The Meaning of Ezra 2:63 Explained

Ezra 2:63

KJV: And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

YLT: and the Tirshatha saith to them, that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

Darby: And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

ASV: And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the Tirshatha  said  unto them, that they should not eat  of the most  holy things,  till there stood up  a priest  with Urim  and with Thummim. 

What does Ezra 2:63 Mean?

Study Notes

Urim
.
Urim and Thummim
Urim and Thummim, meaning "lights and perfections." Some make these to be simply a collective name for the stones of the breastplate, so that the total effect of the twelve stones is to manifest the "lights and perfections" of Him who is the antitype of the Aaronic high priest. Per contra, Leviticus 8:8 . This would seem to be conclusive that "the Urim and Thummim" are additional to the stones of the breastplate. In use the Urim and Thummim were connected, in some way not clearly expressed, with the ascertainment of the divine will in particular cases; Numbers 27:21 ; Deuteronomy 33:8 ; 1 Samuel 28:6 ; Ezra 2:63 .

Context Summary

Ezra 2:61-70 - The Building Of The Altar
Throughout their history the true Israelites were eager to maintain their genealogy; wherever they were scattered, they carefully guarded their national registers. Each of us should be able to establish his descent and to vindicate his claim to be considered a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, a partaker in the inheritance which God has promised to them that love Him. If you cannot establish your sonship, you may doubt your right to the spiritual blessings which are a part of the family estates. This is clearly illustrated by the prohibition issued against the eating of the most holy things by the priests whose names were not found in the register. They must wait till the Urim and Thummin attested that they were Israelites indeed. What that witness was in these olden days, the testimony of the Holy Spirit is within us. He witnesses with our spirit that we are born of God.
The first act of the restored Jews was to set up the House of God. For this they gave willingly, and after their ability. The altar was the center of their religion. So the Cross of Jesus is the center of our life and worship, reminding us of His work for us in justification, or His claims in sanctification. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 2

1  The number that return of the people
36  of the priests
40  of the Levites
43  of the Nethinims
55  of Solomon's servants
61  of the priests who could not show their pedigree
64  The whole number of them, with their substance
68  Their offerings

What do the individual words in Ezra 2:63 mean?

And said the governor to them that not they should eat of the most holy things till could consult a priest with the Urim and Thummim
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙ לָהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ יֹאכְל֖וּ מִקֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים עַ֛ד עֲמֹ֥ד כֹּהֵ֖ן לְאוּרִ֥ים וּלְתֻמִּֽים

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙  the  governor 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: תִּרְשָׁתָא  
Sense: Tirshatha—governor.
לָהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יֹאכְל֖וּ  they  should  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים  the  most  holy  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
עַ֛ד  till 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עֲמֹ֥ד  could  consult 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
כֹּהֵ֖ן  a  priest 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
לְאוּרִ֥ים  with  the  Urim 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אוּר 
Sense: stones kept in a pouch on the high-priest’s breastplate, used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues.
וּלְתֻמִּֽים  and  Thummim 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: תֻּמִּים  
Sense: stones provided for the means of achieving a sacred lot.