What Does Ezra 6:16 Mean in the King James?

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

Ezra 6:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Dedication initiates the house into its purpose; the people’s shared joy is restoration coming to life.

THE MEANING

A people who have known captivity gather around a house set apart for God. Their joy makes this new beginning shared and present, showing restoration taking shape as people come together around a purpose.

THE ROOT

חֲנֻכַּת

ḥănukkath

GROWS FROM

חנך

To initiate, inaugurate, or dedicate; also to train by setting something on its way.

The Aramaic word for “dedication” shares the root ⁨חנך⁩ with the Hebrew verb for initiating or training. The house is not simply marked as finished: it is given a beginning in its purpose, and the people’s joy marks that beginning as lived together.

ALSO GROWS

ḥānaḵ: To initiate or dedicate; to train up.

חָנַךְ

In Proverbs 22:6, the same verb describes setting a child on a path; dedication likewise gives something a beginning oriented toward its purpose.

ḥănukkāh: Dedication or inauguration.

חֲנֻכָּה

This noun names the act of inaugurating a place, making dedication the opening of its use rather than only a marker of completion.

THE PATTERN

Restoration becomes visible when a shared life previously interrupted gathers into joy.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

Psalm 126:2 · KJVThe return from captivity becomes audible as shared laughter and singing.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Luke 15:24 · KJVA return from loss is met with communal celebration.

And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:8 · KJVAs people are restored through healing, joy fills the city together.

THE THREAD

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 · KJV

Ezra’s “dedication” and Proverbs’ “train up” share ⁨חנך⁩ (ḥ-n-kh), meaning to initiate or set on a course. The root links dedicating a house with forming a child: both give a beginning oriented toward a purpose.

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