Ezra 3 10

Ezra 3:10 kjv

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

Ezra 3:10 nkjv

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.

Ezra 3:10 niv

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel.

Ezra 3:10 esv

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel.

Ezra 3:10 nlt

When the builders completed the foundation of the LORD's Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the LORD, just as King David had prescribed.

Ezra 3 10 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Ezra 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple... Laying of temple foundation signifies renewal and God's presence.
Zech 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation... Zerubbabel's role in the temple's foundation.
Hag 2:18 Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid... Emphasis on the significance of the temple's foundation day.
1 Kgs 6:37 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid... Reference to the laying of Solomon's temple foundation.
Ex 28:2-3 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for glory and for beauty... Instruction for priestly apparel signifying holiness.
Num 10:1-2 Make two silver trumpets... for the calling of the assembly... and for the journeying of the camps. Use of trumpets for assembly, signaling, and solemn occasions.
2 Chr 5:12-14 ...the Levites who were the singers, all of them, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun... arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and harps and lyres... to praise the LORD, for He is good... Priests and Levites with instruments in unified praise at first temple dedication.
1 Chr 15:16 And David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, and cymbals... David's establishment of Levitical musicians for temple service.
1 Chr 25:1-6 Moreover David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun... who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals. Detailed account of the appointment of musical families including Asaph's.
Neh 12:45-46 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son... For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were directors of the singers and songs of praise and thanks to God. Affirms the continuity of Davidic and Asaphic ordinances for temple service.
2 Chr 8:14 Now he appointed, according to the ordinance of his father David, the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices... and the gatekeepers by their divisions... Solomon upholding David's ordinances for temple staff and worship.
2 Chr 29:25-30 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the LORD through His prophets. Hezekiah reinstating temple worship according to David's command.
Ps 150:3-5 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Exhortation to praise the LORD with a variety of musical instruments.
Ps 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His steadfast love endures forever. A direct call to praise the LORD, common theme in psalms.
1 Chr 23:5 24,000 of these were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, and 6,000 were officers and judges, 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the LORD with the instruments which I made for praise. David allocating Levites to specific praise duties.
Ps 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it." Significance of God's chosen dwelling place, connecting to the temple.
Ezra 3:12-13 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation... while others shouted for joy... Mixed reactions of joy and sorrow at the foundation laying.
Hag 2:3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes like nothing?’ Recalling the former glory of Solomon's temple, highlighting contrast.
1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? The concept of believers as God's spiritual temple.
Eph 2:19-22 ...but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord... The Church as a spiritual temple built on Christ as the foundation.
Heb 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Call for continual spiritual sacrifice of praise.

Ezra 3 verses

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Ezra 3 10 Meaning

Ezra 3:10 describes the ceremonial laying of the temple foundation after the return of the exiles from Babylon. This momentous event marked the official beginning of the Second Temple's construction, restoring the central place of worship for the people of God. The verse highlights the active participation of priests and Levites, specifically the musicians descended from Asaph, performing their roles in full vestments with trumpets and cymbals. Their unified action was "to praise the LORD," a spontaneous and divinely ordained response of gratitude and dedication. The phrase "after the ordinance of David king of Israel" underscores the re-establishment of a divinely approved, ordered, and hereditary system of worship, reconnecting the present exiles with their faithful pre-exilic heritage and God's covenant promises to David.

Ezra 3 10 Context

Ezra 3:10 occurs during the post-exilic period, roughly 536 BC, two years after the initial return of Jewish exiles from Babylon under the decree of Cyrus the Great. Chapters 1 and 2 detail the decree and the census of those who returned, led by Zerubbabel, the governor, and Jeshua, the high priest. Ezra 3 describes the initial steps of rebuilding: first, the altar for sacrifices and then, crucially, the foundation of the temple itself. The construction had been delayed due to fear of surrounding peoples (Ezra 3:3), but the people's dedication prevailed. Laying the foundation was a pivotal moment, symbolizing the spiritual and physical re-establishment of the Jewish community and its relationship with God, particularly after the lamentable absence of the temple for 70 years following its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.

