Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; New Living Translation Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they sent us a man named Sherebiah, along with eighteen of his sons and brothers. He was a very astute man and a descendant of Mahli, who was a descendant of Levi son of Israel. English Standard Version And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; Berean Standard Bible And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; Berean Literal Bible And they brought to us by the good hand of our God upon us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, Sherebiah, and his sons and his brothers, eighteen; King James Bible And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; New King James Version Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men; New American Standard Bible And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of insight from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, eighteen men; NASB 1995 According to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men; NASB 1977 And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men; Legacy Standard Bible So, according to the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men; Amplified Bible And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of understanding (insight) from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, named Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers (relatives), 18 men; Berean Annotated Bible And since the gracious hand of our God {Elohenu} was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah (YHWH has scorched)—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli (sick) son of Levi, the son of Israel (he wrestles with God)—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; Christian Standard Bible Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah —a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Levi son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, Holman Christian Standard Bible Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Levi son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, American Standard Version And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; Contemporary English Version God was kind to us and caused them to send a skillful man named Sherebiah, who was a Levite from the family of Mahli. Eighteen of his relatives came with him. English Revised Version And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; GOD'S WORD® Translation God was guiding us, so Iddo and his relatives brought us someone competent, Sherebiah, who was a descendant of Mahli, Levi, and Israel. They brought us 18 of Sherebiah's sons and relatives. Good News Translation Through God's grace they sent us Sherebiah, an able man, a Levite from the clan of Mahli; and eighteen of his sons and brothers came with him. International Standard Version By the grace of our God they brought back a discerning man from the descendants of Mahli, a descendant of Israel's son Levi, along with Sherebiah and eighteen of his sons and brothers; NET Bible Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men, New Heart English Bible According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; Webster's Bible Translation And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel—along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; World English Bible According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they bring to us, according to the good hand of our God on us, a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, and Sherebiah, and his sons, and his brothers, eighteen; Berean Literal Bible And they brought to us by the good hand of our God upon us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, Sherebiah, and his sons and his brothers, eighteen; Young's Literal Translation And they bring to us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, and Sherebiah, and his sons, and his brethren, eighteen; Smith's Literal Translation And they will bring to us according to the good hand of our God upon us a man of understanding from the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel; and Sherebiah, and his sons and his brethren, eighteen. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a most learned man of the sons of Moholi the son of Levi the son of Israel, and Sarabias and his sons, and his brethren eighteen, Catholic Public Domain Version And because the good hand of our God was over us, they led to us a very learned man from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, with Sherebiah, and his sons, and his eighteen brothers, New American Bible Since the favoring hand of our God was over us, they sent to us a well-instructed man, one of the descendants of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and kinsmen, eighteen men. New Revised Standard Version Since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the descendants of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and kin, eighteen; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd by the good favor of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the descendants of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sheriah, with his brothers and his sons, twelve; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they brought to us according to the hand of God who was kind to us, one wise man of the children of Makhli, son of Levi, son of Israel and Sheriah and his brothers and his twelve children OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; Brenton Septuagint Translation And they came to us, as the good hand of our God was upon us, even a man of understanding of the sons of Mooli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and at the commencement came his sons and his brethren, eighteen. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ezra Sends for the Levites…17And I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, with a message for him and his kinsmen, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us Sherebiah— a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel— along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; 19also Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and their sons, 20 men.