Ezra 6 16

Ezra 6:16 kjv

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:16 nkjv

Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:16 niv

Then the people of Israel?the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles?celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:16 esv

And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:16 nlt

The Temple of God was then dedicated with great joy by the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the people who had returned from exile.

Ezra 6 verses

Ezra 6 16 Meaning

Ezra 6:16 declares the joyful completion and official dedication of the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem by the returning exiles. It highlights the participation of the entire community—the people of Israel, priests, and Levites—underscoring a profound corporate celebration and the fulfillment of divine promise after years of labor and opposition. This act re-established a central place of worship and restored covenant communion with God.

Ezra 6 16 Context

Ezra chapter 6 describes the climatic resolution of the conflict surrounding the rebuilding of the Temple. Following Darius's decree (Ezra 6:6-12), which commanded the cessation of opposition and provided funds from the royal treasury for the Temple work, the elders of the Jews continued the building with dispatch. Inspired by Haggai and Zechariah, the work was completed in the sixth year of King Darius's reign, in the month of Adar (Ezra 6:14-15). Verse 16 then marks the pinnacle: the official dedication of this newly completed "house of God," celebrated with deep joy by all the repatriated community, including the religious leadership. This event signified a major milestone in their post-exilic history, signifying God's faithfulness to restore His people and His presence among them. Historically, it also cemented the religious authority of Jerusalem as the spiritual center for the Jewish people for centuries to come.

Ezra 6 16 Word analysis

• And the people of Israel (וּבְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ - ū·ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl, Aramaic `בני ישראל` - literally "and the sons of Israel"): Emphasizes the collective identity and covenantal continuity of the nation, even after exile. It includes all who had returned, reaffirming their identity as God's chosen people.
• the priests (כָֽהֲנַיָּ֔א - kā·ha·na·yyā, Aramaic `כהניא`): The descendants of Aaron, who were divinely appointed for ministering within the Temple. Their participation was essential for legitimate worship.
• the Levites (וְלֵוָ֣יֵא - wə·lê·wā·yê, Aramaic `ולויא`): Those from the tribe of Levi, designated for service within the Temple, supporting the priests. Their inclusion signified the restoration of the structured worship system mandated by the Law.
• and the rest of the exiles (וּשְׁאָ֥ר בְּנֵי־ גָלוּתָ֖א - ū·šə·’ār bə·nê- ḡā·lū·ṯā, Aramaic `ושאר בני גלותא` - "and the remnant of the sons of exile"): This broad category includes all other Israelites who had returned from Babylonian captivity, signifying that the dedication was a whole-hearted communal act, not just restricted to the religious leaders. It highlights the divine hand in bringing back a "remnant."
• celebrated the dedication (חֲנַכוּ֙ חֲנֻכַּ֥ת - ḥă·na·ḵū ḥă·nuk·kaṯ, Aramaic `חנוכו חנֻכתא` - dedicated the dedication): The verb `ḥănakhū` means "to dedicate" or "to inaugurate." The repetition of the root (`ḥ-n-k`) emphasizes the formal, solemn, and complete nature of the consecration. This mirrors the dedication of Solomon's Temple and foreshadows later Temple rededications (e.g., Maccabees, origin of Hanukkah).
• of this house of God (בַּיְתָא־ דְנָ֖ה אֱלָהָ֥א - bay·ṯā- ḏə·nā ’ĕ·lā·hā, Aramaic `בַּיְתָא דְנָה אֱלָהָא` - "this house of God"): `bayṯā` (house/temple), `děnā` (this), `ělāhā` (God, referring to Yahweh). The demonstrative "this" emphasizes the specific Temple just completed. Calling it "house of God" asserts its divine ownership and purpose as the place where God dwells and receives worship, underscoring its sacred character and theological significance.
• with joy (בְּחֶדְוָֽה׃ - bə·ḥeḏ·wāh, Aramaic `בחדוה` - "in joy"): This final phrase describes the overriding emotion. The Hebrew/Aramaic term `ḥedwah` implies profound gladness and rejoicing. It signals a spiritual relief, divine favor, and the exultation of a people who have seen God's promises fulfilled after long suffering and arduous labor. It's a joy stemming from renewed communion with God.

Words-Group Analysis

• The whole community participation: "And the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles": This listing highlights a full, representative assembly. It emphasizes the inclusivity of the celebration, stressing that the restoration of divine worship was a unified, corporate effort of the entire restored covenant community, rather than just an action of leaders. This counters any sense of fragmentation after the exile, emphasizing unity and national identity.
• The act of sanctification: "celebrated the dedication of this house of God": This phrase underlines the solemn and sacred act of setting apart the Temple for its divine purpose. "House of God" reinforces that it is God's dwelling place on earth, thus making its dedication a deeply spiritual event that restored formal covenant worship, including sacrifice and prayer, interrupted during the exile. It represents God re-establishing His presence among them.
• The spiritual outcome: "with joy": This emotion underscores the spiritual significance of the event. It was not merely the completion of a building but the joyous affirmation of God's faithfulness and their restored relationship with Him. The joy came from seeing prophecies fulfilled, experiencing God's providential care in overcoming obstacles, and once again having a consecrated space to meet with Him.

Ezra 6 16 Bonus section

The act of dedicating the Temple here stands in stark contrast to the initial mixed emotions at the laying of its foundation (Ezra 3:12-13), where older individuals who remembered Solomon's glorious Temple wept, while the younger generation rejoiced. Here, in Ezra 6:16, there is singular, unified "joy" because the Temple is completed and fully operational, representing divine triumph over adversity and fulfilling long-held prophecies. This celebration also foreshadows future joyful Temple-related events in Jewish history, like the Hasmonean rededication during Hanukkah, underscoring the enduring significance of the Temple as a symbol of God's presence and covenant with His people.

Ezra 6 16 Commentary

Ezra 6:16 marks a triumphant moment for the returned exiles. It encapsulates the deep-seated joy that stemmed from the successful completion of the Second Temple, a fulfillment of God's promises after seventy years of desolation. The involvement of "the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles" signifies a complete, unified participation from the entire community, indicating their commitment to re-establishing true worship according to God's commands. The "dedication" of the "house of God" was not just a mere structural inauguration but a theological re-consecration of the holy site to Yahweh, reaffirming His presence among His people. This joyous celebration served as a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness in bringing His remnant back from captivity and providing for them to restore His dwelling place. It set the stage for the reinstitution of Levitical service and sacrificial worship, signaling a new chapter in Israel's post-exilic life.