And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

EZRA 3:10KJV
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Ezra 3:10 (KJV)

What does Ezra 3:10 mean?

Ezra 3:10 describes how, when the builders finished laying the foundation of the LORD’s temple, the priests and Levites were organized to praise God with music, following the instructions set by King David. The verse highlights a moment of formal worship and celebration as the temple rebuilding begins.

The scene takes place as the Jewish exiles return from Babylon and start reconstructing the temple in Jerusalem. The leaders arrange the priests in their special clothing with trumpets, and the Levites, specifically the descendants of Asaph, with cymbals, to lead the people in praise. This act follows the traditions established by David, showing a connection to Israel’s history and a desire to restore proper worship.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 3:10

  • הֵיכָל (heikhal, “temple”): This word refers to the sanctuary or main building of the temple, emphasizing that the focus is on the central place of worship for the community.
  • תְּקוּעָה (teqū‘ah, “trumpets”): The priests use trumpets as part of their worship, which was a specific role given to them in earlier traditions, marking this as a formal and significant religious event.
  • לְהַלֵּל (lehallel, “to praise”): This verb means to praise or celebrate, showing that the music and ceremony were meant to honor and thank the LORD, not just to mark the construction.
  • כְּמִשְׁפָּט (kemishpat, “after the ordinance”): This phrase means according to the established rule or custom, pointing out that the worship was done in a way that respected the traditions set by King David.

Why Ezra 3:10 matters

  • Ezra 3:10 shows that the returned exiles were careful to restore worship in the same way their ancestors did, connecting their present to Israel’s past.
  • The verse emphasizes the importance of music and organized worship in Israel’s religious life, not just the physical rebuilding of the temple.
  • By mentioning the “ordinance of David,” the verse highlights a desire for continuity and faithfulness to God’s instructions, reassuring the people that their worship was legitimate and rooted in tradition.

Where else these words appear

“cymbals” Hebrew H4700 · used in 13 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 13:8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
  • 2 Chronicles 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

“trumpets” Hebrew H2689 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
  • 1 Chronicles 15:24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.

“foundation” Hebrew H3245 · used in 41 verses

  • Exodus 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
  • Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
  • Isaiah 14:32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

“Asaph” Hebrew H623 · used in 41 verses

  • 2 Kings 18:18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
  • Psalms 50:1 A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.