Ezra 7:7
New International Version
Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

New Living Translation
Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.

English Standard Version
And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.

Berean Standard Bible
So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.

King James Bible
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

New King James Version
Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

New American Standard Bible
Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

NASB 1995
Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

NASB 1977
And some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Legacy Standard Bible
And some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Amplified Bible
Some of the sons of Israel, with some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up [from Babylon] to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Christian Standard Bible
Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

American Standard Version
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Contemporary English Version
Other Jews, including priests, Levites, musicians, the temple guards, and servants, came to Jerusalem with Ezra. This happened during the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.

English Revised Version
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some Israelites (including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants) went to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes' seventh year as king.

International Standard Version
Some of the descendants of Israel also left for Jerusalem, including the priests, the descendants of Levi, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Temple Servants, during the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.

Majority Standard Bible
So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.

NET Bible
In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought up to Jerusalem some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants.

New Heart English Bible
There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artachshasta the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there went some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

World English Bible
Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Young's Literal Translation
And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Smith's Literal Translation
And there will go up from the sons of Israel, and from the priests and the Levites, and those singing, and they watching the gates, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year to Arthasatha the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the children of the priests, and of the children of the Levites, and of the singing men, and of the porters, and of the Nathinites to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And some from the sons of Israel, and from the sons of the priests, and from the sons of the Levites, and from the singing men, and from the gatekeepers, and from the temple servants ascended to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes.

New American Bible
Some of the Israelites and some priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

New Revised Standard Version
Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there went up some of the children of Israel and of the priests and the Levites, the ministers, and the porters and the Nethinites and of those who had formerly gone up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artakhshisht the king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And some children of Israel and some Priests and Levites, these Ministers, and some Porters and Nethanites of those who came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year went up to Artakhshesht the King.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And some of the children of Israel went up, and some of the priests, and of the Levites, and the singers, and the door-keepers, and the Nathinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Arthasastha the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezra Goes Up to Jerusalem
6this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants. 8Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 2:9
Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

Nehemiah 7:73
So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.

Nehemiah 8:1
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

Nehemiah 12:1
Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

Ezra 2:1
Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,

Ezra 8:1
These are the family heads and genealogical records of those who returned with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

Ezra 8:15
Now I assembled these exiles at the canal that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And when I searched among the people and priests, I found no Levites there.

Ezra 8:31
On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

2 Chronicles 36:23
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”

Isaiah 10:20-22
On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on him who struck them, but they will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. / A remnant will return—a remnant of Jacob—to the Mighty God. / Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overflowing with righteousness.

Jeremiah 29:10
For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.

Jeremiah 50:4-5
“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. / They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.

Zechariah 8:7-8
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. / I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

Matthew 1:17
In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

the children

Ezra 8:1-14
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king…

the Levites

Ezra 2:40,41
The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four…

Ezra 8:15-20
And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi…

singers

1 Chronicles 6:31
And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.

1 Chronicles 25:1-8
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: …

porters

Ezra 2:42
The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.

1 Chronicles 9:17
And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

Nehemiah 7:45
The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.

Nethinims

Ezra 7:24
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

Ezra 2:43
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Ezra 8:20
Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

Artaxerxes

Ezra 7:11,12
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel…

Ezra 6:14
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

Ezra 8:1
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

Jump to Previous
Artaxerxes Ar-Ta-Xerx'es Children Doorkeepers Door-Keepers Gatekeepers Including Israel Israelites Jerusalem Levites Music-Makers Nethinim Nethinims Porters Priests Servants Seventh Singers Temple
Jump to Next
Artaxerxes Ar-Ta-Xerx'es Children Doorkeepers Door-Keepers Gatekeepers Including Israel Israelites Jerusalem Levites Music-Makers Nethinim Nethinims Porters Priests Servants Seventh Singers Temple
Ezra 7
1. Ezra goes up to Jerusalem
11. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra
27. Ezra blesses God for this favor














