Ezra 8:28
New International Version
I said to them, “You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.

New Living Translation
And I said to these priests, “You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the LORD. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of our ancestors.

English Standard Version
And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

King James Bible
And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.

New King James Version
And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

New American Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

NASB 1995
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

NASB 1977
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “You are holy to Yahweh, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.

Amplified Bible
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, the utensils are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

Christian Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your ancestors.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

American Standard Version
And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.

Contemporary English Version
I said to the priests: You belong to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and these things also belong to him. The silver and gold were willingly given as gifts to the LORD.

English Revised Version
And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD, the God of your fathers.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I told them, "You and the utensils are holy to the LORD. The silver and gold are freewill offerings to the LORD God of your ancestors.

Good News Translation
I said to them, "You are sacred to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and so are all the silver and gold utensils brought to him as freewill offerings.

International Standard Version
I told them, "You are consecrated to the LORD, and the vessels are also consecrated. The silver and the gold are a freely given offering to the LORD God of your ancestors.

Majority Standard Bible
Then I told them, ?You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

NET Bible
Then I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

New Heart English Bible
I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said to them, Ye are holy to the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a free-will-offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

World English Bible
I said to them, “You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a free will offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I say to them, “You [are] holy to YHWH, and the vessels [are] holy, and the silver and the gold [are] a willing-offering to YHWH, God of your fathers;

Young's Literal Translation
And I say unto them, 'Ye are holy to Jehovah, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a willing-offering to Jehovah, God of your fathers;

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying to them, Ye are holy to Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold a voluntary gift to Jehovah the God of your fathers.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to them: You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and gold, that is freely offered to the Lord the God of our fathers.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said to them: “You are the holy ones of the Lord, and the vessels are holy, with the silver and the gold, which has been offered freely to the Lord, the God of our fathers.

New American Bible
I addressed them in these words: “You are consecrated to the LORD, and the vessels are also consecrated; the silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.

New Revised Standard Version
And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I said to them, You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said to them: “You are holy ones and the vessels are holy, and the silver and gold is a gift to LORD JEHOVAH, God of your fathers.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I said unto them: 'Ye are holy unto the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto the LORD, the God of your fathers.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said to them, Ye are holy to the Lord; and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are freewill-offerings to the Lord God of our fathers.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Priests to Guard the Offerings
2720 gold bowls valued at 1,000 darics, and two articles of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold. 28Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. 29Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families.”…

Cross References
1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

2 Timothy 2:21
So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Numbers 18:7
But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

1 Corinthians 3:17
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Exodus 19:6
And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Malachi 3:3
And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.


Treasury of Scripture

And I said to them, You are holy to the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.

Ye are holy

Leviticus 21:6-8
They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy…

Deuteronomy 33:8
And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

Isaiah 52:11
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

the vessels

Ezra 1:7-11
Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; …

Leviticus 22:2,3
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD…

Numbers 4:4-15,19,20
This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: …

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Articles Consecrated Fathers Freely Freewill Freewill-Offering Free-Will-Offering Gold Holy Offering Silver Utensils Vessels Voluntary Willing-Offering
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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














Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the consecration of the individuals involved in the journey. In the context of Ezra, the returning exiles were set apart for a divine purpose, similar to the priests and Levites who were consecrated for service in the temple (Exodus 28:41). Holiness in the Old Testament often denotes being set apart for God's service, reflecting God's own holiness (Leviticus 19:2). This consecration underscores the importance of purity and dedication in fulfilling God's commands.

and these articles are holy.
The articles referred to are the vessels and items intended for use in the temple. These items were considered sacred because they were dedicated to the service of God. In the broader biblical context, the holiness of objects used in worship is a recurring theme, as seen with the tabernacle furnishings (Exodus 30:26-29). The sanctity of these articles underscores the reverence required in handling things dedicated to God.

The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD,
The silver and gold mentioned here were contributions from the Jewish community and possibly from the Persian king, intended to support the temple's restoration. A freewill offering, as described in Leviticus 22:18-23, is a voluntary act of worship, reflecting the giver's devotion and gratitude. This offering highlights the communal effort and sacrifice involved in the rebuilding of the temple, a central place of worship and identity for the Jewish people.

the God of your fathers.
This phrase connects the present generation with their ancestors, emphasizing continuity in worship and covenant relationship with God. It recalls the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who were foundational figures in Israel's history and faith (Exodus 3:15). This connection serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness across generations and the enduring nature of His promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezra
A 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. Levites and Priests
The individuals Ezra addresses in this verse, responsible for the care and transport of the holy articles and offerings.

3. Jerusalem
The destination of Ezra and the exiles, where the temple of the LORD was located, and the place where the offerings were to be presented.

4. Babylon
The place of exile from which Ezra and the Jewish exiles were returning to Jerusalem.

5. The Articles
Sacred items used in the worship and service of the temple, which were to be transported with care and reverence.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Responsibility
As believers, we are called to be holy and set apart for God's purposes, just as the priests and Levites were in Ezra's time.

Stewardship of God's Gifts
The silver and gold were freewill offerings, reminding us of the importance of being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

Worship and Reverence
The sacred articles were to be handled with care, teaching us to approach worship and service with reverence and respect.

Generational Faithfulness
Ezra refers to "the God of your fathers," encouraging us to maintain faithfulness to God across generations.(28) And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord.--A unique verse in every respect. The treasures were consecrated, and they were committed to consecrated hands: a good account was to be given of them to the treasurers of the Temple.

Verse 28. - Ye are holy. Consecrated to God by their office, the priests and Levites were the fitting custodians of consecrated things.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I told
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה (wā·’ō·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“You
אַתֶּ֥ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are holy
קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

to the LORD,
לַיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and these articles [are]
וְהַכֵּלִ֖ים (wə·hak·kê·lîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

holy.
קֹ֑דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

The silver
וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף (wə·hak·ke·sep̄)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and gold
וְהַזָּהָב֙ (wə·haz·zā·hāḇ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

are a freewill offering
נְדָבָ֔ה (nə·ḏā·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5071: Spontaneity, spontaneous, a spontaneous, abundant gift

to the LORD,
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of your fathers.
אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father


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OT History: Ezra 8:28 I said to them You are holy (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 8:27
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