Ezra 1:4

2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

3 Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

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.’”

5 So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

6 And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.’”
KJV
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.
WEB
Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, in addition to the free will offering for God’s house which is in Jerusalem.’”
ASV
And whosoever is left, 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, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
DARBY
And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the voluntary offering for the house of God which is at Jerusalem.
BLB
And whoever is left in any place where he is a sojourner, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with livestock, along with the freewill offerings for the house of God, which [is] in Jerusalem.’”
ÅB
Og alle som enda er i live, skal folkene på hvert sted hvor de oppholder seg som fremmede, understøtte med sølv og gull, med gods og buskap, foruten de frivillige gaver til Guds hus i Jerusalem.
OTB
Og på ethvert sted hvor overlevende nå måtte bo, skal folket støtte dem med sølv og gull, med varer og buskap, sammen med frivillige gaver til Guds hus i Jerusalem.'"
B1930
Og alle som ennu er i live, skal folkene på hvert sted hvor de opholder sig som fremmede, understøtte med sølv og gull, med gods og buskap, foruten de frivillige gaver til Guds hus i Jerusalem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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:

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  • Galatians 6:2

    Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

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  • 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.

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  • 3 John 1:6–8

    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.

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  • Ezra 2:68–70

    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.

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  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 7:16–18

    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.

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  • Acts 24:17

    After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.

    Read in context