Ezra 3 2

Ezra 3:2 kjv

Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

Ezra 3:2 nkjv

Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

Ezra 3:2 niv

Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

Ezra 3:2 esv

Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

Ezra 3:2 nlt

Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God.

Ezra 3 verses

Ezra 3 2 Meaning

Ezra 3:2 describes the swift and unified action of Jeshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor, along with their respective brethren, upon their return from Babylonian exile. Their primary and immediate task was to rebuild the altar for the worship of the God of Israel. This restoration was for the specific purpose of offering burnt offerings in precise accordance with the detailed instructions given in the Law of Moses, establishing a re-commitment to God's prescribed worship as the very first step in their return.

Ezra 3 2 Context

Ezra 3:2 immediately follows the list of returnees from Babylonian exile in Ezra chapter 2. After seventy years of captivity (Jer 29:10), a remnant of the Jewish people has returned to Jerusalem under the decree of King Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4). The land is desolate, and the temple lies in ruins. This verse marks the very first significant act taken by the returned community, demonstrating their clear spiritual priority: re-establishing their covenant relationship with God through worship before embarking on the full rebuilding of the temple or city walls. The historical backdrop is the early part of the Second Temple period (around 537-536 BCE), where prophetic voices like Haggai and Zechariah would soon emerge to encourage the ongoing work. The actions here set the spiritual foundation for all subsequent restoration efforts.

Ezra 3 2 Word analysis

• Then stood up (וַיָּקֻ֤ם vayyāqum): This phrase indicates decisive action and initiative. It's not passive waiting, but an active rising to undertake a task. It conveys urgency and determination to begin the process of restoration.

• Jeshua (יֵשׁ֥וּעַ Yeshua): A significant figure, serving as the high priest during the restoration. His name means "Yahweh is salvation" or "the Lord saves," carrying powerful theological connotations. He provides spiritual leadership, connecting the present act of worship to the historical priestly line.

• the son of Jozadak (בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָ֔ק ben-Yehoṣāḏāq): This patronymic identifies Jeshua's priestly lineage. Jozadak was the high priest exiled to Babylon, validating Jeshua's inherited spiritual authority and legitimacy among the returned exiles.

• and his brethren the priests (וְאֶחָיו֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים və’eḥāyw hakōhănîm): Signifies the involvement and collaboration of the entire priestly order that had returned. It emphasizes a collective spiritual leadership and the re-establishment of the structured service to God.

• and Zerubbabel (וּזְרֻבָּבֶל֙ ûZəruḇbāḇel): The civil leader, of Davidic royal lineage. His name means "seed of Babylon" or "sown in Babylon," reflecting his birth during the exile but his divine calling for restoration. He represents the political and administrative authority among the returnees.

• the son of Shealtiel (בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֔ל ben-Šə’altî’ēl): This further solidifies Zerubbabel's identity as a descendant of David, tracing his lineage to the royal house of Judah. His presence connects the political restoration with the Messianic hope.

• and his brethren (וְאֶחָיו֙ və’eḥāyw): Refers to the people of Judah, perhaps more specifically to the tribal heads and community representatives who returned with Zerubbabel. This underscores that the rebuilding effort was a unified, community-wide undertaking involving both religious and civil sectors.

• and builded (וַיִּבְנ֤וּ vayyiḇnū): "And they built." The plural verb emphasizes the combined, purposeful action of both Jeshua's and Zerubbabel's groups. It's the active construction of a physical object critical to worship.

• the altar (אֶת־מִזְבַּח֙ ’eṯ-mizbāḥ): The immediate focus of their construction efforts. The altar was central to the sacrificial system, symbolizing atonement, dedication, and communion with God. Its reconstruction before the temple itself signifies the priority of direct worship and reconciliation.

• of the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל ’Ĕlōhê Yiśrā’ēl): This emphatic title highlights the exclusive covenant relationship between Yahweh and His chosen people. It served as a clear declaration of their allegiance to the one true God, differentiating themselves from the idolatry of surrounding nations and the polytheism prevalent in Babylon. It carries a strong polemical implication against false gods.

