Ezra 3:11 · Bible study
Ezra 3:11 Commentary: Refrain of Faith at the Foundation
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the refrain 'For he is good, his mercy endures forever' was central to laying the Second Temple's foundation and its connection to Psalm 136.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The antiphonal singing and shout of joy celebrate God’s covenant faithfulness as the foundation of the restored temple and community.
- Key words: ‘Anah (respond/sing antiphonally), chesed (covenant loyalty), teruah (shout of joy/alarm), yasad (to found/lay foundation)
- Main debate: Whether the refrain is a direct quote from Psalm 136 or a common liturgical formula used in various settings.
- Theological theme: God’s enduring goodness and mercy as the basis for restoration and worship.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on restoration, community celebration, and the role of liturgical response in worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
KJV King James Version 1769
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, saying, For he is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And they respond in praising and in giving thanks to Jehovah, for good, for to the age His kindness is over Israel, and all the people have shouted--a great shout--in giving praise to Jehovah, because the house of Jehovah hath been founded.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And they sang alternately together in praising and giving thanks to Jehovah: For he is good, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout to the praise of Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they sung together hymns, and praise to the Lord: because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord, because the foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y cantaban, alabando y confesando á Jehová, y decían: Porque es bueno, porque para siempre es su misericordia sobre Israel. Y todo el pueblo aclamaba con grande júbilo, alabando á Jehová, porque á la casa de Jehová se echaba el cimiento.
E cantavam em revezamento, louvando e celebrando ao SENHOR: Porque ele é bom, porque sua bondade sobre Israel dura para sempre!E todo o povo gritava com grande júbilo, louvando ao SENHOR, por causa da fundação da casa do SENHOR.
Ils chantaient, célébrant et louant l’ Éternel par ces paroles: Car il est bon, car sa miséricorde pour Israël dure à toujours! Et tout le peuple poussait de grands cris de joie en célébrant l’ Éternel, parce qu’ on posait les fondements de la maison de l’ Éternel.
und sangen umeinander und lobten und dankten dem HERRN, daß er gütig ist und seine Barmherzigkeit ewiglich währet über Israel. Und alles Volk jauchzte laut beim Lobe des HERRN, daß der Grund am Hause des HERRN gelegt war.
En zij zongen bij beurten, met den HEERE te loven en te danken, dat Hij goedig is, dat Zijn weldadigheid tot in eeuwigheid is over Israel. En al het volk juichte met groot gejuich, als men den HEERE loofde over de grondlegging van het huis des HEEREN.
Ed essi cantavano rispondendosi a vicenda, celebrando e lodando l’Eterno, “perch’egli è buono, perché la sua benignità verso Israele dura in perpetuo”. E tutto il popolo mandava alti gridi di gioia, lodando l’Eterno, perché s’eran gettate le fondamenta della casa dell’Eterno.
I śpiewali jedni po drugich chwaląc a wysławiając Pana, że dobry, że na wieki miłosierdzie jego nad Izraelem. Wszystek także lud krzyczał krzykiem wielkim, chwaląc Pana, przeto, iż był założony dom Pański.
И начали они попеременно петь: "хвалите" и: "славьте Господа", "ибо — благ, ибо вовек милость Его к Израилю". И весь народ восклицал громогласно, славя Господа за то, что положено основание дома Господня.
