Ezra 3:7 Meaning: Faithful Steps to Rebuild God's House
They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.
They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
and they give money to hewers and to artificers, and food, and drink, and oil to Zidonians and to Tyrians, to bring in cedar-trees from Lebanon unto the sea of Joppa, according to the permission of Cyrus king of Persia concerning them.
And they gave money to the masons and to the carpenters; and meat and drink and oil to the Zidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Meaning in one sentence
Ezra 3:7 shows God's people giving money, food, and oil to hire workers and bring cedar for the temple, faithfully using King Cyrus' decree to rebuild.
Context
After the exiles returned to Jerusalem, their first priority was the altar. They set it up and restarted the daily sacrifices, even before the temple foundation was laid. Now they turn to the next task: gathering materials and workers for the house of God. They hire local masons and carpenters, paying them with money. To get the finest cedar from Lebanon, they contract with the skilled people of Sidon and Tyre, paying them with food, drink, and oil. The arrangement mirrors the one Solomon used when he built the first temple. And it all rests on the permission Cyrus, king of Persia, had granted years earlier. This is a community moving forward in faith, step by step.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry weight in this verse. The first is the verb na.tan (to give). It appears repeatedly in Ezra and Nehemiah for offerings and payments. Here it describes cheerful provision, money for the craftsmen, food for the woodcutters. The people didn’t hoard what they had; they gave it for the work.
The second word is rish.yon (permission, grant). It is a rare noun meaning official authorization. The people were not acting on their own impulse; they operated under the lawful decree of Cyrus. This reminds us that God often provides through human authorities, and we can move ahead with confidence when doors are opened.
The third word is e.rez (cedar). Cedar from Lebanon was the strongest, most beautiful timber in the ancient Near East. Solomon had built the first temple with it. By using cedar again, the returned exiles were saying: God’s house deserves the best we can give, not leftovers, but our finest offerings.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a model of faithful obedience. Protestant commentators such as Matthew Henry and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasize that the people followed the pattern Solomon had established, showing continuity between the first temple and the second. The Cambridge Bible notes the practical challenge: providing food, drink, and oil was a heavy tax on a young community just returned from exile. Catholic and Orthodox readers often see in the rebuilding a type of the church’s restoration, each generation called to rebuild the spiritual temple. All traditions agree that the community’s willingness to spend both money and provisions reveals a heart set on honoring God above all else.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This verse asks you to think about what you are giving to the work God has placed before you. Maybe it is a ministry at your church, a project in your neighborhood, or a habit you are rebuilding in your own life. The exiles gave money, food, drink, and oil. They gave from their limited supplies, not their surplus. This week, consider one concrete resource you can set aside, a few dollars, an hour of time, a meal you could share. You do not need to have plenty to start. Just give what you have, and trust God to use it.
Main takeaway: The restored community gave money, food, and oil to rebuild the temple, trusting God’s provision through the decree of a foreign king.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The people gave money to the builders and food to the woodcutters so they could make God’s temple. You can help build God’s house too by giving your offering and being kind.
For ages 9, 12
The people didn’t just pray for a temple. They gave real money and real food to get the job done. They even paid workers from other cities to bring the best wood from Lebanon. When you give your offering or help with a church project, you are part of the same story, building a place where people can meet God.
Questions People Ask
Why did the people give food and drink instead of just money?
They were following the same plan Solomon used when he built the first temple (1 Kings 5:11). The Sidonians and Tyrians valued food and oil because their own region did not produce these staples in abundance. Payment in kind also showed generosity and respect, not just a business deal.
What is the 'grant' from Cyrus that this verse mentions?
Cyrus, king of Persia, had issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). The grant was the official permission, allowing them to buy timber and hire workers from neighboring regions under Persian rule.
Who were the Sidonians and Tyrians?
They were people from the Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre, located north of Israel on the Mediterranean coast. They were famous for their skill in cutting and shipping cedar timber from Lebanon. Solomon had used their help for the first temple.
How does this verse connect to Solomon's temple building?
Both Solomon (1 Kings 5) and the returned exiles hired Sidonians and Tyrians to cut and transport cedar from Lebanon. Both paid with food, drink, and oil. This connection shows that the rebuilding of the temple was a continuation of God's earlier work, not a brand new start.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study