Ezra 6:10

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of the heavens and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Hebrew Names Version
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

King James Version
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

English Standard Version
that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

New Century Version
Then they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven, and they may pray for the life of the king and his sons.

New English Translation
so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.

Amplified Bible
so that they may offer pleasing (sweet-smelling) sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

New American Standard Bible
so that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the lives of the king and his sons.

World English Bible
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That they may haue to offer sweete odours vnto the God of heauen, and praye for the Kings life, and for his sonnes.

Legacy Standard Bible
that they may bring sweet-smelling sacrifices near to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Berean Standard Bible
Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.

Contemporary English Version
I want them to be able to offer pleasing sacrifices to God and to pray for me and my family.

Complete Jewish Bible
so that they can offer sacrifices with a fragrant aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Darby Translation
that they may present sweet odours to the God of the heavens, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

Easy-to-Read Version
Give them to the Jewish priests so that they may offer sacrifices that please the God of heaven. Give these things so that the priests may pray for me and my sons.

George Lamsa Translation
That they may offer sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the king and his sons.

Good News Translation
This is to be done so that they can offer sacrifices that are acceptable to the God of Heaven and pray for his blessing on me and my sons.

Lexham English Bible
that they may offer incense offerings to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his children.

Literal Translation
so that they may offer sacrifices of sweet odor to the God of Heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that they maye offre swete sauoures vnto ye God of heauen, and praye for the kynges lyfe, and for his children.

American Standard Version
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Bible in Basic English
So that they may make offerings of a sweet smell to the God of heaven, with prayers for the life of the king and of his sons.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That they may haue to offer sweete sauours vnto the God of heauen, & pray for the kinges lyfe, and for his children.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

King James Version (1611)
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet sauours vnto the God of heauen, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sonnes.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that they may offer sweet savours to the God of heaven, and that they may pray for the life of the king and his sons.

English Revised Version
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And offre thei offryngis to God of heuene; and preye thei for the lijf of the kyng and of hise sones.

Update Bible Version
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

Webster's Bible Translation
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

New King James Version
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

New Living Translation
Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.

New Life Bible
This is so they may give pleasing gifts in worship to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

New Revised Standard
so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his children.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
that they may be offering sweet-smelling sacrifices unto the God of the heavens, - and be praying for the life of the king, and his sons.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And let them offer oblations to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his children.

Revised Standard Version
that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Young's Literal Translation
that they be bringing near sweet savours to the God of heaven, and praying for the life of the king, and of his sons.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Contextual Overview

