Ezra 6:4

with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — King Cyrus issues a decree in his first regnal year to rebuild the Jerusalem temple, specifying its dimensions and construction sequence while mandating that all expenses be drawn from the royal treasury.

The words — The Hebrew נִדְבָּכִין (nidbaKhin) means "rows" or "layers," paired with אֶבֶן (even, "stone") and אָרֶה (aroh, "timber") to establish the precise architectural order of three stone courses followed by one timber course.

The thread — This three-stone-and-one-timber pattern directly echoes Solomon’s courtyard construction in 1 Kings 6:36 and aligns with the later royal funding provision in Ezra 7:20.

Why it lands — The text mandates exact compliance with imperial specifications for sacred construction and demonstrates that the temple’s restoration depends on state financing rather than voluntary contributions.

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

נִדְבָּכִ֞יןnid.ba.Khinrows דִּי־di-of אֶ֤בֶן'E.venstone of גְּלָל֙ge.Lalrolling תְּלָתָ֔אte.la.Ta'three וְנִדְבָּ֖ךְve./nid.Bakhand/ a row דִּי־di-of אָ֣ע'a'timber חֲדַ֑תcha.Datnew וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔אve./Nif.ke.Ta/'and/ expense/ the מִן־min-from בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house of מַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka/'king/ the תִּתְיְהִֽב׃tit.ye.Hivlet it be given

King James Version

With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:

Cross-references

1 Kings 6:36 Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.
Psalms 68:29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
Ezra 7:20 And if anything else is needed for the house of your God that you may have occasion to supply, you may pay for it from the royal treasury.
Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
Isaiah 60:6 Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Revelation 12:16 But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.