Ezra 1:9 kjv
And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
Ezra 1:9 nkjv
This is the number of them: thirty gold platters, one thousand silver platters, twenty-nine knives,
Ezra 1:9 niv
This was the inventory: gold dishes ? 30 silver dishes ? 1,000 silver pans ? 29
Ezra 1:9 esv
And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers,
Ezra 1:9 nlt
This is a list of the items that were returned: gold basins ? 30
silver basins ? 1,000
silver incense burners ? 29
Ezra 1 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezra 1:1 | "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus..." | God's sovereignty over kings, fulfilling prophecy. |
| Ezra 1:7-8 | "Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels... which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth..." | Preceding context of the vessels' origin. |
| Ezra 1:10-11 | "basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand... all the vessels... were five thousand and four hundred." | Continues the enumeration, total amount. |
| 2 Kgs 25:13-17 | "the pillars of brass... the bases... did the Chaldeans break... carried the brass... to Babylon." | Account of Nebuchadnezzar's initial plunder. |
| Jer 52:17-23 | "The pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord... Chaldeans carried them to Babylon." | Parallel account of temple plunder. |
| Dan 1:2 | "Lord gave Jehoiakim... into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon... vessels of the house of God..." | Plunder as divine judgment, but preserved. |
| Dan 5:1-4 | "King Belshazzar made a great feast... ordered the gold and silver articles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken..." | Example of sacrilege against these vessels. |
| Dan 5:22-23 | "you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven... articles from his temple brought to you..." | Belshazzar's irreverence leading to judgment. |
| Isa 44:28 | "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’" | Prophecy of Cyrus's role in restoration. |
| Isa 45:1-4 | "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus... for Jacob My servant’s sake..." | God's specific election of Cyrus. |
| Jer 29:10 | "For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you..." | Prophecy of the seventy-year exile and return. |
| Exod 27:3 | "And you shall make pots... shovels... basons... all the utensils..." | Early instructions for sacred tabernacle vessels. |
| Num 4:7 | "And on the table of the shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue... and the dishes, and the spoons..." | Sacred vessels and their ritual purpose. |
| Lev 8:10-11 | "And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it... sanctified them." | Sanctification of tabernacle and its contents. |
| 1 Chr 28:13 | "Also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service... all the instruments..." | Instructions for temple service items. |
| Zech 1:16 | "Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,’ declares the Lord of hosts..." | Divine promise of temple rebuilding. |
| Ezra 6:3-5 | "In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree... also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God... be restored..." | Cyrus's original decree specifying return. |
| Hag 1:7-9 | "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it..." | Encouragement to rebuild the temple. |
| Zech 4:6-10 | "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts." | God's empowering Spirit in temple building. |
| Rom 11:29 | "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." | God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... therefore glorify God in your body..." | Believer as a spiritual "vessel" for God's use. |
| Heb 9:1-5 | "Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary." | Describes sacred furnishings foreshadowing Christ. |
Ezra 1 verses
Ezra 1 9 Meaning
Ezra 1:9 precisely enumerates the specific categories and quantities of sacred vessels, made of gold and silver, that King Cyrus returned to the returning exiles. These items, once plundered from Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, represented not merely artifacts but instruments essential for worship. Their meticulous counting and return signify God's precise fulfillment of prophecy, His active hand in the restoration of His people, and the divine preparation for the rebuilding of His holy house and the re-establishment of sacred worship.
Ezra 1 9 Context
Ezra chapter 1 inaugurates the narrative of Judah's post-exilic return and the subsequent rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse sits immediately following King Cyrus's monumental decree, issued under divine inspiration (Ezra 1:1). The return of the sacred vessels, first detailed in Ezra 1:7-8, is not an afterthought but the primary act initiating the physical and spiritual restoration. These items were not mere possessions; they were hallowed instruments integral to the very worship of God in His Temple. By listing their specific numbers, Ezra 1:9 underscores the authenticity, precision, and complete fulfillment of prophecy regarding God's commitment to restore proper worship. The historical backdrop is the end of the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, transitioning to Persian rule, during which the pagan king Cyrus unexpectedly acts as an agent of the God of Israel.
Ezra 1 9 Word analysis
- And this is the number of them: Emphasizes precise counting and divine accounting. Signifies order and purpose. It highlights meticulousness in handling sacred items.
- thirty chargers of gold, Hebrew: אֲגַרְטְלֵי זָהָב ('agart'lei zahav). Likely refers to large bowls or basins, often for temple offerings or other sacred purposes. "Gold" signifies immense value and purity.
- a thousand chargers of silver, Similar type of vessels to the gold ones, but made of silver. Indicates a substantial volume of these significant items being returned.
- nine and twenty knives, Hebrew: מַֽחֲלָפִ֑ים (machalafim). These were likely knives specifically used for animal sacrifices or other ritual acts in the Temple. Their inclusion indicates a return to the full practice of ceremonial worship.
- thirty basons of gold, Hebrew: מִזְרָקִ֛י (mizraqim). Bowls used for sprinkling blood or holding liquids. Crucial for priestly duties and sacrificial rituals.
- four hundred and ten basons of a second sort, Hebrew: מִזְרָקִ֖ים מִשְׁנֶה (mizraqim mishneh). "Second sort" (מִשְׁנֶה) implies a distinct category, possibly differentiating quality, material purity, or purpose. It could mean vessels of a lesser value of gold, a different alloy, or used for less primary sacred functions, but still consecrated for temple use.
- and a thousand other vessels. Hebrew: וְכֵלִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֣ים (vechelim acherim). A general, encompassing term for remaining assorted sacred utensils or cultic objects. This ensures that the enumeration is comprehensive, covering all necessary temple equipment for rebuilding its sacred function.
Ezra 1 9 Bonus section
The numbers listed in Ezra 1:9 (30 + 1000 + 29 + 30 + 410 + 1000 = 2,499) do not sum up to the total of 5,400 gold and silver articles mentioned in Ezra 1:11. This apparent discrepancy is often explained by understanding Ezra 1:9 as detailing specific categories of vessels, while Ezra 1:10-11 provide a combined summary, perhaps grouping many smaller, less distinctive vessels within the "other vessels" category or using different enumeration methods for broader classifications. The key theological point remains the comprehensive and intentional return of the vast majority, if not all, of the plundered sacred items. This detail underscores that these objects were not lost to history or melted down, but preserved by divine providence for their intended holy purpose, demonstrating God's oversight even during judgment.
Ezra 1 9 Commentary
Ezra 1:9 serves as a meticulous inventory, not merely of metallic objects, but of sacred instruments of worship belonging to the house of God. Their specific enumeration, following King Cyrus's decree, testifies to God's precise fulfillment of prophecy and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. These were the very items that symbolized Israel's relationship with Yahweh, taken as trophies by a foreign power and later defiled (as seen in Dan 5). Their return by the world's most powerful pagan ruler, prompted by the Divine, stands as a profound theological statement: God’s sovereignty triumphs over all human kingdoms, restoring His glory and re-establishing His presence among His people. The careful counting signifies the divine value placed upon holy things and the meticulous care God extends to ensure the continuity of true worship, preparing the way for the physical reconstruction of the Temple and the spiritual revitalization of the remnant. It highlights that no aspect of God's redemptive plan is overlooked, down to the smallest ritual instrument.