¹So King Darius ordered a search through the records in the archives in Babylon. Eventually a scroll was turned up in the fortress of Ecbatana over in the province of Media, with this writing on it: Memorandum In his first year as king, Cyrus issued an official decree regarding The Temple of God in Jerusalem, as follows: The Temple where sacrifices are offered is to be rebuilt on new foundations. It is to be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide with three courses of large stones topped with one course of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal bank. The gold and silver vessels from The Temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon are to be returned to The Temple at Jerusalem, each to its proper place; place them in The Temple of God. Now listen, Tattenai governor of the land beyond the Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, associates, and all officials of that land: Stay out of their way. Leave the governor and leaders of the Jews alone so they can work on that Temple of God as they rebuild it. I hereby give official orders on how you are to help the leaders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that Temple of God: 1. All construction costs are to be paid to these men from the royal bank out of the taxes coming in from the land beyond the Euphrates. And pay them on time, without delays. 2. Whatever is required for their worship—young bulls, rams, and lambs for Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God-of-Heaven; and whatever wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil the priests of Jerusalem request—is to be given to them daily without delay so that they may make sacrifices to the God-of-Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. I've issued an official decree that anyone who violates this order is to be impaled on a timber torn out of his own house, and the house itself made a manure pit. And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly. Tattenai governor of the land across the Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates did it: They carried out the decree of Darius precisely and promptly. So the leaders of the Jews continued to build; the work went well under the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They completed the rebuilding under orders of the God of Israel and authorization by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. And then the Israelites celebrated—priests, Levites, every last exile, exuberantly celebrated the dedication of The Temple of God. At the dedication of this Temple of God they sacrificed a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs—and, as an Absolution-Offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They placed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their places for the service of God at Jerusalem—all as written out in the Book of Moses. On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. All the priests and Levites had purified themselves—all, no exceptions. They were all ritually clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for the exiles, their brother priests, and themselves. Then the Israelites who had returned from exile, along with everyone who had removed themselves from the defilements of the nations to join them and seek God , the God of Israel, ate the Passover. With great joy they celebrated the Feast of Unraised Bread for seven days. God had plunged them into a sea of joy; he had changed the mind of the king of Assyria to back them in rebuilding The Temple of God, the God of Israel. ⁴ So King Darius ordered a search through the records in the archives in Babylon. Eventually a scroll was turned up in the fortress of Ecbatana over in the province of Media, with this writing on it: Memorandum In his first year as king, Cyrus issued an official decree regarding The Temple of God in Jerusalem, as follows: The Temple where sacrifices are offered is to be rebuilt on new foundations. It is to be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide with three courses of large stones topped with one course of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal bank. The gold and silver vessels from The Temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon are to be returned to The Temple at Jerusalem, each to its proper place; place them in The Temple of God. Now listen, Tattenai governor of the land beyond the Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, associates, and all officials of that land: Stay out of their way. Leave the governor and leaders of the Jews alone so they can work on that Temple of God as they rebuild it. I hereby give official orders on how you are to help the leaders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that Temple of God: 1. All construction costs are to be paid to these men from the royal bank out of the taxes coming in from the land beyond the Euphrates. And pay them on time, without delays. 2. Whatever is required for their worship—young bulls, rams, and lambs for Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God-of-Heaven; and whatever wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil the priests of Jerusalem request—is to be given to them daily without delay so that they may make sacrifices to the God-of-Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. I've issued an official decree that anyone who violates this order is to be impaled on a timber torn out of his own house, and the house itself made a manure pit. And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly. Tattenai governor of the land across the Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their associates did it: They carried out the decree of Darius precisely and promptly. So the leaders of the Jews continued to build; the work went well under the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They completed the rebuilding under orders of the God of Israel and authorization by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. And then the Israelites celebrated—priests, Levites, every last exile, exuberantly celebrated the dedication of The Temple of God. At the dedication of this Temple of God they sacrificed a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs—and, as an Absolution-Offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They placed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their places for the service of God at Jerusalem—all as written out in the Book of Moses. On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. All the priests and Levites had purified themselves—all, no exceptions. They were all ritually clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for the exiles, their brother priests, and themselves. Then the Israelites who had returned from exile, along with everyone who had removed themselves from the defilements of the nations to join them and seek God , the God of Israel, ate the Passover. With great joy they celebrated the Feast of Unraised Bread for seven days. God had plunged them into a sea of joy; he had changed the mind of the king of Assyria to back them in rebuilding The Temple of God, the God of Israel. ⁵ So King Darius ordered a search through the records in the archives in Babylon. Eventually a scroll was turned up in the fortress of Ecbatana over in the province of Media, with this writing on it: Memorandum In his first year as king, Cyrus issued an official decree regarding The Temple of God in Jerusalem, as follows: The Temple where sacrifices are offered is to be rebuilt on new foundations. It is to be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide with three courses of large stones topped with one course of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal bank. The gold and silver vessels from The Temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon are to be returned to The Temple at Jerusalem, each to its proper place; place them in The Temple of God. ⁶Now listen, Tattenai governor of the land beyond the Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, associates, and all officials of that land: Stay out of their way. Leave the governor and leaders of the Jews alone so they can work on that Temple of God as they rebuild it. ⁸I hereby give official orders on how you are to help the leaders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that Temple of God: 1. All construction costs are to be paid to these men from the royal bank out of the taxes coming in from the land beyond the Euphrates. And pay them on time, without delays. 2. Whatever is required for their worship—young bulls, rams, and lambs for Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God-of-Heaven; and whatever wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil the priests of Jerusalem request—is to be given to them daily without delay so that they may make sacrifices to the God-of-Heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. ¹¹I've issued an official decree that anyone who violates this order is to be impaled on a timber torn out of his own house, and the house itself made a manure pit. And may the God who put his Name on that place wipe out any king or people who dares to defy this decree and destroy The Temple of God at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued an official decree. Carry it out precisely and promptly.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sweet savours: Chal, rest, Genesis 8:21, Leviticus 1:9, Leviticus 1:13, Ephesians 5:2

pray: Ezra 7:23, Jeremiah 29:7, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Timothy 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:17 - General Exodus 8:28 - entreat Leviticus 4:31 - a sweet 1 Kings 1:47 - bless Ezra 5:8 - the great God Ezra 7:17 - buy speedily Daniel 2:46 - and sweet Zechariah 7:2 - they Acts 8:24 - Pray Revelation 16:11 - the God

Cross-References

Genesis 5:32
When Noah was 500 years old, he had Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven,.... Such as will be acceptable to him, Genesis 8:21

and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons; prayer being wont to be made at the time of the morning and evening incense; and the Jews used to pray for other people besides themselves, and especially when desired, and particularly for kings and civil magistrates, to whom they were subject, see Jeremiah 29:7, the sons of Darius Hystaspis, for whose life, as well as his own, he would have prayer made, were, according to Herodotus d, three by his first wife, the daughter of Gobryas, before he began to reign, the eldest of which was Artobazanes; which sons must be here meant, since this was towards the beginning of his reign; he had afterwards four more by Atossa the daughter of Cyrus, the eldest of which was Xerxes, who succeeded him: many of the Heathens had an high opinion of the God of the Jews, and of their prayers to him for them; even the Emperor Julian e styles him the best of all the gods, and desired the Jews to pray to him for the welfare of his kingdom; nor need it seem strange that Darius should desire the same, since he was a devout prince; his father Hystaspes is supposed by some to be the same that was one of the most famous among the Persian Magi, or ministers in sacred things; and Darius himself had so great a veneration for the men of that sacred order, that he commanded that it should be put upon his sepulchral monument, that he was master of the Magi f; and by his familiarity with the priests of Egypt, and learning their divinity, had the honour, while alive, to have deity ascribed to him g.

d Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 2. e Opera, par. 2. ep. 25. p. 153. f Porphyr. de abstinentia, l. 4, c. 16. g Diodor. Sic. l. 1. p. 85.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezra 6:10. And pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. — Even heathens believed that offerings made in their behalf to the God of the Jews would be available. And this principle has had considerable influence in certain states where there was even a form of religion established by the law, to induce them to tolerate other forms, that the state might have the benefit of their prayers.