• to offer burnt offerings thereon (לְהַעֲל֣וֹת עָלָ֔יו עוֹל֖וֹת ləha‘ălōṯ ‘ālāw ‘ōlōṯ): "To cause to ascend upon it whole burnt offerings." Specifies the direct purpose of the altar: to re-establish the primary and foundational sacrificial ritual, the 'olah (whole burnt offering), which signified complete dedication and expiation.

• as it is written (כַּכָּת֣וּב kakkāṯûḇ): A crucial phrase indicating strict adherence to scriptural directives. It establishes that their actions were not based on human invention but on divine instruction, underscoring the authority of the Word.

• in the law of Moses (בְּתוֹרַ֖ת מֹשֶׁ֣ה bəṯôraṯ Mōšeh): Directly identifies the source of their authority: the foundational divine instructions given through Moses. This validates their re-instituted practices as legitimate and divinely ordained.

• the man of God (אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִֽים ’îš hā’ĕlōhîm): A title of profound respect for Moses, denoting his unique and intimate relationship with God as His appointed messenger and lawgiver. This reinforces the authoritative and binding nature of the Torah.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren": This formation emphasizes the powerful unity between the spiritual and civil leadership. The high priest representing the lineage of Aaron, and Zerubbabel representing the lineage of David, acted in complete harmony. This partnership, including their respective "brethren," indicates a collective, comprehensive commitment to God's plan, signifying a model for how the community was to function under divine mandate. This collaboration also has eschatological echoes in prophetic literature regarding the King-Priest figure.
  • "and builded the altar...to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written": This phrase clearly states the core action and its underlying principle. The rebuilding of the altar was the critical first step in their spiritual renewal, signaling that proper worship was paramount. The immediate re-institution of burnt offerings meant resuming fundamental acts of atonement and dedication to God. The phrase "as it is written" grounds all their efforts firmly in divine revelation, showcasing their obedience to the explicit commands of the Law, rather than tradition or improvisation. This immediate obedience in re-establishing formal worship demonstrates their repentant hearts and priority of covenant renewal over personal or material concerns.

Ezra 3 2 Bonus section

The speed with which the altar was rebuilt (occurring within seven months of their arrival, Ezra 3:1) highlights the intense spiritual hunger and determination of the returnees. They were not deterred by the desolation of Jerusalem or the threat of local adversaries (implied later in Ezra). The immediate re-institution of sacrifice was a powerful act of faith, proclaiming God's continued sovereignty despite the seventy years of exile. This proactive restoration of a proper spiritual foundation was a testament to the transformative power of God's Word and covenant on His people, reminding them that their identity and purpose stemmed from their relationship with Him, validated by obedience to His commands. The combined leadership of Jeshua (priestly) and Zerubbabel (Davidic-royal) also subtly prefigures the Messianic King-Priest, Jesus Christ, who uniquely fulfills both roles as the ultimate altar, sacrifice, and High Priest, bringing the new and living way for His people (Hebrews).

Ezra 3 2 Commentary

Ezra 3:2 reveals the paramount spiritual commitment of the returned exiles: their very first communal act was the reconstruction of the altar for worship. Under the unified leadership of Jeshua, the spiritual head, and Zerubbabel, the civil governor, the people prioritized restoring their relationship with God through prescribed sacrifices according to the Law of Moses. This act symbolized not merely a ritualistic rebuilding, but a profound re-orientation of their national life around Yahweh. They did not wait for the entire temple structure to be rebuilt; the immediate necessity was the re-establishment of atonement and communion with God. This adherence to divine instruction, explicitly noted "as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God," served as a foundational principle, setting the trajectory for the post-exilic community: total reliance on God's revealed Word. Their initiative demonstrated faith and a profound understanding that national restoration depended first and foremost on spiritual renewal.

Examples:

• A new Christian convert prioritizing consistent personal devotion (prayer, Bible reading) before joining ministry, much like the altar was built before the temple.
• A church re-evaluating its mission and ministries, ensuring they align directly with scriptural commands, as "it is written in the law of Moses."
• Leaders in a spiritual community, both clergy and lay, working collaboratively and humbly to seek God's will for collective endeavors.