What Does Ezra 8:27 Mean in the King James?
Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
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 word rendered “precious” also means “desired,” so the copper vessels are named for their worth, not just their material.
THE MEANING
Gold and copper stand side by side, and both are called precious. Worth here is not confined to the material that seems most costly; the copper vessels carry value equal to gold. What is entrusted to you in a less celebrated form can still be precious.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Only what is made of the most expensive material is truly valuable.
THE ROOT
חֲמוּדָה
chamudah
GROWS FROM
חמד
chamad
To desire, take delight in, or regard as desirable.
The word rendered “precious” describes what is desired or prized, joining worth to the impulse that reaches toward it. The same root can name something treasured or something coveted; context distinguishes valuing from grasping.
ALSO GROWS
chemdah: Desirable thing, delight, or cherished possession.
חֶמְדָּה
This branch shows that the root can describe something regarded as worth wanting, echoing the vessels’ value.
machmad: Desired or precious thing.
מַחְמָד
This form makes the link especially clear: what is precious is also what is desired, though desire does not always mean coveting.
THE PATTERN
A thing’s worth can exceed the material form used to measure or contain it.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:THE THREAD
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.Ezra’s “precious” and Genesis’ “desired” share the root חמד (chamad), meaning to desire or take delight in. The root can describe what is prized and what desire reaches for; the surrounding words reveal whether that desire is valuing or grasping.
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