Ezra 3:13

Joy Grief

¹¹ And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

¹² But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

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: The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.
KJV: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
WEB: so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard far away.
ASV: so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
DARBY: And the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a great shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
BLB: And the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted in a loud shout, and the sound was heard even to afar off.

ÅB: Folket kunne ikke skjelne lyden av gledesjubelen fra lyden av folkets gråt; for folket jublet så høyt at det hørtes lang vei.
OTB: Ingen kunne skille lyden av de glade ropene fra lyden av gråt, fordi folket laget så mye støy, og lyden ble hørt langt borte.
B1930: Folket kunde ikke skjelne lyden av gledesjubelen fra lyden av folkets gråt; for folket jublet så høit at det hørtes lang vei.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 19:37–40
And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Read in context
1 Samuel 4:5
When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that it shook the ground.
Read in context
1 Kings 1:45
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
Read in context
Jeremiah 33:11
the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 100:1–2
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
Read in context
Psalms 5:11
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
Read in context
Zechariah 4:7
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
Read in context
Nehemiah 12:43
On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.
Read in context