The Meaning of Ezra 8:36 Explained

Ezra 8:36

KJV: And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

YLT: and they give the laws of the king to the lieutenants of the king and the governors beyond the river, and they have lifted up the people and the house of God.

Darby: And they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps, and to the governors on this side the river. And they furthered the people and the house of God.

ASV: And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they delivered  the king's  commissions  unto the king's  lieutenants,  and to the governors  on this side  the river:  and they furthered  the people,  and the house  of God. 

What does Ezra 8:36 Mean?

Context Summary

Ezra 8:24-36 - Thanksgiving For Safety And Success
Into our hands also is committed first the rich treasure and solemn trust of our own souls, and next the great deposit of the gospel; 1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Timothy 6:20. In order to fulfil this sacred charge there must be purity, "Ye are holy;" and sleepless vigilance, "Watch ye." There were ambushes and designs on their safety, but the foe was unable to break through the divine environment, Ezra 8:31. How safe are we who live in God! What joy as the little band weighed the vessels, and rendered up their charge, Luke 19:16. Is not this a picture of our entrance into heaven, when we also shall acknowledge the good hand of the Lord, and sacrifice our burnt offerings of thanksgiving? This incident is no exception. Similar care will be surely and blessedly experienced by all those who trust under the shadow of God's wing. It is credibly affirmed that, in the American Civil War, none of the Quakers, who of course were non-resisters, suffered any damage from the troops of either side. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them." Let those who fast and pray for God's help be sure to return Him thanks when it has been given. [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 8:36 mean?

And they delivered - orders of the king to satraps and the governors [in the region] beyond the River so they gave support to the people and the house of God -
וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־ דָּתֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ וּפַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְנִשְּׂא֥וּ הָעָ֖ם וְאֶת־ בֵּֽית־ הָאֱלֹהִֽים ס

וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀  And  they  delivered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
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.
דָּתֵ֣י  orders 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: דָּת  
Sense: decree, law, edict, regulation, usage.
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙  to  satraps 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפָּן  
Sense: satrap, a governor of a Persian province.
וּפַחֲו֖וֹת  and  the  governors  [in  the  region] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: פֶּחָה  
Sense: governor.
עֵ֣בֶר  beyond 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
הַנָּהָ֑ר  the  River 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
וְנִשְּׂא֥וּ  so  they  gave  support  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
הָעָ֖ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בֵּֽית־  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הָאֱלֹהִֽים  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation