Bible Strands
Ezra 1:4
And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The decree addresses the Jewish exiles living among the nations, instructing them to return to Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD. It is issued immediately before the family heads, priests, and Levites prepare to depart for Jerusalem.
The words — The Hebrew term הַנִּשְׁאָר (ha-nish'ar) identifies the remnant or those who remain, while מִקֹּמוֹת (miqqomôt) specifies the various places of their current sojourning. These lexical markers establish the geographic and demographic scope of the command to provide material support.
The thread — The requirement to supply resources for the temple reappears in 1 Chronicles 29:3, 29:9, and 29:17, where leaders and the people contribute gold and silver as freewill offerings.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that temple restoration depends on voluntary material provision from those who remain in the diaspora. It places the practical burden of rebuilding on the community's direct action rather than on external enforcement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple:
- 1 Chronicles 29:9 And the people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given to the LORD freely and wholeheartedly. And King David also rejoiced greatly.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.
- Ezra 2:68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
- Ezra 7:16 together with all the silver and gold you may find in all the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests to the house of their God in Jerusalem.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
- Acts 24:17 After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
- Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- 3 John 1:6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.