Ezra 8:28 kjv
And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
Ezra 8:28 nkjv
And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.
Ezra 8:28 niv
I said to them, "You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.
Ezra 8:28 esv
And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.
Ezra 8:28 nlt
And I said to these priests, "You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the LORD. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of our ancestors.
Ezra 8 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:6 | "and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." | Israel's collective holiness for God |
| Lev 10:10-11 | "You are to distinguish between the holy and the common..." | Priestly responsibility to discern holiness |
| Lev 20:7 | "Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God." | Command to be holy as God is holy |
| Num 3:8 | "...keep the charge of the tabernacle of meeting..." | Levites' duty to guard sacred things |
| Num 4:15 | "...Aaronic priests shall come to cover them... Levites shall carry..." | Specific instructions for holy vessel care |
| Num 18:5 | "So you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar..." | Priests and Levites' duty for holy things |
| Deut 12:6 | "...there you shall bring your burnt offerings... and your freewill offerings." | Location for bringing freewill offerings |
| 1 Chron 23:28 | "Their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron in the service..." | Levites aiding in the temple, caring for vessels |
| Ezra 7:10 | "For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law..." | Ezra's own dedication to God's word and law |
| Ezra 7:27-28 | "Blessed be the LORD... who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart..." | God's provision and guidance for the journey |
| Hag 2:8 | "'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts." | God's absolute ownership of all wealth |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." | Principle of returning dedicated wealth to God |
| Rom 12:1 | "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Believers' call to personal consecration |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... bought with a price?" | Believers' bodies are sacred and belong to God |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion..." | Principle of cheerful, freewill giving |
| Eph 5:2 | "...Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God." | Christ as the ultimate holy offering |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | New Testament believers' corporate holiness |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Spiritual offerings pleasing to God |
| Rev 5:9 | "Worthy are You... for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God..." | The ultimate sacrifice making believers holy |
| Gen 28:13 | "...I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac." | Concept of the 'God of your fathers' |
| Ex 3:6 | "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." | Emphasizes covenant faithfulness across generations |
| Psa 24:1 | "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof..." | God's universal ownership |
| 2 Tim 2:20-21 | "...if anyone cleanses himself... he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart..." | Believers as purified vessels for God's purpose |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." | Sanctification through God's truth |
| Isa 52:11 | "Depart, depart, go out from there... carry no unclean thing... cleanse yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD." | Purity required for handling sacred things |
Ezra 8 verses
Ezra 8 28 Meaning
Ezra 8:28 instructs the leaders chosen for the journey to protect and safeguard the valuable sacred items dedicated for the Jerusalem Temple. Ezra declares both the priests (or designated keepers) and the holy vessels, along with the silver and gold, as set apart for the LORD. The silver and gold are further specified as a freewill offering given to Yahweh, the God of their fathers, emphasizing both their sacred nature and the voluntary devotion behind them.
Ezra 8 28 Context
Ezra chapter 8 details the second wave of Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem, led by Ezra, approximately 80 years after the first return under Zerubbabel. Prior to setting out, Ezra calls for a time of fasting and prayer at the river Ahava (Ezra 8:21), seeking divine protection for their arduous and dangerous journey, as he had declined a military escort from King Artaxerxes to demonstrate trust in God (Ezra 8:22). This verse specifically occurs after the treasures for the temple – including gold, silver, and precious vessels donated by the king, his counselors, nobles, and the people of Israel – have been carefully weighed and entrusted to twelve trusted priestly and Levitical leaders (Ezra 8:24-27). Ezra's declaration in verse 28 emphasizes the profound holiness of both the individuals chosen to guard the items and the items themselves, underscoring the grave responsibility for their safe delivery to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
Ezra 8 28 Word analysis
- And I said unto them: Ezra, as the spiritual leader, conveys this crucial instruction. His authority stems from God's hand being upon him (Ezra 7:6, 7:28).
