The Meaning of Ezra 3:10 Explained

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.

YLT: And those building have founded the temple of Jehovah, and they appoint the priests, clothed, with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, by means of the instruments of David king of Israel.

Darby: And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel, with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Jehovah according to the directions of David king of Israel.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Ezra 3:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 3:8-13 - The Foundation Of The Temple Laid
Foundation-laying is not always pleasant work. It means toil under ground, down in the trenches, unnoticed and unknown, and those who begin are often not permitted to finish. But amid all, the minstrel Hope brought her harp, and sang her sweet strains of encouragement. In spite of the fewness and poverty of the builders, the voice of Inspiration had assured them that the glory of the latter house should surpass that of the former. So by the reckoning of faith, in sure anticipation that God would keep His word, the builders encircled their foundations with their songs. But the same event excited tears and shoutings. The old men looked back, and as they contrasted the impoverished and diminished condition of their people with the opulent crowds that had thronged the courts of Solomon's Temple, they could not restrain their tears. The young, new generation had not the same retrospect or ideals and, filled with hope of that which was to be, they could not restrain their shouts, which were heard afar off. "We have been," said the graybeards, "and the good old times were better than these." "We shall be," said the young, "and we will make the coming days better than any that have been since the beginning of the world!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 3

1  The altar is set up
4  Offerings renewed
7  Workmen employed in preparing materials
8  The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning

What do the individual words in Ezra 3:10 mean?

And when laid the foundation the builders of the temple of Yahweh and stood the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals to praise - Yahweh according to the ordinance of David king of Israel
וְיִסְּד֥וּ הַבֹּנִ֖ים אֶת־ הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּעֲמִידוּ֩ הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם בְּנֵֽי־ אָסָף֙ בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֔יִם לְהַלֵּל֙ אֶת־ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־ יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְיִסְּד֥וּ  And  when  laid  the  foundation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
הַבֹּנִ֖ים  the  builders 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
הֵיכַ֣ל  the  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיַּעֲמִידוּ֩  and  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים  in  their  apparel 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine plural
Root: לָבַשׁ  
Sense: to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed.
בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֗וֹת  with  trumpets 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: חֲצֹצְרָה  
Sense: trumpet, clarion.
וְהַלְוִיִּ֤ם  and  the  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
בְּנֵֽי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָסָף֙  of  Asaph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
בַּֽמְצִלְתַּ֔יִם  with  cymbals 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, cd
Root: מְצִלְתַּיִם  
Sense: cymbals.
לְהַלֵּל֙  to  praise 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עַל־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יְדֵ֖י  the  ordinance 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
דָּוִ֥יד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.