Ezra 3:13
New International Version
No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

New Living Translation
The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.

English Standard Version
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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 sound was heard afar off.

New American Standard Bible
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, because the people were shouting with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

NASB 1995
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

NASB 1977
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that the people could not distinguish the voices of the shouting of gladness from the voices of the weeping of the people, for the people were shouting with a loud shout, and those voices were heard far away.

Amplified Bible
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Christian Standard Bible
The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And there were no people who heard the sound of the horns, because of the sound of the great weeping of the people, because the people were sounding with the horns with a loud voice, and the sound of the weeping was heard for a long distance.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the people did not distinguish the voice of the glad shout from the voice of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud voice, and the voice was heard even from afar off.

Contemporary English Version
Their shouting and crying were so noisy that it all sounded alike and could be heard a long way off.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So that one could not distinguish the voice of the shout of joy, from the noise of the weeping of the people: for one with another the people shouted with a loud shout, and the voice was heard afar off.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the loud sobbing because the people were shouting so loudly. The noise was heard from far away.

Good News Translation
No one could distinguish between the joyful shouts and the crying, because the noise they made was so loud that it could be heard for miles.

International Standard Version
As a result, the people couldn't distinguish between the noise coming from the shouts of joy and the noise coming from the weeping people, because everyone was shouting loudly and could be heard a long way off.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
and the people are not discerning the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people are shouting [with] a great shout, and the noise has been heard to a distance.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
No one could distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from the sound of those who were weeping; for the people raised a mighty clamor which was heard far away.

NET Bible
People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off.

New Revised Standard Version
so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of the 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.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
and the people are not discerning the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people are shouting -- a great shout -- and the noise hath been heard unto a distance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temple Restoration Begins
12But 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. 13The 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.

Cross References
Ezra 3:12
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.

Ezra 4:1
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

Jeremiah 50:4
"In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the LORD their God.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Ezra 2:1-9
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; …

the noise

Judges 2:5
And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.

shouted

Nehemiah 12:43
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

Psalm 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

and the noise

Exodus 32:17,18
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp…

1 Samuel 4:5
And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

1 Kings 1:40,45
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them…

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Afar Cries Cry Discern Discerning Distance Distinguish Ears Far Great Heard Joy Joyful Loud Mixed Noise People's Shout Shouted Shouting Shouts Sound Weeping
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Afar Cries Cry Discern Discerning Distance Distinguish Ears Far Great Heard Joy Joyful Loud Mixed Noise People's Shout Shouted Shouting Shouts Sound Weeping
Ezra 3
1. The altar is set up
4. Offerings renewed
7. Workmen employed in preparing materials
8. The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning














(13) The noise was heard afar off.--The people also mingled in the weeping, which was with shrill cries. The rejoicing and the sorrow were blended, and the common sound was heard from far. All here has the stamp of truth.

Verse 13. - The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping. One, it would seem, was as loud as the other; neither predominated. This, which would scarcely be possible among ourselves, was not unnatural in the East, where those who lament utter shrill cries, instead of weeping silently. Herodotus describes the lament of the Persians for a lost general as "resounding throughout all Boeotia" (Ezra 9:24).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The people
הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

could not
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

distinguish
מַכִּירִים֙ (mak·kî·rîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize

the shouts
תְּרוּעַ֣ת (tə·rū·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8643: Clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, clangor, of trumpets, as an alarum

of joy
הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה (haś·śim·ḥāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8057: Blithesomeness, glee

from the sound
לְק֖וֹל (lə·qō·wl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of weeping,
בְּכִ֣י (bə·ḵî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the people
הָעָ֑ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

were making so much noise.
מְרִיעִים֙ (mə·rî·‘îm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7321: To mar, to split the ears, shout

And the sound
וְהַקּ֥וֹל (wə·haq·qō·wl)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

was heard
נִשְׁמַ֖ע (niš·ma‘)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

from
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

afar.
לְמֵרָחֽוֹק׃ (lə·mê·rā·ḥō·wq)
Preposition-l, Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious


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OT History: Ezra 3:13 So that the people could not discern (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 3:12
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