他們彼此唱和，讚美 稱謝 耶和華說：他本為 善， 他向 以色列人 永 發慈愛。他們讚美 耶和華的時候，眾 民 大 聲 呼喊，因 耶和華 殿 的根基已經立定。
And they gave praise to the Lord, answering one another in their songs and saying, For he is good, for his mercy to Israel is eternal. And all the people gave a great cry of joy, when they gave praise to the Lord, because the base of the Lord's house was put in place.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Ezra 3:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Ezra 3:11 captures a foundational moment in Israel’s restoration. The antiphonal singing, the Hebrew verb ‘anah means “they answered one another” (Cambridge Bible), reflects a standard practice of responsive praise. Gill notes that the Levites sang “by turns in responses,” and the refrain “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever” was a well-known liturgical response (see I Chronicles 16:34; II Chronicles 7:3). The Cambridge Bible argues that this was not necessarily a direct quotation of Psalm 136 but a familiar refrain that Psalm later formalized. The great shout (teruah g’dolah) from all the people confirms the joy of the occasion: the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid, giving concrete hope that temple worship would resume. The consensus is clear: this verse presents a community using a time-honored confession of God’s covenant loyalty to celebrate a new beginning after exile.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse records a joyful, antiphonal celebration of God’s covenant goodness at the moment the Second Temple’s foundation was laid.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Antiphonal singing practice | The verse describes responsive singing between groups, as the Hebrew verb 'anah (answer) indicates. | Some commentators (e.g., Cambridge Bible) see it as two choirs alternating; others (e.g., Gill) picture a leader and congregation responding. |
| Reference to Psalm 136 | The refrain echoes the same words found in Psalm 136 and other passages (I Chronicles 16:34, II Chronicles 7:3). | Cambridge Bible argues it is a common liturgical refrain, not a direct quotation, while Gill treats it as “the psalm the Levites now sung.” |
| Emotional tone of the ceremony | The foundation-laying generated a great shout of joy, as recorded in this verse. | The following verses (12, 13) introduce weeping from elders; some interpret this as a mixed tone of grief and joy, while others see the weeping as separate from the shouts. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene unfolds in the second year after the return from Babylon (Ezra 3:8). Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the exiles have rebuilt the altar, offered sacrifices, and kept the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:1, 6). Now the foundation of the Second Temple is laid, a project decreed by Cyrus of Persia. The ceremony follows the pattern David established: priests in vestments with trumpets and Levites with cymbals (v.10). The antiphonal singing, “they sang one to another”, is rooted in earlier traditions such as Miriam’s response in Exodus 15:21 and the Shofar blasts at Jericho (Joshua 6). The refrain itself, focusing on God’s chesed (covenant loyalty) that endures ‘olam (forever), had sounded at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (II Chronicles 5:13, 7:3). Its repetition here ties the new foundation to the old and asserts that God’s faithfulness had not failed despite the exile.
The people’s “great shout” (teruah g’dolah), a term used for both war cries and liturgical exultation, expresses overwhelming joy. Yet the following verses (Ezra 3:12, 13) reveal a poignant mix of weeping from elders who remembered the first temple and shouting from those seeing the new foundation. The noise was heard far away, a sound of both grief and hope. This foundation ceremony thus becomes the first public confession of a restored community: God’s goodness and enduring mercy are the ground of their future.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across the major traditions, and the modern translations consulted (WEB, KJV, ASV, BSB, YLT, Darby, Douay) agree on the essential wording, with only minor differences in English rendering (e.g., “loving kindness” vs. “mercy”).
Reception History
The refrain “For he is good, for his mercy endures forever” has been a staple of Jewish and Christian liturgy for centuries. In Jewish tradition, it appears as a fixed response in the Hallel psalms (Psalm 118, 136). The early church adopted it as a call to thanksgiving, and it has been sung at dedication services for church buildings throughout history. Ezra 3:11 itself has often been read as a model for celebrating new beginnings even when the future is uncertain. The verse’s emphasis on the foundation of God’s house has made it a natural text for cornerstone-laying ceremonies across many traditions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The refrain that unites. The antiphonal singing, “they answered one another”, shows a community speaking the same confession. The refrain “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever” was a familiar response that bound the people together in a shared truth.
- Joy that overflows. The great shout of the people was spontaneous and loud. It reflects the deep relief and hope that a foundation, God’s house, was finally being rebuilt after decades of exile.
- The foundation of hope. The laying of the foundation was not just a construction milestone; it symbolized the reestablishment of covenant relationship. God’s chesed was the true foundation on which all restoration rested.
Five-point outline
- Call and response: the antiphonal pattern of praise.
- The content of the refrain: God’s goodness and enduring mercy.