- Ye are holy: The Hebrew word is qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ), meaning "holy, consecrated, set apart." This signifies that the individuals entrusted with these treasures—the chief priests, Levites, and family heads chosen by Ezra—are ritually and morally set apart for the service of the LORD. They must be ceremonially clean and demonstrate integrity, reflecting their designated role in carrying sacred temple articles. Their personal holiness is critical to handle holy things.
- unto the LORD: The phrase "unto the LORD" (לַיהוה, la-Yahweh) establishes the absolute ownership and purpose. The holiness ascribed to the individuals and objects is not inherent but derived from their relationship to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It denotes their exclusive dedication and service to Him.
- the vessels are holy also: The Hebrew word for vessels is kley (כְּלֵי), referring to articles, utensils, or instruments. These were precious gold and silver items intended for use in the Temple rituals (e.g., cups, bowls, dishes). They were "holy" (qodesh) because they were consecrated and dedicated specifically for God's service and worship, thus making them off-limits for common or profane use. This echoes the concept of holy articles in the Tabernacle and Temple throughout the Pentateuch (e.g., Ex 30:29).
- and the silver and the gold: This refers to the specific metallic donations received for the Temple's restoration and future use. Their monetary value was significant, but their holiness derived from their dedication to God's house, not just their intrinsic worth.
- are a freewill offering: The Hebrew term is nedavah (נְדָבָה), meaning "spontaneous offering, voluntary gift, liberal donation." This highlights that the king, his officials, and the Israelites gave these treasures out of their own volition, not under compulsion. Such offerings held a special significance in Israelite worship, demonstrating true devotion and generosity of heart. It implies a willing heart aligned with God's purposes.
- unto the LORD, the God of your fathers: This reinforces the identity of the recipient of the offering – Yahweh, the covenant God who had historically guided and protected their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.). This invocation links their present journey and offerings back to the faithful dealings of God with His people through generations, evoking a sense of continuity and trust in His ongoing care and commitment to the covenant. It also implicitly connects the offerings to God's providential care in Babylon, demonstrating His faithfulness.
- Ye are holy... vessels are holy: This forms a parallel structure, emphasizing that both the caretakers and the sacred objects are equally set apart and dedicated to the LORD. This parallel implies a spiritual congruence: those handling God's holy things must themselves be holy, upholding ritual purity and ethical integrity. It underscores the responsibility and sacred trust.
Ezra 8 28 Bonus section
The significant weight of the silver and gold, approximately 650 talents of silver, 100 talents of silver articles, 100 talents of gold, and 20 bowls of gold (Ezra 8:26-27), made them highly vulnerable to attack. The declaration of holiness therefore served as both a spiritual safeguard and a profound moral imperative to protect these items. It implicitly acknowledged the potential danger while relying on divine protection. Furthermore, the act of entrusting such vast wealth to a select few was a significant display of Ezra's faith in God to keep both the items and the appointed leaders pure and secure, despite having rejected an armed guard. This act of faith, combined with the rigorous instructions regarding holiness, highlights a key principle: God's work, when undertaken in reliance on His providence and adherence to His standards of holiness, receives His ultimate protection.
Ezra 8 28 Commentary
Ezra 8:28 encapsulates the essence of consecrated service and stewardship within Israel's returning community. Ezra, embodying spiritual leadership, reminds the appointed carriers of the absolute holiness demanded for their task. The emphasis on "holy" for both the individuals and the material items highlights a profound truth: proximity to sacred objects demands a sacred character. The term qodesh isn't just ritual cleanliness but an ethical and moral setting apart for God's exclusive use. These precious vessels, gold, and silver were not merely valuable assets but "freewill offerings," signifying heartfelt devotion and genuine surrender to the Lordship of Yahweh, "the God of your fathers." This pointed to God's enduring covenant faithfulness and underscored that the returned community’s actions should mirror the devotion of their ancestors. The verse thus serves as a foundational declaration of trust, purity, and accountability essential for those involved in divine service, especially concerning the Lord's dedicated provisions and people during a perilous, faith-driven journey.