Ezra 8:35

Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrative records the returning exiles immediately after verifying the weight of temple treasures and before delivering the king’s edicts to regional officials. This moment marks the transition from transit to organized worship and civic compliance.

The words — The text highlights הִקְרִ֥יבוּ (hik.Ri.vu), meaning “they brought near,” and עֹל֣וֹת (o.Lot), meaning “burnt offerings.” These terms document the exiles presenting specific sacrifices to the God of Israel.

The thread — Comparable sacrificial counts appear in Ezra 6:17 during the temple dedication, while Leviticus 1:1 establishes the legal framework for burnt offerings. Numbers 7:27 records similar bull, ram, and lamb offerings for inaugural rituals.

Why it lands — The verse requires readers to track the precise inventory of sacrifices and recognize the exiles’ immediate return to covenant worship upon arrival. It demands attention to how recorded numbers function as evidence of obedience rather than mere transaction.

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

הַ֠בָּאִיםHa./ba.'imthose/ [who] had come מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨יme./ha./she.Vifrom/ the/ captivity בְנֵֽי־ve.nei-[the] children of הַגּוֹלָ֜הha./go.Lahthe/ exile הִקְרִ֥יבוּhik.Ri.vuthey brought near עֹל֣וֹת׀o.Lotburnt offerings לֵאלֹהֵ֣יle./lo.Heito/ [the] God of יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsrael פָּרִ֨יםpa.Rimbulls שְׁנֵים־she.neim-two [plus]עָשָׂ֤ר'a.Sarten עַל־'al-on כָּל־kol-all יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsrael אֵילִ֣ים׀'ei.Limrams תִּשְׁעִ֣יםtish.'Imninety וְשִׁשָּׁ֗הve./shi.Shahand/ six כְּבָשִׂים֙ke.va.Simlambs שִׁבְעִ֣יםshiv.'Imseventy וְשִׁבְעָ֔הve./shiv.'Ahand/ seven צְפִירֵ֥יtze.fi.Reihe-goats of חַטָּ֖אתcha.Tatsin offering שְׁנֵ֣יםshe.Neimtwo [plus]עָשָׂ֑ר'a.Sarten הַכֹּ֖לha./Kol<the>/ everything עוֹלָ֥הo.Lah[was] a burnt offering לַיהוָֽה׃ פla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh

King James Version

Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord.

Cross-references

Ezra 6:17 For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.
Leviticus 1:1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,
Numbers 7:27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
Ezra 2:1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,
Psalms 66:10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
Psalms 116:12 How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?
Luke 1:74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,