What Does Ezra 3:2 Mean in the King James?
Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The burnt offering is named for ascent: the altar is built as a place where what is offered rises toward God.
THE MEANING
Restoration begins at the shared place of offering: the priests and their brothers, alongside Zerubbabel and his brothers, build the altar under instruction. The Hebrew name for the burnt offerings carries the sense of ascent, giving the offering a direction toward God. The verse holds shared work, received instruction, and renewed approach together.
THE ROOT
עֹלוֹת
ʿolot
GROWS FROM
עלה
to go up, ascend
“burnt offerings” in this verse is ʿolot. The word for these offerings comes from the root meaning “to ascend.” English names the offering by what happens to it in fire, while Hebrew also carries its movement upward toward God. The altar is built for an offering whose name holds that ascent.
ALSO GROWS
ʿālāh: to go up, ascend
עָלָה
This verb is the seed of the offering’s name and reveals its upward movement.
ʿaliyah: ascent, going up
עֲלִיָּה
This related word preserves the same image of rising.
יֵשׁוּעַ
Yēšūaʿ
GROWS FROM
ישע
to deliver, bring out from constriction into spaciousness
Jeshua’s name carries the nature of deliverance. Here that name stands at the head of the shared work of rebuilding the altar, joining deliverance with renewed approach.
ALSO GROWS
yāšaʿ: to deliver, bring out
יָשַׁע
This verb is the root beneath Jeshua’s name and names the movement out of constriction.
yešūʿāh: deliverance
יְשׁוּעָה
This noun shares the same root and makes the nature carried in the name explicit.
תּוֹרַת
tōrat
GROWS FROM
ירה
to point out, direct, instruct
The word translated “law” is Torah, instruction that directs and points a way. The altar is built in response to that instruction, so the verse joins offering with guidance.
ALSO GROWS
yārāh: to direct, instruct
יָרָה
This verb is the root of Torah and shows the guiding sense beneath the English word “law.”
mōreh: teacher, instructor
מוֹרֶה
This related word names one who directs or teaches, extending the root’s sense of guidance.
THE PATTERN
Approach to God takes shape through what is offered, whether an altar offering, the living body, or praise.
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.THE THREAD
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.Genesis uses the same Hebrew word for “burnt offerings,” עֹלוֹת (ʿolot), from עלה (ʿalah), “to ascend.” In both verses, an altar is built for offerings whose name carries the movement of rising toward God.
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