neighbors was separate from and in addition to the spontaneous contributions made by the Jews themselves who felt stirred by God to give for the Temple project (mentioned in Ezra 1:4 and later detailed for their specific gifts). This distinction highlights two distinct sources of divinely orchestrated provision.

Words-group analysis:

• "And all those who were around them aided them": This phrase underscores the comprehensive and broad nature of the assistance. It wasn't just a few individuals, but "all those around," suggesting a pervasive willingness to help, inspired by the overarching divine will at work. This reflects God's complete control even over the hearts of the unregenerate.
• "with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with costly things": This extensive list illustrates the generous scale and diverse forms of support provided. It demonstrates that the provision was abundant, addressing multiple needs from financial wealth for construction to practical needs for the journey and resettlement. This array of gifts mirrors the wealth "plundered" from Egypt during the Exodus, showing God’s consistent pattern of providing resources for His people’s ventures.
• "besides all that was willingly offered": This phrase acts as an important clarification, distinguishing external (Gentile) aid from internal (Jewish) contributions. It demonstrates a dual stream of blessing – God stirred up Gentiles to provide, and He also moved the hearts of His own people to contribute sacrificially. Both forms of giving were crucial for the colossal task ahead.

Ezra 1 6 Bonus section

• Divine Reversal: Historically, the Babylonians had plundered Jerusalem and carried away its treasures and people. Ezra 1:6 presents a striking divine reversal where those who remained in the land or around the exiles now willingly contribute valuable resources to the very people they had oppressed or benefited from their oppression. This demonstrates God's power to turn sorrow into joy and loss into gain.
• The "God of Heaven": While not explicitly stated in Ezra 1:6, the larger context of Ezra and Nehemiah frequently uses the title "the God of heaven" (Ezra 1:2, 5:11-12, 6:9-10, 7:12, 21, 23). This phrase emphasizes God’s universal authority and sovereignty not only over Israel but over all earthly kings and nations, directly tying into His ability to stir the hearts of diverse peoples to achieve His will, as seen in this verse.
• Chiastic Structure: The book of Ezra often employs chiastic literary structures. This act of foreign support (1:6) parallels the support later given by King Artaxerxes to Ezra himself (Ezra 7:15-20), highlighting a consistent pattern of God's provision through foreign rulers and peoples throughout the return.
• Motives for Gentile Aid: While primarily an act of divine inspiration, the willingness of the surrounding peoples might also have stemmed from various motivations: fear of the powerful Persian decree, pragmatic political interests (supporting loyal subjects of the king), or even genuine sympathy. However, the Bible's consistent emphasis on God "stirring" hearts attributes the ultimate cause to divine influence.

Ezra 1 6 Commentary

Ezra 1:6 offers a profound illustration of God’s sovereignty and His faithful provision for His people. Far from abandoning Israel during their captivity, God diligently worked behind the scenes, using even powerful pagan kings and the surrounding Gentile populations as instruments of His divine purpose. The phrase "aided them" through chazaq ("strengthened") conveys a robust, empowering assistance. The sheer quantity and variety of "articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with costly things" highlight the unprecedented scale of the provision, far exceeding mere token gestures. This abundance was essential for both the long, perilous journey and the monumental undertaking of rebuilding the magnificent Temple and resettling the land.

This verse stands in clear theological parallel to the Exodus narrative, where the Israelites left Egypt having received silver, gold, and clothing from their former enslavers (Exo 12:35-36). Here, instead of "plundering," the giving is explicitly described as willing and helpful ("aided them"). It signifies a new phase of divine favor where the nations are not merely tools, but conduits of blessing, foreshadowing prophetic images of Gentile nations supporting God's work and people in the last days (Isa 60:5-7, 10-11). Furthermore, the specific mention of the Gentile aid being "besides all that was willingly offered" by the Jews themselves, underscores that God secures resources through multiple channels, both external and internal, each driven by His own moving Spirit. This total provision ensured the physical and material enablement for Israel's spiritual mission. It assures us that when God initiates a work, He also provides all the means necessary for its completion.