So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes
The seventh year of King Artaxerxes I of Persia is historically identified as 458 BC. Artaxerxes I reigned from 465 to 424 BC. This period is significant as it marks a time of relative peace and stability in the Persian Empire, allowing for the return of exiles to Jerusalem. The Persian kings were known for their policy of allowing exiled peoples to return to their homelands and restore their religious practices, which aligns with the biblical narrative of the return from Babylonian exile.

he went up to Jerusalem
The phrase "went up" is often used in the Bible to describe travel to Jerusalem, due to its elevation and its spiritual significance as the center of Jewish worship. Jerusalem, the city of David, was the focal point of Jewish identity and religious life. The return to Jerusalem signifies a restoration of worship and community life centered around the Temple, which had been rebuilt under Zerubbabel's leadership earlier.

with some of the Israelites
This return was not just a personal journey for Ezra but involved a group of Israelites. The return of the exiles was a fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people to their land. This group likely included those who were committed to reestablishing the religious and social order according to the Law of Moses. The return of the Israelites is a continuation of the theme of restoration and covenant faithfulness found throughout the Old Testament.

including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants
The inclusion of priests and Levites highlights the focus on reestablishing proper worship and temple service. Priests were responsible for sacrifices and rituals, while Levites assisted in various temple duties. Singers played a crucial role in worship, as music was integral to temple services. Gatekeepers were responsible for the security and order of the temple, ensuring that only those who were ceremonially clean could enter. Temple servants, or Nethinim, were a group dedicated to assisting the Levites. This diverse group underscores the comprehensive effort to restore the full function of the temple, reflecting the importance of worship and adherence to the Law in the post-exilic community.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The people of Israel, God's chosen nation, who were returning from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem.

2. Priests
Religious leaders responsible for performing sacrifices and maintaining the temple worship.

3. Levites
Members of the tribe of Levi, who assisted the priests in temple duties and teaching the Law.

4. Singers
Individuals designated to lead worship through music in the temple.

5. Gatekeepers
Those responsible for the security and order of the temple, ensuring only the ritually clean entered.

6. Temple Servants
Also known as Nethinim, they assisted the Levites in various temple duties.

7. Jerusalem
The holy city, central to Jewish worship and identity, where the temple was located.

8. King Artaxerxes
The Persian king who allowed Ezra and others to return to Jerusalem, showing God's sovereignty over nations.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Restoration
God orchestrates the return of His people, fulfilling His promises of restoration and renewal.

The Importance of Worship and Service
The inclusion of priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers underscores the centrality of worship and service in the life of God's people.

Community in God's Work
The diverse roles of those returning highlight the need for a community where each person contributes to the collective mission.

Divine Sovereignty Over Nations
King Artaxerxes' decree demonstrates God's control over world leaders to accomplish His purposes.Verse 7. - The same six classes are here mentioned as furnishing colonists under Ezra which, according to the earlier narrative (Ezra 2:70), had accompanied Zerubbabel. The order in which the classes are mentioned is nearly, but not quite, the same. In the seventh year of Artaxerxes. This is the emphatic clause of the verse; Ezra's main object in the section being to give the exact date of his journey. As Artaxerxes began to reign in B.C. 464 (Clinton, F. H., vol. 2. p. 380, note b), his seventh year would be B.C. 458.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So in the seventh
שֶׁ֖בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

year
בִּשְׁנַת־ (biš·naṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141: A year

of King
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Artaxerxes,
לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא (lə·’ar·taḥ·šast)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 783: Artaxerxes -- a son and successor of Xerxes, king of Persia

he went up
וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ (way·ya·‘ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

with some of
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the Israelites,
מִבְּנֵֽי־ (mib·bə·nê-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

including priests,
הַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

Levites,
וְהַלְוִיִּ֜ם (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

singers,
וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֧ים (wə·ham·šō·rə·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7891: To sing

gatekeepers,
וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים (wə·haš·šō·‘ă·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7778: A gatekeeper

and temple servants.
וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים (wə·han·nə·ṯî·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5411: The Nethinim, Temple-servants


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OT History: Ezra 7:7 There went up some of the children (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 7:6
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