… Cross References And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, Ezra 7:9 He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him. Ezra 7:28 and who has shown me favor before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officials. And because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, I took courage and gathered the leaders of Israel to return with me. Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. they brought us Sherebiah— Nehemiah 12:8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, with his associates, led the songs of thanksgiving. Nehemiah 10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Nehemiah 9:4 And the Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani—stood on the raised platform and cried out in a loud voice to the LORD their God. a man of insight Deuteronomy 1:13 Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel— 1 Chronicles 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: Numbers 3:20 And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families. Exodus 6:16-19 These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years. / The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans. / The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. … along with his sons and brothers, 18 men; Nehemiah 12:24 The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God. 1 Chronicles 23:24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD. Numbers 8:26 After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.” Nehemiah 8:7-9 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. / So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read. / Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. Treasury of Scripture And by the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; by the good hand Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezra 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Nehemiah 2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. a man of understanding. Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. Proverbs 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Mahli Numbers 3:20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 1 Chronicles 6:19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. Sherebiah Ezra 8:24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, Nehemiah 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. Nehemiah 9:4,5 Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God… Jump to Previous Discretion Eighteen Good Hand Israel Levi Mahli Sherebiah UnderstandingJump to Next Discretion Eighteen Good Hand Israel Levi Mahli Sherebiah UnderstandingEzra 8 1. The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon15. 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 And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us This phrase emphasizes divine providence and favor, a recurring theme in the narrative of Ezra. The "gracious hand" signifies God's active involvement and blessing in the endeavors of His people. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as Nehemiah 2:8, where God's hand is also described as guiding and providing success. It reflects the belief that God's favor is essential for the success of any undertaking, especially in the context of returning from exile and rebuilding the community. they brought us Sherebiah a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel along with his sons and brothers, 18 men Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest who led a group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was instrumental in the spiritual and religious reform of the Jewish people. 2. Sherebiah A Levite described as a man of insight. He was chosen to assist Ezra in the journey and the religious duties in Jerusalem. 3. Mahli An ancestor of Sherebiah, from the tribe of Levi, indicating the Levitical lineage which was important for temple service. 4. Levi The third son of Jacob and Leah, whose descendants were set apart for religious duties in Israel. 5. The gracious hand of God A recurring theme in Ezra, indicating divine favor and guidance in the endeavors of the Israelites. Teaching Points Divine Guidance and FavorRecognize the importance of seeking God's guidance in our endeavors. Just as God's hand was upon Ezra, we should seek His favor in our lives. The Role of Insight and Wisdom Value insight and wisdom in leadership. Sherebiah was chosen for his insight, highlighting the need for wise and discerning leaders in our communities. Importance of Lineage and Heritage Understand the significance of spiritual heritage. The mention of Sherebiah's lineage underscores the importance of maintaining and honoring our spiritual roots. Community and Collaboration Emphasize the power of working together. Ezra's journey was successful because of the collective effort of many, reminding us of the strength found in community. Faithfulness in Service Be faithful in the roles God has given us. Sherebiah's commitment to his duties as a Levite serves as a model for our own faithfulness in service. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezra 8:18?2. How does Ezra 8:18 demonstrate God's provision through "a good hand upon us"? 3. What role does divine guidance play in leadership decisions, as seen in Ezra 8:18? 4. How can we seek God's hand in our plans, like Ezra did? 5. Compare God's provision in Ezra 8:18 with Philippians 4:19. What similarities exist? 6. How can we recognize and respond to God's guidance in our daily lives? 7. How does Ezra 8:18 demonstrate God's providence in guiding His people? 8. What role does divine intervention play in Ezra 8:18? 9. How does Ezra 8:18 reflect the importance of leadership in faith communities? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezra 8? 11. How can the exclusive priestly role assigned to Aaron's descendants (Numbers 18:1-7) be historically verified given the sparse archaeological evidence for tribal lineages? 12. (Ezra 3:8-9) Why would Levites, rather than skilled foremen or Persian officials, be in charge of supervising construction under Persian rule? 13. Malachi 2:7-8 - Where is the historical or archaeological support that the priests actually corrupted God's covenant in this manner? 