- People respond with a great shout: collective joy in worship.
- The foundation: what it meant for exiles returning home.
- The mix of weeping and shouting: honoring the past while embracing the future (vv.12, 13).
Illustration hooks
- A congregation that has rebuilt after a fire holds a service to lay the cornerstone. Older members remember the original building; younger ones have never known it. Everyone joins in singing a familiar hymn, uniting past and future.
- A sports crowd shouting in unison when a game-winning play happens, the joy is contagious. In worship, a repeated chorus can create a similar sense of shared celebration.
- Watching a family member who has been away for years finally come home. The reunion is full of tears and laughter, a mix that echoes the mixed emotions of the temple foundation ceremony.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did they use this particular refrain and not one from the Psalms?
- How can I sing “God is good” when my life feels shattered like the exile?
- What does it mean for a community to have its foundation laid after a long period of waiting?
Leading a Discussion
Ezra 3:11 describes the moment when the foundation of the Second Temple was laid. The people sang antiphonally, using a familiar refrain about God’s goodness and enduring mercy. Their great shout of joy was so overwhelming that it mixed with the weeping of the older generation who remembered the first temple (vv.12, 13). This passage invites us to consider how we celebrate new beginnings while holding grief, and how a simple, repeated confession can unite a community.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What are the specific actions described in this verse? Who participates and how?
- Observation: The Hebrew verb translated “sang to one another” can mean “they answered.” How does that affect your understanding of the scene?
- Interpretation: The refrain “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever” appears in I Chronicles 16:34 and II Chronicles 7:3. Why do you think this phrase was repeated at key moments in Israel’s history?
- Interpretation: The great shout (teruah) was also used for battle alarms (Joshua 6). How might that military connotation add meaning to this celebration?
- Application: The people shouted with joy when the foundation was laid, even though the temple was not yet complete. When have you celebrated a beginning before seeing the full outcome?
- Application: How can your community use a simple, repeated confession of faith to unite in worship, especially after a difficult season?
- Application: The weeping of the elders mingled with the shouting of joy. How can your group make space for both grief and hope in worship?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 15:21 | Miriam answered them, “Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.” |
| Joshua 6:5 | It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the city wall will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, every man straight in front of him.” |
| Joshua 6:10 | Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” |
| Joshua 6:16 | At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for Yahweh has given you the city! |
| I Chronicles 16:34 | Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
| I Chronicles 16:41 | and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loving kindness endures forever; |
| II Chronicles 7:3 | All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and Yahweh’s glory was on the house. They bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever!” |
| Nehemiah 12:24 | The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers close to them, to praise and give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, section next to section. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary questions whether the people’s antiphonal singing directly quotes Psalm 136, arguing instead that the refrain was a well-known liturgical response used at sacred festivals. It notes the verse fulfills Jeremiah’s prophecy about restored worship. The exact musical arrangement remains uncertain due to limited knowledge of early Jewish music.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators note that the people’s shouting and singing were a direct response to the laying of the temple’s foundation. Their praise focused on God’s goodness and enduring mercy toward Israel, showing that even the beginning of the house of the Lord was cause for public, joyful thanksgiving.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the Levites sang in alternating responses, likely using Psalm 136, and the people shouted with joy when the temple foundation was laid. The antiphonal praise celebrated God's enduring mercy and the hope that the temple and its worship would be fully restored.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight that the mixture of weeping and joy was so intense that the crowd could not tell the two sounds apart. The older priests and leaders, who remembered Solomon's temple, wept loudly at the poor foundations, while others shouted with exuberant joy. The blended noise carried far off, demonstrating how deeply the community was divided in emotion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the mingled sound of weeping and joy at the laying of the new temple's foundation. The loud weeping came from older priests who remembered Solomon's temple, yet their sorrow mixed with the grateful shouts of others, showing that honest grief and thanksgiving can arise together.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley presents this psalm as an everlasting hymn that believers should always be ready to sing, whatever their condition. The unending refrain is to acknowledge that God is good and that his mercy never fails, even when everything else fails.