Ezra 1:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The neighbors of the returning exiles supported them generously with silver, gold, goods, animals, and valuables, beyond all the freewill gifts.
What Does Ezra 1:6 Mean?
What Cyrus had directed in his decree, the people now carry out. Those living around the returning exiles strengthen their hands, supplying vessels of silver and gold, goods, animals, and precious things, with still more given willingly. The neighbors become partners in a work they themselves will not travel to finish.
To strengthen another's hands is a tender picture: it means to make a weak grip firm, to put courage and supply into someone facing a hard task. Many who could not go could still give, and their giving became part of the temple as surely as the labor of those who went. No offering toward God's house is wasted, and no willing hand is too small to matter. The work of God is carried forward by many who never see its completion.
Ezra 1:6 in the Original Language
strengthened their hands (chazaq, חָזַק) -- to make strong or firm; to support and encourage another in their task.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 1:6
What does Ezra 1:6 mean?
The neighbors of the returning exiles supported them generously with silver, gold, goods, animals, and valuables, beyond all the freewill gifts.