14. Why do Nehemiah 8:9-12 command people to rejoice instead of mourning if they had just realized their past failures? What Does Ezra 8:18 Mean And since the gracious hand of our God was upon us– Ezra has already testified to God’s favor in Ezra 7:6, 28; here he repeats it to remind the travelers (and us) that the entire return to Jerusalem is God-initiated. – The phrase underscores that success is not credited to Ezra’s planning but to the Lord who “turns the heart of kings” (Proverbs 21:1; compare Ezra 7:27). – Nehemiah later echoes the same wording in Nehemiah 2:8, 18, showing a consistent biblical pattern: when God’s hand rests on His people, doors open, supplies arrive, opposition is restrained, and hearts are stirred. – For believers today the verse affirms that every step of obedience is answered by God’s enabling grace (Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 9:8). they brought us Sherebiah—a man of insight from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel— – Ezra had discovered a shortage of Levites for temple service (Ezra 8:15). After sending for help (8:16-17), the response is immediate: Sherebiah arrives. – “A man of insight” reveals God’s specific provision of spiritual leadership, not just laborers. Later passages list Sherebiah among those who interpret the Law (Nehemiah 8:7) and who sign the covenant renewal (Nehemiah 10:12), confirming his reliability. – Tracing his lineage through Mahli (one of Levi’s grandsons; Exodus 6:16-19; 1 Chronicles 6:44) verifies that Sherebiah is a true Levite, eligible to minister near the holy things (Numbers 8:14-19). – God’s faithfulness is seen in preserving genealogies during exile so the right man can stand in the right place at the right time (compare Luke 1:5-9 for priestly lineage kept intact centuries later). along with his sons and brothers, 18 men – God’s supply is abundant: not one Levite, but an entire clan unit, ensuring worship at Jerusalem will be properly staffed (2 Chronicles 29:34 shows the need for adequate Levites). – The inclusion of “sons and brothers” highlights generational commitment. Families, not lone individuals, are answering God’s call (Joshua 24:15). – The specific number “18” is recorded to emphasize historic reliability (similar to the precise counts in Numbers 1 and Ezra 2) and to show that every person matters in God’s plan (Matthew 10:30). – Their willingness to leave Babylon’s comforts echoes Abraham’s obedience (Hebrews 11:8-10) and sets an example for believers to prioritize God’s house over personal security (Matthew 6:33). summary Ezra 8:18 demonstrates that the returning exiles succeed because God’s gracious hand moves hearts, arranges details, and provides qualified servants. The Lord answers Ezra’s need for Levites by sending Sherebiah—an insightful, lineage-confirmed leader—along with his family, totaling 18. The verse reassures every generation that when God calls us to a task, He also supplies the people and resources necessary to fulfill it. (18) A man of understanding.--Probably a proper name, Ishsekel. This is required by the "and" before "Sherebiah," who was a Levite, referred to by Nehemiah (Ezra 8:7).Verse 18. - By the good hand of our God upon us. This is Ezra's usual mode of acknowledging the good providence and favour of Almighty God (see Ezra 7:6, 9, 27; and Ezra 8:31). Similar expressions occur also in Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:8, 18), but not elsewhere in Scripture. A man of understanding. In the Hebrew Ish-sekel, which some take for a proper name, but without any necessity. No such name is known to have existed; and the real name of "the man of understanding" appears to have been "Sherebiah," who is mentioned more than once in Nehemiah (Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:4, 5) as a chief Levite. And Sherebiah should be simply "Sherebiah." The preposition "and" (Hebrew ן) has been inserted by a careless copyist.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And since the graciousהַטּוֹבָ֤ה (haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good hand כְּיַד־ (kə·yaḏ-) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand of our God אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative was upon us, עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (‘ā·lê·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against they brought וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ (way·yā·ḇî’·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go us לָ֜נוּ (lā·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's Hebrew Sherebiah— וְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה (wə·šê·rê·ḇə·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8274: Sherebiah -- 'Yah has sent burning heat', an Israelite name a man אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person of insight שֶׂ֔כֶל (śe·ḵel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7922: Intelligence, success from the descendants מִבְּנֵ֣י (mib·bə·nê) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of Mahli מַחְלִ֔י (maḥ·lî) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4249: Mahli -- a Levite, also a son of Mushi son בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of Levi, לֵוִ֖י (lê·wî) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3878: Levi -- a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him the son בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of Israel— יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc along with his sons וּבָנָ֥יו (ū·ḇā·nāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son and brothers, וְאֶחָ֖יו (wə·’e·ḥāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) 18 שְׁמֹנָ֥ה (šə·mō·nāh) Number - masculine singular Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth men; עָשָֽׂר׃ (‘ā·śār) Number - masculine singular Strong's 6240: Ten Links Ezra 8:18 NIVEzra 8:18 NLT Ezra 8:18 ESV Ezra 8:18 NASB Ezra 8:18 KJV Ezra 8:18 BibleApps.com Ezra 8:18 Biblia Paralela Ezra 8:18 Chinese Bible Ezra 8:18 French Bible Ezra 8:18 Catholic Bible OT History: Ezra 8:18 According to the good hand of our (Ezr. 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