Ezra 3 10 Word analysis

  • And when the builders laid the foundation:
    • builders: These refer to the returning Jewish exiles themselves, working under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. They are God's agents in the physical restoration.
    • laid: Hebrew: yassadu (יָסְדוּ). Meaning "to lay, establish, found." This signifies not merely setting stones but inaugurating a new phase of worship and national identity, based on the established, enduring nature of God's plan.
    • the foundation: Hebrew: ha-yesod (הַיְסוֹד). The lowest supporting part of the building. Theologically, a foundation represents stability, permanence, and the necessary basis for anything that follows. It's the beginning upon which everything else is built, physically and spiritually.
  • of the temple of the LORD:
    • temple: Hebrew: hekal (הֵיכַל). This denotes a grand, principal edifice, often referring to a palace or the sanctuary. It specifically identifies God's dwelling place among His people. Its re-establishment signifies the renewal of God's manifest presence among them.
    • the LORD: Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה), the covenant name of God. This specifies that the temple is dedicated exclusively to the true God, in contrast to the pagan deities of Babylon and surrounding nations.
  • they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals:
    • they set: Indicating careful and deliberate placement and assignment of roles.
    • the priests: Hebrew: ha-kohanim (הַכֹּהֲנִים). The descendants of Aaron, responsible for officiating in the holy place and mediating between God and His people. Their presence here signifies proper order and sanctity.
    • in their apparel: Hebrew: bi-lbusham (בִּלְבוּשָׁם). Referring to their specific holy garments as prescribed in Exodus (e.g., Ex 28). Wearing them demonstrates their readiness for service, their consecrated status, and adherence to divine regulations, signifying holiness and readiness for sacred duties.
    • trumpets: Hebrew: chatzozterot (חֲצוֹצְרוֹת). Usually silver trumpets (Num 10:2). These were not just musical instruments but functional tools used for summoning the assembly, giving marching orders, signalling war, and announcing festivals and sacrifices. Their use here indicates solemnity, joy, and the calling of the assembly to witness a sacred event.
    • the Levites the sons of Asaph: Hebrew: ha-levi'im b'nei Asaph (הַלְוִיִּם בְּנֵי אָסָף). The Levites, descendants of Levi, served the priests. Specifically, the "sons of Asaph" were a prominent Levitical family designated by King David for temple music and worship leadership (1 Chr 25:1-2). Their presence highlights the restoration of the specific, hereditary roles in temple service as divinely ordained.
    • cymbals: Hebrew: metziltayim (מְצִלְתַּיִם). Percussion instruments used in joyful worship, producing a loud, distinct sound. Symbolize celebratory praise and powerful expression.
  • to praise the LORD:
    • to praise: Hebrew: l'halel (לְהַלֵּל). From the root halal, meaning "to shine," "to boast," "to praise," "to commend." It signifies joyous acclamation and glorification of God. This was the fundamental purpose of the ceremony: not just building, but worshipping God.
  • after the ordinance of David king of Israel:
    • after the ordinance of: Hebrew: k'mishpat (כְּמִשְׁפַּט). Literally "according to the judgment," "custom," "manner," or "regulation." This phrase is crucial. It asserts a deliberate return to established, divinely approved liturgical practices.
    • David king of Israel: Emphasizes continuity with the pre-exilic, divinely established, and glorious era of unified Israel. It's an affirmation of legitimate worship aligned with the spiritual legacy of one of Israel's greatest kings, demonstrating faithfulness to the divine patterns set forth in the past, including the Davidic covenant and his organization of the temple worship.

Ezra 3 10 Bonus section

  • Purity and Order: The detailed mention of "priests in their apparel" and the specific roles of "Levites the sons of Asaph" reflects a deep concern among the post-exilic community for ritual purity, order, and proper adherence to the Mosaic Law and Davidic ordinances, a direct response to the perceived disarray that may have contributed to their exile. This reflects a conscious return to biblical fidelity.
  • Messianic Foreshadowing: The rebuilding of the temple, a place of God's manifest presence, foreshadows the ultimate Temple, Jesus Christ. His body, destroyed and rebuilt in three days (Jn 2:19-21), represents the New Covenant dwelling of God among humanity, in a more profound and spiritual way than the physical structure. The emphasis on the foundation connects to Christ as the ultimate Cornerstone (Eph 2:20, Isa 28:16).
  • Mixed Emotions: While not directly in this verse, the subsequent verse (Ezra 3:12-13) reveals a mix of great joy and profound sorrow. The younger generation rejoiced at seeing any temple, but the older generation, who remembered Solomon's glorious temple, wept aloud. This highlights the bittersweet nature of their return and rebuilding—a fresh start, but with painful memories of what was lost.

Ezra 3 10 Commentary

Ezra 3:10 marks a monumental and highly symbolic event for the returned exiles. The laying of the temple foundation was more than a construction milestone; it was a re-affirmation of God's covenant with Israel and the centrality of His worship. The meticulous detailing of the priestly and Levitical participation, arrayed in sacred apparel and performing with specific instruments like trumpets and cymbals, underscores the zealous commitment to proper, orderly, and holy worship according to divine prescriptions. The reference to "the ordinance of David king of Israel" is profound, signifying a determined effort to restore the ancient, blessed patterns of worship established by a king whom God profoundly honored. It rooted their present struggles in the rich heritage of faithfulness, providing a powerful sense of continuity, legitimacy, and hope despite the Second Temple's comparatively humble beginnings. This event prefigures Christ, the true Temple (John 2:19-21), in whom God's people become a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5) built on Him, praising God through His ultimate sacrifice (Heb 13:15).