Ezra 6:20
New International Version
The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their relatives the priests and for themselves.

New Living Translation
The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.

English Standard Version
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.

Berean Standard Bible
All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves.

King James Bible
For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

New King James Version
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

New American Standard Bible
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

NASB 1995
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

NASB 1977
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the priests and the Levites had cleansed themselves together; all of them were clean. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

Amplified Bible
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were [ceremonially] clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

Christian Standard Bible
All of the priests and Levites were ceremonially clean, because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All of the priests and Levites were ceremonially clean, because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles.

American Standard Version
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Contemporary English Version
The priests and Levites had gone through a ceremony to make themselves acceptable to lead in worship. Then some of them killed Passover lambs for those who had returned, including the other priests and themselves.

English Revised Version
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since the priests and Levites had cleansed themselves, all of them were [now] clean. They killed the Passover lambs for all the people who had returned from exile, for the rest of the priests, and for themselves.

Good News Translation
All the priests and the Levites had purified themselves and were ritually clean. The Levites killed the animals for the Passover sacrifices for all the people who had returned, for the priests, and for themselves.

International Standard Version
because the priests and descendants of Levi had purified themselves together—all of them were pure—and they killed the Passover lamb for every former exile, for their relatives the priests, and for themselves.

Majority Standard Bible
All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves.

NET Bible
The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves.

New Heart English Bible
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover lamb for all the people from the exile, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

World English Bible
Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for the priests and the Levites have been purified together—all of them [are] pure—and they slaughter the Passover for all the sons of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

Young's Literal Translation
for the priests and the Levites have been purified together -- all of them are pure -- and they slaughter the passover for all the sons of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the priests and Levites were purified as one, all of them being purified; and they will slaughter the pass over for all the sons of the exile, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For all the priests and the Levites were purified as one man: all were clear to kill the phase for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and themselves.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the priests and Levites had been purified as one. All were cleansed in order to immolate the Passover for all the sons of the transmigration, and for their brothers, the priests, and for themselves.

New American Bible
The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion, sacrificed the Passover for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves.

New Revised Standard Version
For both the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were clean. So they killed the passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure, and they killed the lambs on the passover day for all the people of the captivity and for their brethren the priests and for themselves.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because the Priests and the Levites were purified as one, and all of them were cleansed, and at Passover all the children of captivity killed lambs, also for their brothers the Priests, also for themselves.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure; and they killed the passover lamb for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the priests and Levites were purified, all were clean to a man, and they slew the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Passover
19On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover. 20All the priests and Levites had purified themselves and were ceremonially clean. And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their priestly brothers, and for themselves. 21The Israelites who had returned from exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.…

Cross References
Exodus 12:21-28
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb. / Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. / When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. ...

2 Chronicles 30:15-20
And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. / They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splattered the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. / Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD. ...

Leviticus 8:6
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

Numbers 9:4-14
So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover, / and they did so in the Wilderness of Sinai, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. / But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day ...

2 Chronicles 29:34
However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

2 Chronicles 35:11
And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests splattered the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.

2 Chronicles 35:6
Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. / Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Matthew 26:17-19
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” / He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’” / So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Mark 14:12-16
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” / So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him, / and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ ...

Luke 22:7-13
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. / Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” / “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked. ...

Acts 20:6
And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.


Treasury of Scripture

For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.

purified together

2 Chronicles 29:34
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

2 Chronicles 30:15-17
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD…

killed

Exodus 12:21
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

2 Chronicles 35:11
And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

Hebrews 7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

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Captivity Ceremonially Children Clean Death Exiles Fellow Killed Levites Passover Priests Pure Purified Slaughter Slaughtered Themselves Together
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Captivity Ceremonially Children Clean Death Exiles Fellow Killed Levites Passover Priests Pure Purified Slaughter Slaughtered Themselves Together
Ezra 6
1. Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, makes a new decree for building
13. By the help of Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai the temple is finished
16. The feast of the dedication is kept
19. and the Passover














All the priests and Levites
This phrase emphasizes the unity and collective responsibility of the religious leaders in Israel. The priests and Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, specifically set apart for religious duties. Historically, the Levites assisted the priests in temple services, and their collaboration here signifies a unified effort in restoring proper worship practices after the Babylonian exile. This unity is a powerful reminder of the importance of communal faithfulness and dedication to God's commands.

had purified themselves
The act of purification was essential for the priests and Levites to perform their duties. In the Hebrew context, purification involved various rituals to cleanse oneself from ceremonial impurity, often involving washing with water, offering sacrifices, and abstaining from certain activities. This purification underscores the holiness required to approach God and serve in His temple, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the need for His people to be set apart.

were ceremonially clean
Being ceremonially clean was a state required for participation in religious activities, especially significant events like the Passover. This cleanliness was not just physical but also spiritual, symbolizing a heart and life dedicated to God. The emphasis on ceremonial cleanliness highlights the importance of inner purity and righteousness in worship, a theme echoed throughout Scripture.

And the Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb
The Levites' role in slaughtering the Passover lamb is significant. The Passover lamb was central to the Passover celebration, commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The act of slaughtering the lamb was a sacred duty, symbolizing the sacrifice necessary for redemption. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, as described in the New Testament.

for all the exiles
The mention of "all the exiles" highlights the inclusive nature of this Passover celebration. After returning from Babylonian captivity, the exiles were re-establishing their identity as God's chosen people. This act of worship was a reaffirmation of their covenant relationship with God, reminding them of His faithfulness and their collective identity as His people.

for their brothers the priests
This phrase indicates the mutual service and support among the religious leaders. The Levites serving their "brothers the priests" reflects the biblical principle of serving one another in love and unity. It also underscores the interconnectedness of the community of faith, where each member plays a vital role in the worship and service of God.

and for themselves
The inclusion of "and for themselves" signifies the personal responsibility each Levite had in the worship process. It reminds us that while serving others is crucial, personal devotion and purity are equally important. This balance of communal and personal faithfulness is a recurring theme in Scripture, encouraging believers to maintain their own spiritual health while serving the broader community.

(20) Purified together.--This verse should be translated as follows, contrary to the present accentuation: "The priests were purified; and the Levites were purified as one man: all were pure; and killed." In this fact the present Levitical and official purity of both orders surpassed that of Hezekiah's celebration (2Chronicles 29:34; 2Chronicles 30:3). It had come to be the practice that the Levites slaughtered all the paschal lambs.

Verse 20. - The opening section of this verse is mistranslated. Ezra really makes a distinction between the priests and the Levites, the former of whom, he says, "purified themselves," while the latter "were all pure, as one man;" wherefore the latter killed the paschal lambs, not only for themselves and for the people, but also for their brethren the priests. It would seem that, as in Hezekiah's time, "the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests" (2 Chronicles 29:34).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כֻּלָּ֣ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the priests
הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and Levites
וְהַלְוִיִּ֛ם (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

had purified themselves
הִֽטַּהֲר֞וּ (hiṭ·ṭa·hă·rū)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure

and were ceremonially clean.
טְהוֹרִ֑ים (ṭə·hō·w·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

And [the Levites] slaughtered
וַיִּשְׁחֲט֤וּ (way·yiš·ḥă·ṭū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7819: To slaughter, beat

the Passover lamb
הַפֶּ֙סַח֙ (hap·pe·saḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6453: A pretermission, exemption, Passover

for all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the exiles,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

for their priestly
הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

brothers,
וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֥ם (wə·la·’ă·ḥê·hem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and for themselves.
וְלָהֶֽם׃ (wə·lā·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They


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OT History: Ezra 6:20 For the priests and the Levites had (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 6:19
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