Bible Strands
Ezra 2:63
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The governor addresses the returned exiles immediately after men lacking genealogical records were barred from the priesthood, suspending their access to sacred duties before the community census is finalized.
The words — הַ/תִּרְשָׁתָא (ha./tir.Sha.ta') identifies the civil governor, while עַד ('ad) sets a strict temporal limit meaning until, framing the prohibition as binding until proper priestly guidance is restored.
The thread — The ban on eating the most holy things aligns with Leviticus 2:3 and 2:10, which restrict those portions to Aaron’s lineage, while the Urim and Thummim point to Exodus 28:30, where they are kept in the high priest’s breastpiece for official inquiry.
Why it lands — It demands that readers treat sacred access as contingent on verified lineage and official priestly consultation, not personal claim or convenience.
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 the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
Cross-references
- Exodus 28:30 And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
- Leviticus 2:3 The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
- Leviticus 2:10 But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
- Numbers 27:21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
- Leviticus 22:10 No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it.
- Nehemiah 8:9 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.
- Leviticus 6:17 It must not be baked with leaven; I have assigned it as their portion of My food offerings. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.
- Leviticus 6:29 Any male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy.
- Leviticus 7:16 If, however, the sacrifice he offers is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, but the remainder may be eaten on the next day.
- Leviticus 8:8 Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.