Bible Strands
Ezra 8:28
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezra addresses the temple officials and leaders entrusted with the sacred cargo, speaking at the moment of transfer before the return journey to Jerusalem.
The words — קֹדֶשׁ (ko.desh) denotes consecrated status, applied here to both the people and the vessels. וְ/הַ/כֵּלִ֖ים (ve./ha./ke.Lim) refers specifically to the designated articles being transferred.
The thread — The concept of sacred separation appears in Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 22:2, and Numbers 4:4, where holy things and those who handle them must be kept distinct from common use.
Why it lands — The text demands strict recognition of designated boundaries, requiring readers to handle consecrated persons and objects with formal reverence and without casual treatment.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 22:2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings that the Israelites have consecrated to Me, so that they do not profane My holy name. I am the LORD.
- Leviticus 21:6 They must be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. Because they present to the LORD the food offerings, the food of their God, they must be holy.
- Numbers 4:4 This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.
- Numbers 4:19 In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.
- Numbers 7:13 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
- Numbers 7:84 So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.
- Deuteronomy 33:8 Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
- 1 Kings 7:48 Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;
- 1 Chronicles 23:28 but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,
- 2 Chronicles 24:14 When they were finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the house of the LORD—utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, dishes, and other objects of gold and silver. Throughout the days of Jehoiada, burnt offerings were presented regularly in the house of the LORD.