The Meaning of Ezra 8:17 Explained

Ezra 8:17

KJV: And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

YLT: and I charge them for Iddo the head, in the place Casiphia, and put in their mouth words to speak unto Iddo, and his brethren the Nethinim, in the place Casiphia, to bring to us ministrants for the house of our God.

Darby: And I gave them a commission to Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia, and I put words in their mouths to say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

ASV: And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I sent  them with commandment  unto Iddo  the chief  at the place  Casiphia,  and I told  them what  they should say  unto Iddo,  [and] to his brethren  the Nethinims,  at the place  Casiphia,  that they should bring  unto us ministers  for the house  of our God. 

What does Ezra 8:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 8:1-23 - United Prayer For Guidance
The number of men who accompanied Ezra amounted to 1754, but the women and children would bring up the gross total to about 7000. The lack of Levites was very serious. These should have been among the very first. A deputation was therefore sent to a neighboring seminary or college, where they were being trained, and here again is the mention of the good hand of God. Sometimes hearts are ready and waiting for service, which need just a word or appeal to complete their plans. There is always special interest in this paragraph for those who are venturing forth on the untried and unknown. The camp at Ahava; the sending for the priests; the waiting for their coming; the recognition of God's good hand in sending a man of discretion; and then the fast and prayer for protection. We can almost see the little band on the point of plunging into the inhospitable and dangerous desert, spending hours in prayer, and restrained from requesting an escort, lest they might invalidate their leader's trustful boast. How careful we should be to do nothing inconsistent with the proud position that faith gives us in the keeping power of God! Seek Him, O soul of mine, and He will be found, and His hand shall be upon thee for good. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ezra 8

1  The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon
15  He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple
21  He keeps a fast
24  He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests
31  From Ahava they come to Jerusalem
33  The treasure is weighed in the temple
36  The commission is delivered

What do the individual words in Ezra 8:17 mean?

And I gave a command them for Iddo the chief man at Casiphia the place and I told them what they should say to Iddo [and] his brothers - the Nethinim the place that they should bring us servants for the house of our God
[ואוצאה] (וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה) אוֹתָם֙ עַל־ אִדּ֣וֹ הָרֹ֔אשׁ בְּכָסִפְיָ֖א הַמָּק֑וֹם וָאָשִׂימָה֩ בְּפִיהֶ֨ם דְּבָרִ֜ים לְ֠דַבֵּר אֶל־ אִדּ֨וֹ אָחִ֤יו [הנתונים] (הַנְּתִינִים֙) הַמָּק֔וֹם לְהָֽבִיא־ לָ֥נוּ מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

(וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה)  I  gave  a  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אִדּ֣וֹ  Iddo 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִדֹּו  
Sense: a chief Israelite during resettlement.
הָרֹ֔אשׁ  the  chief  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
בְּכָסִפְיָ֖א  at  Casiphia 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כָּסִפְיָא  
Sense: a place in Babylonia on the road between Babylon and Jerusalem; site uncertain.
הַמָּק֑וֹם  the  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
וָאָשִׂימָה֩  and  I  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
לְ֠דַבֵּר  they  should  say 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אִדּ֨וֹ  Iddo 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִדֹּו  
Sense: a chief Israelite during resettlement.
אָחִ֤יו  [and]  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
[הנתונים]  - 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
(הַנְּתִינִים֙)  the  Nethinim 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נְתוּנִים 
Sense: Nethinims.
הַמָּק֔וֹם  the  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
לְהָֽבִיא־  that  they  should  bring 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לָ֥נוּ  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים  servants 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.
לְבֵ֥ית  for  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ  of  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).