Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

EZRA 8:27KJV
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Ezra 8:27 (KJV)

What does Ezra 8:27 mean?

Ezra 8:27 lists some of the valuable items being transported to Jerusalem: twenty gold basins weighing a thousand drams, and two vessels made of fine copper that were considered as precious as gold. These objects were part of the temple treasures entrusted to Ezra and his companions for safe delivery.

Ezra, a Jewish scribe and leader, is recounting the specific treasures given into his care by the Persian authorities as he leads a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. The verse highlights the great value and trust involved, showing the importance of these items for the restored temple worship and the seriousness with which Ezra and his group treated their responsibility.

The Hebrew behind Ezra 8:27

  • The word for "drams" is דַּרְכְּמוֹן (darkemon), often understood as a Persian coin or weight, showing the Persian influence on the Jewish community at this time.
  • The phrase "fine copper" uses טוֹב (tov, meaning "good" or "fine") and מְשֻׁחָה (meshuchah, meaning "polished" or "refined"), emphasizing that these copper vessels were of especially high quality, not ordinary bronze.
  • The word for "precious" is יָקָר (yaqar), meaning "valuable" or "costly," which underlines that these copper vessels were esteemed almost as highly as gold, not just for their material but also for their craftsmanship.

Why Ezra 8:27 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the returning exiles were not only bringing people but also significant treasures for the temple, highlighting the restoration's material and spiritual investment.
  • The mention of Persian weights and high-quality materials shows the influence and support of the Persian Empire, as well as the care taken to honor God with the best resources available.
  • Understanding the value and description of these objects helps explain the careful procedures Ezra describes in the surrounding verses for guarding and accounting for the temple treasures, emphasizing integrity and accountability.

Where else these words appear

“drams” Hebrew H150 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 29:7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

“basons” Hebrew H3713 · used in 6 verses

  • Exodus 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
  • 1 Chronicles 28:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
  • Job 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

“precious” Hebrew H2532 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 27:15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
  • Jeremiah 3:19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
  • Daniel 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

“copper” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 8:9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.